USADF advocates increased partnership for poverty eradication in Africa

The Regional Director, United States African Development Foundation (USADF), Tom Coogan, has lauded the partnership between USADF and Diamond Development Initiative (DDI)

He described the 15 years of partnership as one characterised by excellent, honest and great leadership Coogan stated this in Abuja yesterday at an event to mark the DDI’s 15 years anniversary.

He said it is the best performing partnership in Africa and called for improved sustainable collaboration to eradicate poverty in the continent.

The regional director disclosed that USADF could not have made impact in Nigeria without DDI, a feat that he attributed to the trust that USADF built in the NGO since 2002.

On USADF operations in Africa, Coogan said: “We use our local African partners to facilitate our projects in Africa. Over the years we have increased our projects in Africa where there are many beneficiaries.  

“In Nigeria, our projects are mainly in the North. We have spent over $20 billion in financing projects in the country, which includes agriculture, human capital development and youth entrepreneur. The USADF is funded by the US Congress.”

Also, the Executive Secretary of DDI, Adamu Garba, revealed that the NGO has executed projects in 26 out of 36 states of the country.

Garba said the group operates in three areas namely agriculture, off-grid energy and youth entrepreneurship.