United States Agency for International Development facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
United States Agency for International Development

Seal of USAID
Flag of USAID
Wordmark of USAID
Agency overview
Formed	November 3, 1961; 63 years ago (1961-11-03)
Preceding agency	International Cooperation Administration
Headquarters	Ronald Reagan Building Washington, D.C., U.S.
Motto	"From the American people"
Employees	10,235 employees (FY 2016)
Annual budget	$50 billion (FY 2023 Budgetary Resources)
Agency executive	Samantha Power, Administrator

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a special part of the United States government. Its main job is to give help and support to other countries. This help is often called "foreign aid" or "development assistance."

With a budget of over $50 billion, USAID is one of the biggest aid groups in the world. It provides more than half of all the foreign help from the U.S. This is the most money given by any country.

The U.S. Congress created USAID on September 4, 1961. President John F. Kennedy then officially started it with an executive order. He wanted to bring many different aid programs together under one agency. USAID was the first U.S. group focused on helping countries grow and develop for the long term.

USAID's work is guided by the U.S. Congress, the President, the Secretary of State, and the National Security Council. USAID has offices in over 100 countries. These are mostly in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. USAID also had a program called IDDS to help find and stop diseases like tuberculosis in Africa and Asia.

What Does USAID Do?

USAID has offices in many countries. These offices help manage U.S. government programs in countries that need help. They work on many different goals.

• Helping after disasters
• Reducing poverty
• Working together on world problems, like the environment
• Supporting U.S. interests
• Helping countries grow and develop

Helping After Disasters

The U.S. government has a long history of helping after wars and natural disasters. For example, in 1915, U.S. aid helped prevent starvation in Belgium after an invasion. After 1945, the "Marshall Plan" helped rebuild Western Europe after World War II.

Today, USAID manages relief efforts after wars and natural disasters. Its Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance leads the U.S. government's international disaster help.

Reducing Poverty

After 1945, many new countries needed help to reduce poverty. USAID and its earlier groups have always worked to reduce poverty. They help with public health and education for the poorest people.

USAID also helps manage food aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It gives money to non-profit groups (NGOs) to help people in need.

Working on Global Problems

Countries need to work together to solve problems that affect everyone. These include diseases, environmental issues, trade, and safety rules. The U.S. has agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency that work on these issues.

USAID helps these U.S. agencies work in countries that need help. This way, they can tackle global problems together.

Protecting the Environment

Environmental issues are very important. USAID supports projects that protect land, water, forests, and wildlife. It also helps projects that reduce pollution and deal with climate change. U.S. laws require USAID programs to be good for both the economy and the environment.

Supporting U.S. Interests

Congress sometimes gives special money to countries that are U.S. allies. This is called "Economic Support Funds" (ESF). USAID manages most of this money. It uses it to help these countries develop as much as possible.

When U.S. troops are in a country, USAID can also help. It works with the military's "Civil Affairs" programs. These programs aim to build good relationships with local people. For example, USAID helped in Afghanistan and Pakistan during operations against al-Qaeda.

U.S. laws also say that most goods and services paid for by USAID must come from U.S. companies. This helps U.S. businesses.

Helping Countries Grow and Develop

USAID helps countries manage their own resources better. This helps them achieve long-term growth and development. USAID offers advice, training, scholarships, and money.

It works with private companies, other U.S. government agencies, universities, and NGOs. They all help provide technical support and resources. Often, different types of USAID programs work together to achieve goals.

How Does USAID Help?

USAID provides two main types of help: technical assistance and financial assistance.

Technical Assistance

Technical assistance means giving advice, training, scholarships, building things, and providing goods. USAID hires experts, often from the country itself, or from U.S. government agencies. These experts provide the help directly.

For example, USAID helps leaders in other countries improve their computer systems. It also helps build local knowledge and leadership. USAID offers scholarships for students to study at U.S. universities. It also helps strengthen universities in developing countries.

All these types of technical help are often combined. They help build up local organizations and their skills.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance means giving money to organizations in developing countries. This money helps them with their budgets. USAID also gives money to local and international NGOs. These NGOs then provide technical help in developing countries.

