Nairobi, 18 November 2021 (TDI): The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a new project with African partners named ‘National Geographic Kids Africa.’ The announcement was made yesterday at Nairobi’s Karura Forest by US State Secretary Antony J. Blinken.
The US official is in Kenya as part of his first official trip to Sub-Saharan Africa. He proclaimed that the initiative is a joint collaboration between USAID, Walt Disney Company, the Nairobi-based conservation organization, WildlifeDirect, and the US State Department.
The goal of the partnership is to empower and educate future generations to take decisive actions on environmental conservation and climate change. The project’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was recently signed by USAID Administrator Samantha Power.
Terrific new @StateDept partnership with @USAID, @WildlifeDirect & @NatGeoAfrica to develop and launch #NationalGeographicKidsAfrica. This new TV series and outreach program will teach children about the importance of conservation and how we can all help protect our planet. pic.twitter.com/hiFYdtiU1d
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 17, 2021
The program will include a television series entirely produced in Africa, and exclusively by the African storytellers so they can aptly represent their continent.
The series is set to begin filming in 2022, precisely in mid-to-late summer. The program will air on National Geographic Wild, whereas the digital platforms would help expand its reach to a wide range of audiences.
The ‘National Geographic Kids Africa’ program greatly focuses on enhancing the US Government’s Prosper Africa and local organizations through the mobilization of US private sector investment in Africa.
Moreover, the partnership intends to strengthen the bilateral relations between Washington and Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to promote education regarding environmental conservation and tourism industries in order to expand the regional network and create future jobs.
The US government and Walt Disney Company have invested nearly $6 million in the project. It is a part of USAID’s family of partnerships where local organizations and the private sector make efforts to improve global well-being.
