PRESS RELEASE
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Visit of Dr. Dafna Rand, Director of the Office of Foreign Assistance to Maputo, Mozambique
April 28, 2023 – A delegation led by Dr. Dafna Rand, Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Foreign Assistance visited, Maputo April 23 – 25 to meet with Government of Mozambique and non-government partners to discuss implementation of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability and advance the partnership between the United States and Mozambique. Dr. Rand leads coordination of U.S. foreign assistance and her visit highlighted Mozambique’s role as a key U.S. strategic partner and demonstrates the U.S. Government’s commitment to work with Mozambique to achieve peace and stability in the country, region, and world.
In close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, the U.S. Government allocated over $550m for State Department and USAID foreign assistance programming in fiscal year 2022 to improve the quality of healthcare and education, and to promote economic prosperity and stability to support the overall development of the nation.
During the visit, the delegation met with Foreign Minister Verónica Macamo, Minister of Economy and Finance Max Tonela, Deputy Attorney General Alberto Paulo, members of the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, civil society leaders, and implementing partners.
At a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Director Rand stated, “(during the meeting with the Foreign Minister), I conveyed how much our government and the Biden White House and U.S. Congress are interested in working together with the government and people of Mozambique.”
Dr. Dafna H. Rand assumed duties as the Director of the Office of Foreign Assistance at the Department of State in 2022. From 2017-2021, she was the Vice President of Policy and Research at Mercy Corps, a non-governmental organization working in 40 countries to support communities in need.
Dr. Rand has a long career in public service: She has served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) and as a member of the Policy Planning staff at the State Department. She also served on the staff of the National Security Council during the Obama administration. She started her career in government as the foreign policy and defense legislative assistant to Senator Frank R. Lautenberg.
Media interested in receiving more information should contact the U.S. Embassy Press Office by e-mail: MaputoPress@state.gov.