In the past, USAID gave loans. Now, all financial help is given as grants, which do not need to be paid back.

In recent years, the U.S. has focused more on giving money directly. In 2004, the Bush Administration created the Millennium Challenge Corporation. This new agency mainly gives financial help. In 2009, the Obama Administration also shifted USAID's programs to focus more on financial aid. They called this "government-to-government" or "G2G" assistance.

How is USAID Organized?

USAID works through country programs managed by its offices in developing countries. These are called "USAID missions." Its main office is in Washington, D.C.

Country Programs

USAID plans its work for each country through a "mission." The USAID mission and its U.S. staff are guests in the country. Their status is usually set by an agreement between the U.S. and the host government.

USAID missions work in over 50 countries. They talk with local governments and NGOs to decide what programs to support. They study the country's needs, design projects, give out contracts and grants, and manage the money.

As countries develop and need less help, USAID missions become smaller and eventually close. USAID has closed missions in countries like South Korea, Turkey, and Costa Rica when they became more prosperous.

USAID also closes missions if a country asks it to. For example, in September 2012, Russia asked USAID to close its office. In May 2013, the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, asked USAID to leave.

USAID missions are led by Mission Directors. The staff includes U.S. Foreign Service Officers and many local professionals from the country itself. U.S. officers usually work in a country for four years. This helps them learn a lot about the country.

The Mission Director is part of the U.S. Embassy team, working under the U.S. Ambassador. USAID offices used to be in city business areas. But after the bombings of U.S. Embassies in 1998, missions have slowly moved inside U.S. Embassy buildings for safety.

USAID Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

USAID's main office in Washington, D.C., called "USAID/Washington," supports the country programs. About half of USAID's U.S. Foreign Service Officers work here when they are not overseas.

USAID is led by an Administrator. The current Administrator is Samantha Power. Under the current U.S. administration, the Administrator regularly attends meetings of the National Security Council.

USAID/Washington helps set the overall foreign aid policy and budgets. It works with the State Department and Congress. It is organized into "Bureaus" that cover different regions, development topics, and office tasks. Each Bureau is led by an Assistant Administrator.

• Geographic Bureaus:
  • AFR—Africa
  • ASIA—Asia
  • LAC—Latin America & the Caribbean
  • E&E—Europe and Eurasia
  • ME—the Middle East
• Subject-Area Bureaus:
  • GH—Global Health (works on health issues worldwide)
  • E3—Economic Growth, Education, and the Environment (helps with economic growth, schools, and environmental protection)
  • Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (helps after disasters)
  • Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (works to strengthen democracy and human rights)
  • LAB—U.S. Global Development Lab (finds new and creative ways to help with development)
  • RFS—Resilience and Food Security (works on food supply and helping communities recover from challenges)
• Headquarters Bureaus:
  • M—Management
  • OHCTM—Office of Human Capital and Talent Management
  • LPA—Legislative and Public Affairs
  • PPL—Policy, Planning, and Learning
  • BRM—Office of Budget and Resource Management

USAID also has an Office of Inspector General, U.S. Agency for International Development. This office checks USAID's activities around the world. It makes sure everything is done correctly.

USAID Staff

In June 2016, USAID had 10,235 employees. Most of them (7,176) worked in offices overseas. The rest (3,059) worked in Washington, D.C.

About 1,850 were USAID Foreign Service Officers. These are U.S. citizens who spend most of their careers working overseas. The other staff in overseas missions are local people from the host country. They make up the majority of the staff.

Local staff often work for many years with USAID missions. They fill important roles in designing and managing programs. U.S. citizens can apply to become Foreign Service Officers. They need certain education and experience in development work.

USAID Field Missions in Action

A USAID mission can be as small as one person in an embassy. But in larger countries, a full mission might have twenty or more U.S. officers. It could also have over a hundred local employees.

