http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2009-11-20T23:01:01+00:00 About the Author: Andres Delgado serves as an Economic Officer in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Back in April, at the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Presidents and Prime Ministers agreed to support a network of nations that would allow countries to share information and exchange best practices in reducing poverty. The Inter-American Social Protection Network is an opportunity for countries to listen and learn from each other. Today, Secretary Clinton joined the Presidents of Colombia and Chile and the Mayor of New York City in launching this network.

At this meeting, the speakers highlighted conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs. The concept of which is simple: give the poorest citizens a small monthly cash stipend if they ensure that their children get regular health check-ups and attend school. By giving people the choice about how to best spend the money, the government empowers its citizens. As Secretary Clinton said, “It isn’t charity, it’s an investment.”

In 1996, the Mexicans started a conditional cash transfer program called Oportunidades ("Opportunities"). According to the World Bank, Mexico’s CCT program has helped reduce poverty by 5 percent in Mexico – this within just one generation. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited Mexico and based Opportunity NYC after Mexico’s Oportunidades. The Chileans are sharing experiences from their CCT program, Chile Solidario, with Caribbean countries to promote social protection programs in this region. Countries are working together to combat poverty. This is the goal of the Inter-American Social Protection Network.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/social_protection_network/ 2009-09-23T02:26:19+00:00 About the Author: Andres Delgado serves as a Trade Officer in the Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in Washington, DC.

We here at the Department of State are beginning our final preparations for the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. A little background: the Summit of the Americas is the premier multilateral forum for U.S. engagement with the 34 democratically-elected governments in our hemisphere. This event only occurs once every three or four years, and this year will be President Obama’s first visit to the region and an opportunity to directly discuss issues with his counterparts, in a spirit of cooperation and partnership, issues such the global economic crisis, energy security and climate change, and advancing security in the region – issues that cut across borders and affect the lives of every citizen of the Western Hemisphere.

There’s a real effort this year on the part of our partner nations and us to encourage as wide a participation in the Summit discussions and goals as possible. Everyone wants their citizens to know what the leaders and their negotiating teams are discussing and how this benefits them directly.

We have a lot of new outreach tools that will be used to provide you with the most up-to-date Summit information. We have just launched a Facebook page, which I encourage you to check out. It has just about everything you want to know about the Summit. From background information to daily posting, from what’s happening during the lead up in Washington as well as on the ground in Port- of-Spain. It’s your central depository for updates and a space to voice your opinion on the Fifth Summit of the Americas.

We hope our Facebook page, as well as our Twitter (look for the #sota09 tag) and YouTube postings, will give citizens throughout the hemisphere an understanding of the Summit’s themes and its related importance to you. Most importantly, our Facebook page gives you the opportunity to voice your thoughts about the Summit. Please look for our page in Facebook under “Fifth Summit of the Americas 2009, Trinidad and Tobago.”

Read more about the Fifth Summit of the Americas in a discussion with Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemipshere Affairs Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. and Ambassador Jeffrey S. Davidow.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/summit_americas_facebook/ 2009-03-20T13:50:40+00:00 About the Author: Andres Delgado serves as a Trade Officer in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in Washington, DC.

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) brought officers who work on economic policy at U.S. embassies in the Western Hemisphere and at the State Department in Washington together in St. Louis to coordinate the U.S. message abroad and to touch base with the American public. The meeting's topics included the global financial crisis, food security, trade policy, the upcoming Summit of the Americas and public diplomacy. In addition, our officers were able to witness Missouri’s leading role in research and development of agricultural biotechnology, where food and fuel meet, and tap the expertise of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s Commodity Office, which is located in nearby Kansas City and buys and distributes U.S. Government food aid for developing countries.

Outside the conference, our officers met with representatives from local universities, business organizations, and even Soldan International Studies High School -- the St. Louis magnet high school for international affairs -- to explain U.S. foreign policy. These encounters underscored for our colleagues that what happens at the local level impacts what the State Department does at the global level and helped us connect the micro and the macro in our work. The high level of sophistication of these conversations and strong interest in careers in public service among many high school and college students reminded us that the America’s strength comes not only from military might but also from our intelligent, curious and energetic people eager to serve our country.

Matt Rooney, Director of the WHA Bureau's Office of Economic Policy, said “I was struck by the thoughtfulness of the questions from the audience at the Soldan International Studies High School. One young man asked, ‘what would be the impact on your work if Fidel Castro were to pass away?’ I was heartened to see that our countrymen and women think carefully and strategically about foreign affairs -- we can and should talk to them about our work in a sophisticated manner.”

Ambassador Charles Shapiro, speaking to a group of International Relations majors at Washington University of St. Louis, encouraged all to consider careers at the State Department and answered their questions ranging from what it is like working in an embassy and the impact of this exciting career on families to how the foreign policy process operates in Washington, DC.

Additionally, our officers visited science research facilities to get a first-hand look at the production of new crops. Leading scientists at the Danforth Plant Science Center and Monsanto’s headquarters shared their latest research, explaining how new methods were producing higher yields of crops, addressing concerns for food shortages in the hemisphere, as well as protecting the climate by reducing the need for irrigation, plowing, and fertilization. In addition to technologies that add nutrition to food crops for subsistence farmers, the Danforth Center develops drought-resistant seeds and is developing algae and other advanced biofuels technology.

Dr. Roger Beachy, the President of the Danforth Center, noted that in 2009, one third of all funding for research is dedicated to the developing world. Dr. Beachy also told our group that one metric in the Danforth scientists’ contracts measures the extents to which the scientists promote international collaboration.

We came away impressed by how efforts in St. Louis to address energy and food security challenges have a global impact on our foreign policy. With meetings like this, our government is able to conduct a coherent regional diplomacy that enhances our security by improving the living standards of our neighbors. The United States is committed to supporting the aspirations of the peoples of the Americas for a better life through democracy and development.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/thinking_globally_acting_locally_in_st._louis/ 2009-01-27T15:33:01+00:00