The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has pledged a $470 million grant to Somalia to boost drought response efforts and develop basic services, bringing the Somalia Agency’s total allocation to $668 million.

This happened during the reception of the President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud by Mrs. Samantha Power, where issues of strengthening relations and cooperation between the two countries were discussed.

During a meeting with the head of the agency in the Somali capital Mogadishu, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud referred to the federal government’s plans for fisheries, livestock and agricultural production, stressing that priority is being given to avoiding dependence on humanitarian aid and transforming it into an investment and economic one.

Mahmoud praised the “continued support provided by the US Agency for International Development to Somalia”, highlighting “continued acceleration of investment programs and development of social services and economic development.”