The staff at a USAID mission is divided into different offices:

• Offices that manage help programs
• The Mission Director's office and the Program office
• Offices for contracts, money, and facilities

Assistance Management Offices

These offices design and manage the help USAID gives to local projects. Common offices in USAID missions include Health and Family Planning, Education, Environment, Democracy, and Economic Growth.

Health and Family Planning

These offices help strengthen public health systems. They focus on health for mothers and children, including family planning. They also help deliver medical supplies and coordinate health surveys. This help aims to reduce poverty and support long-term development.

Education

USAID's Education offices mainly help national school systems. They work to make sure more people get a good basic education. They help with creating school lessons, training teachers, and providing better textbooks. Larger programs have even built schools. This work helps reduce poverty and supports long-term growth.

Environment

Environmental offices help with projects like protecting tropical forests and wildlife. They also work on controlling pollution, reducing greenhouse gases, and helping communities deal with climate change. This help supports global environmental goals and sustainable development.

USAID recently started the HEARTH program. It works in 10 countries to protect nature and help communities. It partners with businesses to link business goals with development goals. HEARTH aims for lasting benefits for both people and the environment.

Democracy

Democracy offices help a country's political systems. This includes elections, political parties, and human rights groups. They also work with courts and groups that watch how the government performs. This help supports U.S. interests and helps countries develop.

Economic Growth

Economic Growth offices help improve farming methods and markets. They also help develop small loan businesses (microfinance). They work to make customs rules simpler to help trade grow. They also help governments update rules for industries like telecom and agriculture. This work helps countries grow economically and reduces poverty in a lasting way.

Special Assistance

Some USAID missions have special offices for help in conflict areas.

Large-scale disaster help comes from USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. This office has supplies ready in different places. This allows them to respond quickly when disasters happen.

The Mission Director's Office and Program Office

The Mission Director approves the help programs. With the Program Office, the Director makes sure the plans follow USAID's policies and budget rules. The Program Office also gathers reports for Washington, D.C. This helps with budget requests and checks how money was used.

Contracting, Financial Management, and Management Offices

These offices are very important for USAID's work. They make sure that agreements are followed correctly.

Contracting

USAID makes agreements with NGOs and companies that carry out its programs. These agreements must follow strict rules. The Mission Director can also make financial agreements directly with a country's government agencies.

Financial Management

Money can only be used if the Mission's Controller confirms it is available for the stated purpose. These offices help plan budgets for projects. They also check if groups can manage U.S. government money before it is given. Then, they carefully review how the money is spent.

Management

This office provides support for the mission's daily work. This includes human resources, computer systems, transportation, and supplies. As USAID works more closely with U.S. Embassies, this office also works closely with the Embassy's management team.

Assistance Projects

It's helpful to understand the difference between "development projects" and "assistance projects."

• Development is what developing countries do. These are projects by local governments and NGOs to improve services or business rules.
• Assistance is what USAID does. USAID's assistance projects support local development projects.

For a development project to succeed, local organizations need strong skills and professional staff. For USAID's assistance to succeed, it must fit the needs of the local projects. This includes building skills and supporting education for staff.

Once a local project's needs are known, USAID arranges help through agreements with "implementing partners." USAID uses different types of agreements and works with various partners.

For example, USAID might help a development project with:

• Money given directly to a government agency.
• A contract with a company to support the agency.
• A grant to a local NGO that helps people.
• A grant to an international NGO to strengthen the local NGO.

Money for a Government Agency

This is a direct payment from USAID to a government agency. A letter explains the goals, the amount of money, and how it will be used. USAID staff oversee the progress. USAID's financial office sends the money. The country's own audit agency usually checks how the money was spent.

Contract for Technical Help to a Government Agency

A government agency might need help with planning, building, buying equipment, or managing training. USAID can hire a company to provide these services.

USAID works with the agency to describe what is needed. Then, USAID finds companies that can do the work. USAID's Contracting Officer signs the contract. A USAID staff member oversees the work. USAID relies on the agency's feedback on the contractor's work.

