USAID hosts small business conference

The U.S. Agency for International Development recently hosted its third annual small business conference, which sought show entrepreneurs how to take advantage of develepment programs. The meeting, which took place on May 27, was entitled USAID and Small Businesses: Expanding the Diversity of our Partners, and was arranged by USAID's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

"USAID is committed to the inclusion of small businesses as partners in our work," said USAID Chief of Staff Sean Carroll. "The agency is committed to changing its business model, and small businesses will play an important role in the new procurement reform strategy."

Among the most popular events of the conference was the Lunch with the Leaders segment, which gave small business owners the opportunity to meet with representatives from the major USAID bureaus and independent offices.

USAID made headlines recently after it announced a collaboration with the Women Farmers Advancement Network to provide the Special Education Center in Bauchi, Nigeria, with 16 toilet facilities and 24 water outlets. The school has recently suffered from difficulities in maintaining hygenic waste facilities, and the USAID's most recent effort seeks to help.