New USAID mission director for Iraq sworn in (07/04/05)

Today, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the swearing in of Dawn Liberi as its new mission director in Iraq. Administrator Andrew S. Natsios presided at the event and administered the oath to Ms Liberi.

USAID/Iraq's mission is the largest US government reconstruction effort since the Marshall Plan, with more than $5 billion in program resources. With the activities implemented through this funding, USAID is supporting efforts to revitalise Iraq's economy, improve education, develop vibrant civil society and assist Iraqis in the development of their new democratic processes and institutions.

New director Dawn Liberi (right)

Ms Liberi is a member of the senior foreign service and holds the rank of Minister Counselor. She has served for more than 20 years at USAID in five overseas posts and in Washington, DC. Liberi was the Mission Director in Nigeria from June 2002 to March 2004, where she managed one of the largest bilateral programs in sub-Saharan Africa, with an annual budget of $75 million.

From 1998-2002, Ms Liberi served as the USAID mission director in Uganda, where particular success was achieved in reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

Prior to becoming a mission director, Ms Liberi served as USAID Associate Assistant Administrator in the Global Bureau, Population, Health and Nutrition Office, from 1994-1998; USAID Deputy Mission Director in Ghana from 1992-1994; and Population, Health and Nutrition Technical Officer for the USAID missions in Senegal and Niger from 1981-1988.

Ms Liberi's government experience includes working at the United States Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of International Health, from 1978-79, where she conducted analyses on the health care systems in Burma and Zanzibar, among others.

Source: USAID