Mitchell, Wentzel - FAS From: Sheikh, Pat FAS Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 9:13 AM To: 'Marie Lichtenberg'; 'Richey Dana' Cc: 'Richey Dana'; Mitchell, Wentzel (FAS) Subject: RE: USDA and USAID Food Aid Conference participation Marie, We are still trying to finalize the agenda. Thanks for the input. Pat From: Marie Lichtenberg Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 1:43 AM To: Richey Dana Cc: Sheikh, Pat Richey Dana; Mitchell, Wentzel (FAS) Subject: Re: USDA and USAID Food Aid Conference participation Dear Dana and Pat, I forgot to mention, I actually also think it would be in the spirit of the US Secretary of Agriculture to have an African Minister to take part. In our meeting last week with Secretary Vilsack, I did mention the great efforts happening on the ground to align and integrate food aid with African Government's priorities and thus ensure country ownership. Secretary Vilsack was very happy to hear these comments. I hope he is participating in the conference as well. Marie On May 19, 2011, at 1:36 AM, Marie Lichtenberg wrote: Dear Dana and Pat, Greetings! As I understand you are meeting this week about the USDA USAID Food Aid Conference and the program and speakers, I wanted to follow-up on our offer to get either the Malawian or Mozambican Minister's of Agriculture to take part in the conference as key note speakers. If it is too sensitive to have the Malawian minister to participate, we have the possibility to engage the Minister of Agriculture of Mozambique. I have talked with my colleagues in Mozambique. The country has a very progressive and forthcoming minister and we are quite sure he would be interested in attending, especially as he has many good example to give about USDA's excellent programs which has helped more than 2 million Mozambicans help themselves in the past 5 years. In case of the ticket from Mozambique to Washington, ADPP can take care of it, if that's an issue for USDA. Please be the voice of Africa. Its in also in your interest to have a Minister come to applaud the assistance provided by The United States and its people through FFP and FFE. Marie Marie Lichtenberg Director of internationoi Partnerships HUMANA PEOPLE TO PEOPLE Planet Aid 1 202 386 2128 (US Mobile) 27 73 200 5690 (SA Mobile) 263 912 400 544 (Zimbabwe Mobile) Visit our web-sites at; On Mar 24, 2011, at 5:06 PM, Marie Lichtenberg wrote: Dear Dana, Best of greetings to you! It as great seeing you at the WISHH conference! I am meeting with the Minister of Agriculture of Malawi on Monday March 28th and just wanted to follow up with you, if you had any feedback on the email below. Warmest Regards and hope we can make it happen together, Marie Begin forwarded message: From: Marie Lichtenberg Date: March 20, 2011 12:35:21 PM EDT To: Richey Dana "Pat (FAS) Sheikh" Cc: Beth Sheehy CD Danckert Lisbeth Thomsen , "Abdullah (FAS) Ersoz" ron.croushorn@usda.qov. iudith.phillios@usda.qov Subject: USDA and USAID Food Aid Conference participation Dear Dana and Pat, Best Greetings to both of you! As discussed recently, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Malawi and myself would be very happy to participate in the Kansas City Conference - as part of the Plenary Session - with the Minister as a potential key note speaker of the conference. It is my believe that the participation of the Minister can bring some excellent goodwill and perspectives from a committed Government of Africa. ..And I am certain that he will say a lot of god things about food aid! As you know the USDA Program with Farmers' Clubs in Malawi has been a great success. In Malawi, the ?rst Farmers Clubs element funded by USDA initially involved 12,000 farming families. After 3 years an evaluation was carried out indicating; Average farm production Increased by 250% Average annual cash income increased by 120% Access to water increased by 280% Due to the success of the Farmer?s Club model and its clear achievements, the Malawi Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has adopted the approach and invited all key stakeholders to fund the expansion of the program to reach all districts of the country. "One of the programs that has been very effective in achieving the strategic objectives of Malawi?s Agriculture Sector Wide Approach is the Farmers? Clubs program, which is being implemented by DAPP Malawi. it is the Government?s wish to scale up this good development to all farmers in Malawi.? ?Professor Peter Mwanza, Malawi Minister of Agriculture and Food Security I am hoping to hear from you soon so that I can try to ?nalize the arrangements with the Minister. I am attaching the speech of the Minister of Agriculture at the meeting he chaired on November 15th 2010 with many of the donors. Attached you will also ?nd the proposal which was developed by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with Planet Aid and DAPP. Warmest Regards, Marie Marie Lichtenberg Director of international Partnerships HUMANA PEOPLE TO Planet Aid 1 202 386 2128 (us Mobile) 27 73 200 5690 (SA Mobile) 263 912 400 544 (Zimbabwe Mobile) Vislt our web-sites at; <3 of 3)