New Mission Director for Zimbabwe Sworn-in

Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the swearing in of Karen L. Freeman as its new Mission Director for Zimbabwe. Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and USAID Administrator Randall L. Tobias presided at the event and administered the oath to Freeman.

As Mission Director for Zimbabwe, Freeman will oversee a program which totals more than $75 million in fiscal year 2006. With the help of non-governmental partners, the program comprises a focus on the increase of democratic expression, strengthening of civil society, the elimination of hunger, and the fight against HIV/AIDS.

"As Mission Director, I know Karen will be a solid representative of the values of the American people and U.S. foreign policy. I am confident that she will serve as an able advocate for the people of Zimbabwe, and will work in partnership with other donors in Zimbabwe to bring about lasting change," said Tobias.

Freeman began her career with USAID in 1983 working in the Office of Central American Affairs. In 1990, she joined the International Development Intern Program in USAID/El Salvador and later moved into the Deputy Program Officer position. In 1994, Freeman served in an equivalent capacity in South Africa, but was later appointed as the Director of Program and Project Development. In 2000, she moved to USAID/Uganda, serving as its Chief of Program and Project Development, followed by her role as Deputy Mission Director for USAID/Ethiopia from 2002-2005. During this time she also served as Acting Mission Director during the height of the 2002-2003 humanitarian crises and directed the delivery of over $530 million in relief.

Freeman most recently graduated from the National War College where she earned a Masters in Science degree in Strategic Policy Making and has a Bachelors degree in International Relations from Boston University. Fluent in Spanish, Freeman currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

For more information on USAID's programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, please visit: http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/