Grant for NGO Services

NGOs often provide services in areas where USAID wants to help. USAID can offer grants to NGOs for their programs. A USAID staff member monitors the NGO's progress. NGOs that receive USAID grants must have their finances checked by outside auditors.

USAID's financial office checks if smaller NGOs can manage U.S. government money. If needed, USAID can give part of the grant to help the NGO improve its own systems.

Grant to International NGOs for Technical Help

International NGOs also have their own projects. If USAID decides that an international NGO's project is the best way to meet development goals, it can give them a grant. USAID manages these grants like those for local NGOs.

International NGOs can also suggest their own projects to USAID. If they put a lot of their own money into a project, they can get USAID funding through "Global Development Alliance" grants.

In general, USAID gives money to support other organizations' programs when they match USAID's goals. USAID uses contracts to buy products or services that local projects need.

Other Ways USAID Helps

USAID uses other ways to help achieve U.S. goals.

Agreements with Other Agencies

USAID often makes agreements with other U.S. federal agencies. This helps them work together with other countries on global issues. Large grants can also be given to governments to support U.S. foreign policy goals.

Working with the U.S. Military

In special situations, like in Vietnam in the 1960s or Afghanistan and Iraq in the 2000s, USAID staff worked with U.S. military units. This was part of "counterinsurgency" (COIN) operations.

In these areas, the national government could not provide safety. The U.S. military's job was to fight armed groups and protect the civilian work of USAID and the government. The military also gave a lot of resources for projects.

USAID's role was to help the national government strengthen its local leadership and services. It also provided direct services to local people. The overall goal was to help the national government have a strong presence in these areas.

In these countries, USAID also ran many regular aid programs that were not under military control.

History of USAID

When USAID was created in November 1961, it built on earlier aid agencies. Its predecessor agency already had 6,400 U.S. staff in other countries in 1961. This was more U.S. field staff than USAID would have later, except during the Vietnam War (1965–70).

The decision in 1961 to reorganize aid was a big step. It came after twenty years of trying different ways to give aid. The new structure created in 1961 was "strong and lasting." The U.S. has kept the idea of having "strong resident aid missions" in countries it helps.

Before World War II

In the late 1800s, people realized that industrial countries like the U.S. could help other countries develop. U.S. experts visited countries like Japan, China, and Latin American nations. They gave advice on things like money, elections, mining, schools, and health. The U.S. government also sent missions when it felt its interests were at risk, like during crises.

Early U.S. technical missions were not part of a big government program. One example was the China Foundation for the Promotion of Education and Culture, started in 1924. It helped develop Tsinghua University.

An early example of U.S. government disaster relief was its help to the Committee for Relief in Belgium in 1915. This group, led by Herbert Hoover, prevented starvation in Belgium. After World War I, the American Relief Administration, also led by Hoover, provided food in Eastern Europe.

Between the two world wars, U.S. aid often came from private groups. The Rockefeller Foundation, for example, helped improve crops and public health in Latin America and Asia.

Starting American Development Aid

World War II led the U.S. government to create lasting foreign aid programs that became USAID. U.S. aid first focused on Latin America. In 1938, a committee was set up to handle requests for expert help from U.S. departments.

In 1942, the Institute of Inter-American Affairs (IIAA) was created. It was started by Nelson Rockefeller. Its 1,400 employees gave technical help across Central and South America. They worked on economic stability, food, health, and sanitation.

IIAA's way of working set the pattern for future U.S. government technical aid, including USAID. In each country, U.S. and local staff worked together in local offices. They planned and carried out projects in areas like health or food supply.

After the war, IIAA moved to the State Department. Congress allowed it to continue. In 1949, President Truman proposed a worldwide version of this program, called "Point Four." Its goal was to share technical knowledge to help underdeveloped countries grow. Congress approved it in 1950, and the Technical Cooperation Administration (TCA) was set up.

Growing American Development Aid

In the 1950s, U.S. foreign economic policy changed. This affected how development aid worked. When USAID was created in 1961, it continued TCA's main method: providing technical help through local offices. It also added a lot of financial help.

