U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Assistant Administrator Margot Ellis will travel to Baku, Azerbaijan from May 17 - May 20, 2017; and to Tbilisi, Georgia from May 20 - May 25, 2017.

In Baku, Ellis will meet donor organizations and civil society partners to discuss the role and impact of foreign assistance in responding to Azerbaijan's development and economic challenges. She will also meet with government officials to discuss shared development priorities.

In Georgia, Ellis will co-chair a Democracy Working Group meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Bridget Brink and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Scott Busby. The Working Group provides a forum to advance the broad and ongoing strategic partnership between the U.S. and Georgia. The Working Group will focus on political and media pluralism, responsive and accountable governance, and rule of law. In addition to the Working Group, Ellis will meet with government officials, civil society, and media.