Uganda President Museveni and USAID Administrator Ink Public-Private Partnership Deal
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
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2003-091
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2003
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC -- Andrew S. Natsios, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and H.E. Yoweri Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda today executed 2 separate public-private partnership agreements with Cisco Systems, Inc. and EDS. The combined value of memoranda of understanding signed today could reach $14.3 million.
Natsios hailed the collaborative relationship between Uganda, Cisco and EDS and USAID as "another chapter in a very successful information technology alliance. USAID's public-private alliances bring a new dimension to our work -- new ideas, new expertise and new resources to our partners. In 2003, our global development alliances have brought in new partners and leveraged more than $1.2 billion in private funds."
Uganda is a leader in bringing the Internet and improved telecommunications to Africa. Today's $10 million alliance with Cisco Systems ($8 million from Cisco and $2 million from USAID) will lead to the establishment of ten Network Academies throughout Uganda's university system. This is the second generation of Cisco's commitment to Uganda's university students, which includes training and certification in network computing, information technology essentials, programming languages and voice and data cabling fundamentals. Cisco Systems in collaboration with USAID will establish 70 new Network Academies in 16 partner countries in Africa and around the world.
Building upon the Cisco Network Academies, EDS will provide Uganda's university students with advance training in computerized manufacturing abilities. EDS provides leading edge technology that will give the Ugandan students real-world, hands-on design and engineering experience. The EDS contribution will establish Uganda as a future hub for manufacturing expertise and engineering in east Africa. The EDS grant could reach a value of $4.2 million, USAID will provide an additional $100,000 in assistance.
"Strengthening the engineering programs at universities in Uganda, helps elevate the country's technology base," said Bill Sweeney, EDS vice president of Government Affairs. "It creates expanded career opportunities for the graduates, and a means for Ugandan manufacturing companies to increase their global stature. EDS is proud to provide state-of-the art Product Lifecycle Management software tools and to work with our partners Makerere University in Uganda, USAID, and several strong U.S. academic institutions to further this program."
This innovative and pioneering alliance with USAID, Uganda, Cisco Systems, and EDS jumpstarts the foundation for an information technology-trained workforce, and will provide the skills needed to establish a vibrant private sector in Uganda.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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