Post-War Foreign Aid

Point Four and TCA were part of other large U.S. foreign aid efforts in the 1940s. During the war, the U.S. helped create the "United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration" (UNRRA) for war-affected parts of Europe and Asia. After the war, the U.S. government provided relief in Germany and Japan.

Reconstruction aid followed quickly. In 1946, the U.S. helped rebuild the Philippines. In 1948, the Marshall Plan helped rebuild Western Europe. The Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction helped China and Taiwan for two decades. The Fulbright Program for academic exchanges also started in 1946.

Point Four focused on technical help, with limited financial aid. The Marshall Plan also helped developing nations, especially in Africa and Asia.

The U.S. also joined UN efforts for technical aid. It provided 60% of the money for the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance (EPTA). By 1955, EPTA let countries plan their own aid with the UN.

Korean War

The Korean War (1950–51) made the U.S. combine development aid and the Marshall Plan more closely. In 1951, Congress created the Mutual Security Agency (MSA). It oversaw both civilian and military aid. MSA focused more on large financial aid to U.S. allies. This was called "economic assistance" but also helped allies with their military efforts.

MSA took over the Marshall Plan. TCA (Point Four) remained in the State Department but was supervised by MSA. The policy was "one country — one agency." This meant only one agency would work in a country.

Eisenhower Administration

In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration took office. They wanted to run the government efficiently and cut spending. They thought "economic assistance" should be short-term. They suggested allies should earn money through trade, not aid.

To manage foreign aid better, President Eisenhower created the Foreign Operations Administration (FOA). MSA, TCA, and IIAA were all closed in August 1953. Their offices became "United States Operations Missions" (USOMs) under FOA. The President also told other federal agencies to put their technical aid under FOA.

Many senior TCA professionals were let go. FOA tried to use experts from U.S. universities and private groups instead.

The administration wanted "trade not aid." But Congress did not agree to make import rules easier. Instead, the U.S. increased subsidies for U.S. farm products. The Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, known as "PL-480," allowed the U.S. government to buy farm surpluses and sell them in developing countries. Much of this money was given back to developing countries as aid. PL-480 still provides resources for nutrition and disaster relief.

Several things led to more economic aid for developing countries, especially in Asia. South Korea needed a lot of help after the war. U.S. aid to South Vietnam increased after France left. The Cold War also led to competition for influence in developing countries. India was an example where the U.S. felt it needed to give aid to balance the USSR's influence.

In June 1954, Congress increased the ExIm Bank's lending power. President Eisenhower also created a Council on Foreign Economic Policy. In March 1955, it suggested more low-interest loans for development. In April 1955, President Eisenhower proposed a special economic fund for Asia.

In May 1955, President Eisenhower closed FOA. He created the new International Cooperation Administration (ICA) in the State Department. This separated development aid from military aid.

Solving the Debate Over Foreign Aid

Some people in the administration still wanted less spending. So, in 1956, President Eisenhower and Congress studied foreign aid policy. The reports, mostly in early 1957, said that long-term development aid would help the U.S. globally. They also said developing countries needed a lot of low-interest loans. These countries needed softer loans for public health, schools, and infrastructure.

President Eisenhower summarized these ideas in May 1957. He said economic development aid should be mainly loans, linked to technical aid. He also said military and economic development aid should be separate. He recommended a "Development Loan Fund" (DLF) within ICA.

As a result, the Development Loan Fund was set up in August 1957. The DLF mainly financed infrastructure (like roads and power plants), factories, and agriculture. Its loans had low interest rates and could be paid back in local money. The Export-Import Bank's lending limit was also raised. In January 1959, the administration supported a bigger "food for peace" program.

The number of U.S. staff in field missions shows the growth of U.S. aid. From 1953 to 1961, it rose from 2,839 to 6,387.

Working with Other Countries

As the U.S. expanded its aid in the 1950s, other industrial countries also started giving aid. The U.S. supported their involvement through several international efforts.

Three efforts expanded the World Bank.

