Mark Anthony White was officially sworn in last April 11, 2008 as the new United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Representative to Timor-Leste. U.S. Ambassador Hans Klemm presided over the event and administered the oath of office.

"I look forward to my time in Timor-Leste and continuing the strong relationship between the U.S. Government and the Government of Timor-Leste," White said. "Timor-Leste has set its national priorities for 2008, and we are happy to see that USAID programs are well-aligned with these. USAID will continue to support the Government's plans and help improve the lives of the Timorese people."

As USAID Representative to Timor-Leste, White will manage an annual portfolio of approximately $23 million designed to help Timor-Leste become a stable, secure, democratic and prosperous country. U.S. development assistance to the young country has amounted to over $270 million since 2000. In 2006, Timor-Leste was one of 23 countries worldwide designated as fully eligible for assistance from the Millennium Challenge Account.

A career Foreign Service Officer, White most recently served as Director of the Office of Social Sector Development for the USAID Mission in Afghanistan. During his tenure in Afghanistan, he administered health, education and other social sector programs for USAID, working closely with the Government of Afghanistan in improving service delivery in these key areas.

White began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon and has 14 years of experience with USAID, including work in Zambia, Egypt and Cambodia. Much of his work has focused on improving public health in developing countries.

For more information about USAID and its programs in Timor-Leste, please visit .http://timor-leste.usaid.gov/