Ambassador Robert Loftis, the Acting Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, will travel to East Africa from September 29 to October 9, 2011. During his trip, Ambassador Loftis will visit South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda to meet with government and civil society leaders to discuss conflict prevention and stability in the region.

In South Sudan, the Office of the Coordinator and the Civilian Response Corps provides U.S. Embassy Juba with sectoral experts and interagency stabilization teams that deploy across the country to support conflict prevention efforts.

In Ethiopia, Ambassador Loftis will meet with officials at the African Union, where a Civilian Response Corps expert is working to increase cooperation and help develop African Union capacity in civilian stability operations.

Stops in Kenya and Uganda will give the Ambassador a chance to meet with Civilian Response Corps members supporting stabilization efforts in the region.

Civilian Response Corps members are federal employees who bring specific skills to complex stabilization and conflict prevention problems in unconventional locations. Corps members deploy in support of critical national security priorities around the world. Follow the work of the Civilian Response Corps on Twitter @CivResponse and on Facebook.