Offices of the Embassy
Public Affairs Section
The Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Dakar explains and advocates USG policies, acts as a focal point for media and cultural relations, and advises the US Mission to Dakar on the issues of public diplomacy. The Public Affairs Section works closely with other sections of the American Embassy and with Senegalese institutions to strengthen the bilateral relationship. The Office of Public Affairs sponsors seminars, exhibits, speakers, and other programs where Senegalese and Americans can exchange ideas and information on economic issues, shared environmental concerns, American government and history, education, security, and a wide variety of other topics. The director of the PAS, the Public Affairs Officer, is assisted by a Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO) and an Information Officer (IO) who also serves as the Mission's spokesperson and Press Attaché.
The Public Affairs Section maintains the American Information Center (AIC) to support information requests from our Senegalese audience. Using state of the art technology, including CD-ROM and on-line databases, the IRC provides updated information about the United States to Senegalese government officials, academics and journalists.
The American Information Center is overseen by an Information Resource Officer, who also works with AICs at the U.S. Embassies in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Sierra Leone. The IRO evaluates each AIC’s information programs, providing advice and training local staff. IROs also evaluate the information environment to insure that the AIC services are meeting local needs. They advise on library and information science practices, present librarian training sessions, and work with local libraries to establish linkages between libraries in the United States and overseas.
PAS Dakar is also home base for the Regional English Language Officer (RELO), who markets English teaching materials, conducts seminars, and consults and ministries, universities and teacher training institutes and English teaching programs on program development in Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso.
