The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Asmara promotes a better understanding of American life, society, economy, politics, and culture by providing information about the United States to citizens of Eritrea. Through its exchange and information programs, PAS Asmara seeks to inform the Eritrean public about U.S. society and culture, American democratic institutions and values, and U.S. policy initiatives.
Press inquiries regarding any section of the Embassy should be directed to the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) who is the Embassy’s official spokesperson.
Information Programs
PAS Asmara provides information about the United States and its policies, history, culture and values, and current affairs to key audiences in the government, media, academic and non-governmental sectors. It distributes articles from the Daily Press Briefings, electronic journals, and other U.S. Government publications. More information on the Department of State’s Office of International Information Programs may be found on IIP Digital website.
Through its American Center (also known as the Information Resource Center), PAS Asmara offers reference and research services on U.S. current affairs, government policies and initiatives, history, and society and culture. The American Center houses a core collection of books, periodicals, pamphlets, government documents, and a variety of electronic resources, including online and CD-ROM databases. Electronic resources provide full-text access to almost a thousand American newspapers, journals and periodicals. The American Center serves a selected audience of Eritrean decision-makers in the public and private sectors and is also open to the general public. Its staff is available for reference assistance by telephone, fax, mail and e-mail.
PAS Asmara also provides Educational Advising services to Eritreans interested in studying in the United States.
Academic and Professional Exchange Programs
The flagship U.S. Government academic exchange program is the Fulbright Program, which annually brings U.S. scholars and researchers to Eritrea and provides fellowships to Eritreans to pursue graduate study or senior academic research in the United States.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program brings accomplished professionals to the United States at a mid-point in their careers for a year of study and related professional experiences. Fellows are selected based on their potential for national leadership and commitment to public service, in either the public or private sector.
Currently, U.S. Embassy Asmara is not participating in the Fulbright & Humphrey Fellowship Programs.
International Leadership Visitor Program
For more than fifty years, the International Leadership Visitor (IV) Program has provided the critical first experience of the United States for foreign nationals the world over. Participants come to the United States for two to four weeks to learn about U.S. society and culture first-hand, visit public and private-sector institutions and organizations pertinent to their interests, and meet their professional counterparts. IV projects accommodate individuals, single-country groups, regional and multi-regional groups.
The American Club
The American Club is an association of Eritrean alumni of U.S. academic and professional exchange programs. The American Club holds monthly lectures at the American Center.
U.S. Speakers Program
The Public Affairs Section brings American experts to Eritrea for short-term speaking programs to address issues in economics, foreign policy, political and social processes, arts and humanities, HIV/AIDS, and other themes.
American Cultural Specialists:
American arts specialists work abroad at cultural institutions, such as theaters, museums, orchestras, or dance companies, for a period of two to six weeks. Duties may include, They may, for example, conduct a workshop or master class, direct a play, rehearse a ballet, or provide advice on arts management.
More information on exchange programs sponsored by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs may be found at: http://exchanges.state.gov
