Partnering to Build a More Resilient West Africa 

Since the acceleration of the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in mid-2014, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been leading and coordinating the U.S. Government’s overall efforts to combat and contain the virus at its source. With new cases emerging well into 2015 in the three most affected countries, the push to zero new infections is as urgent as ever. USAID disaster experts in West Africa continue to respond to new cases while also working to build capacity in the region to prevent, detect, and respond to future outbreaks before they become epidemics. At the same time, USAID’s work is intensifying to help the affected countries rebuild from the devastation of Ebola and to ensure it cannot happen again.

The private sector’s contribution to the Ebola response was early and agile; its mobilization and outreach efforts are unprecedented in many ways. Through partnership with the private sector, we were able to provide innovative, timely and critical support that helped save lives. As we begin looking at recovery and building resilience in the region, we recognize that partnership and coordinated action are needed more than ever before. We are seeking partners in a variety of areas to help the recovery and redevelopment efforts. We have recently released two calls for partnership to companies and private sector organizations interested in co-investing in the recovery and resilience efforts in West Africa.

Join us on Thursday, August 13 from 10 AM EST to 11:30 AM EST for a conversation with:

•  Denise Rollins, Senior Coordinator of USAID's Africa Ebola Unit
  
• John Mark Winfield, USAID Mission Director to Liberia
• Dr. Alan Knight, General Manager of Corporate Responsibility, ArcelorMittal and chair of the Ebola Private Sector Mobilisation Group (EPSMG)
• And other experts

The discussion will be moderated by Sarah Glass, U.S. Global Development Lab Ebola Senior Coordinator, USAID