Decoration of USAID representative in Djibouti

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DJIBOUTI — Since September 2008, Ms. Stephanie Funk has served as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Representative in Djibouti. In this position, she directs an $11 million annual portfolio which supports health, education, democracy and governance and humanitarian assistance. She also serves as the principal advisor on development to the U.S. military to promote program synchronization and effectiveness of civilian-military affairs in Djibouti.

USAid-Djibouti relations re-established

USAID/Djibouti was re-established in 2003. Since then the program has achieved notable success in enhancing essential health services in rural areas, improving basic education, supporting democratic governance and providing humanitarian assistance. Under Ms. Funk’s leadership, she worked with the U.S. military to ensure that their civil military program continued construction of much needed rural health clinics when USAID’s maternal and child health program came to an end, coordinated the Office of Disaster Assistance to fund a two year malnutrition program, and facilitated funding and the first ever Pubic Private Partnership with Dubai Port World, the Government of Djibouti and USAID to address HIV/AIDS along the heavily traveled transport corridor between Djibouti and Ethiopia.
She also oversaw a five-fold increase in funding for the education sector and the introduction of the first long term democracy and governance program. Djibouti also hosts USAID’s only non-U.S. based storage facility for pre-positioned food aid. This facility has reduced transit times of vitally important emergency food aid to Africa and Asia by 75%.
Last week, the Minister of Health during a breakfast honoring Ms Funk’s contributions to the health sector said that, “her energy for multidirectional cooperation has promoted initiates in innovative fields such as the streamlining of services through the implementation of a policy of good governance, humanitarian action in the Horn of Africa and particularly in public health research.” He added that she “distinguished herself by her elegant perseverance and thus became indispensable to an effective collaboration.”
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In recognition of significant efforts accomplished by the USAID/Djibouti Representative, the President of the Republic of Djibouti approved the decoration of the Officer of the National Order of the 27th June for Ms. Funk. The decoration took place on May 4th and was officiated by the Prime Minister, Dileita Mohamed Dileita, in the ppresence of the General Secretary, Dr Salah Banoita, the U.S. Embassy DCM, Mr. Paul Pometto, key staff of the Ministry of Health and the USAID/Djibouti extended team.
Ms Funk said it is “a tremendous honor” and she “greatly cherishes her time in Djibouti.”