WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah will travel to Vatican City, Moldova, and Ukraine from June 15-19.

In Vatican City on June 16, Administrator Shah speaks at the Holy See’s first ever conference on impact investing – investments made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate positive measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. He will have an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis.

In Moldova on June 17, Administrator Shah will visit a local agricultural business. From there he will travel to Odesa, Ukraine to meet with American, Ukrainian and international businesses and discuss opportunities for public and private sector support for Ukraine’s agricultural and energy economies.

In Kyiv on June 18, Administrator Shah will meet with government officials and discuss U.S. efforts to attract business investment and support anti-corruption efforts. Over the past 20 years, USAID has invested close to $2 billion in Ukraine to build a stronger more stable economy, develop and strengthen democratic structures, strengthen civil society and provide better healthcare. More recently USAID helped provide a Sovereign Loan Guarantee on $1 billion, which saved the Government of Ukraine at least $280 million in interest payments and helped to stabilize the economy, and provided critical support to the successful Ukrainian Presidential election on May 25.