This week, as part of its 50th Anniversary, USAID is highlighting the role that public-private partnerships play in fostering development around the world. Since the creation of the Global Development Alliance program ten years ago, USAID has been a recognized leader in public-private partnerships. USAID has created more than 1,000 partnerships with over 3,000 partners, leveraging billions of dollars and impacting the lives of millions of people around the world. Public-private alliances catalyze foreign investment and motivate new players to enter the local market. In Armenia, the USAID Mission has leveraged resources through partnerships to foster private sector growth, promote environmental preservation, increase energy efficiency, and improve women's health and well-being. In the area of technology and innovation, USAID Armenia established the Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) in partnership with Microsoft RA. The MIC assists small- and medium-sized enterprises and professionals to create innovative new products and services and bring those products and services to market. In the area of health and social welfare, USAID Armenia has partnered with World Vision to improve the quality of rural health services; with the Armenian-American Wellness Center to improve women's health; and with the Tufenkian Charitable Foundation and the Armenia International Women's Association to treat and prevent domestic violence. A recently concluded alliance with the Armenian EyeCare Project also targeted diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases across Armenia. As USAID Armenia marks the 10th anniversary of the Global Development Alliance program, the Mission recognizes the achievements of past and current partnerships and continues to seek out private sector partners that bring unique expertise and resources to further Armenia’s economic, democratic, and social progress.

---