WASHINGTON, D.C. - United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Western Union have launched the Libya Diaspora Marketplace (LDM). The LDM will award up to four winning businesses with matching grants of between $25,000 and $50,000 with accompanying technical assistance.

The Libya Diaspora Marketplace encourages sustainable economic growth and employment by supporting entrepreneurs who are U.S. citizens or permanent resident members of the Libyan diaspora community, as well as those who have a relevant connection to, or experience in, Libya. Grants awarded for startup or existing small and medium enterprises will focus on high-priority, high-impact sectors that meet the immediate and evolving development needs of the country. 

“The recent events in the region have offered USAID opportunities to adjust our approaches to assistance in the Middle East and North Africa and forge new partnerships across the region,” said Alina Romanowski, USAID’s Acting Assistant Administrator for the Middle East Bureau. “I’m excited these new relationships also include the LDM initiative and the diaspora who want to make a difference in their homeland during a historical time.” 

USAID began redirecting assistance and putting new programs into place to help the people of Libya in response to a rapidly unfolding situation across the Middle East and North Africa, laying the foundation for a democratic future and economic prosperity that engages and benefits all Libyans.

The inclusion of Libyan diaspora in the LDM highlights a commitment to facilitating diaspora entrepreneurs who want to contribute to the development of their home countries. 

“The LDM is an innovative model for corporate, government and nonprofit collaboration to promote entrepreneurship and the employment it supports.  Expanding the Africa Diaspora Marketplace to Libya leverages its unique benefits to help create lasting social and economic impact,” said Aida Diarra, Western Union Regional Vice President for North Central and West Africa.

USAID will be hosting an informational webinar on Thursday, April 18, 2013. More information about the webinar, the LDM, how to apply and deadlines can be found at www.diasporamarketplace.org.  The program will start accepting proposals, on Friday, April 5, 2013 and close on Friday, May 31, 2013.

About Western Union 

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. As of December 31, 2012, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of approximately 510,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2012, The Western Union Company completed 231 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $79 billion of principal between consumers, and 432 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

About USAID

USAID is the lead U.S. government agency providing development and humanitarian assistance to people around the world.  The agency's Global Development Alliance (GDA) links U.S. foreign assistance with the resources, expertise and creativity of the private sector as well as nongovernmental organizations.  Since its launch in 2001, the Global Development Alliance has changed the way U.S. international development projects are financed and implemented. By cultivating more than 900 public-private alliances with over 1,700 individual partners, it has allowed USAID to leverage an additional $9.6 billion in resources for development.  For more information about USAID and its programs around the world, visit www.usaid.gov.  For more information on Global Development Alliances, visit www.usaid.gov/gda/index.html.