• In 1954, the U.S. supported the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC), which helps private businesses in developing countries. The IFC started in 1956.
• In 1958, Congress approved another World Bank group, the International Development Association (IDA). It gives low-interest loans to developing countries for public works. The IDA started in 1960, with the U.S. giving 42% of its first money.
• Also in 1958, the U.S. suggested doubling contributions to the World Bank.

The U.S. also started a regional effort with Latin America. In 1958, after a riot during Vice President Nixon's visit to Caracas, Venezuela, the U.S. changed its mind. It supported the creation of the Inter-American Development Bank in 1959.

To get other wealthy countries to give more aid, the U.S. supported the Aid India Consortium in 1958. This was the first group of donors focusing on one country.

The U.S. also encouraged Western Europe and Japan to increase their aid. It built on the European Marshall Plan group, the Organization of European Economic Cooperation (OEEC). In 1960, President Eisenhower got OEEC members to create a Development Assistance Group (DAG). In 1961, the OEEC became the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which created the Development Assistance Committee (DAC). This led to agreements to increase aid budgets. Many countries also created new agencies to manage aid.

Creating USAID and the Decade of Development

By the late 1950s, Senator John F. Kennedy supported more development aid. As a candidate in 1960, he supported humanitarian goals for PL-480 and the idea of a Peace Corps.

After becoming president in January 1961, JFK created the Peace Corps in March. On March 22, he told Congress that the 1960s should be a "Decade of Development." He suggested putting all U.S. development aid under one agency. Congress approved the "Foreign Assistance Act" in September. In November, President Kennedy signed the act. He then ordered the Secretary of State to create the "Agency for International Development" (USAID) within the State Department. USAID took over from ICA and the Development Loan Fund.

With these actions, the U.S. created a lasting agency. It had its own power but followed the State Department's policy. It would use local offices to run a global program of technical and financial aid for countries in need. This structure is still in place today.

President Kennedy also called for a "United Nations Decade of Development" at the UN in September 1961. The UN approved this, making development and aid global priorities.

New Directions Act

In the late 1960s, foreign aid became a point of disagreement during the Vietnam War. In 1970, President Nixon suggested closing USAID and creating three new groups. USAID's local offices would have been removed.

Congress did not agree to replace USAID. Instead, it changed the Foreign Assistance Act. It said USAID must focus on "Basic Human Needs": food, health, and education. USAID's budget would be changed to show spending for each of these needs. This new system was called "functional accounts." President Nixon signed this "New Directions Act" into law in December 1973.

Also in 1973, the "Percy Amendment" required U.S. aid to include women in its programs. This led to USAID creating its Women in Development (WID) office in 1974.

A 1974 change to the Foreign Assistance Act stopped aid for police. This ended USAID's involvement in Public Safety programs in Latin America.

These changes in the early 1970s greatly reduced the number of U.S. staff in field missions. In 1969, there were 7,701 staff. By 1976, there were only 2,007.

Changing Links with the State Department

Foreign aid has always been part of U.S. foreign policy. The links between the State Department and USAID have been reviewed many times.

In 1978, a law was proposed to create a Cabinet-level International Development Cooperation Agency (IDCA). It was meant to oversee USAID instead of the State Department. But when it was created in 1979, it did not make USAID truly independent.

In 1995, Senator Jesse Helms suggested closing USAID. He wanted to replace it with a grant-making foundation. The House of Representatives passed a bill to close USAID, but it did not become law. To get Congress to cooperate, President Bill Clinton suggested in 1997 to bring more foreign affairs agencies into the State Department. The "Foreign Affairs Agencies Consolidation Act of 1998" closed IDCA and other agencies. The law allowed the President to close USAID, but President Clinton did not do so.

In 2003, President Bush started PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. This put USAID's HIV/AIDS programs under the State Department's new Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator.

In 2004, the Bush Administration created the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). This new aid agency gives financial help to countries that show good progress in development. The MCC also funds some USAID projects.

In January 2006, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice created the Office of the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance ('F') within the State Department. Its goal was to make sure foreign aid met foreign policy goals. This office directed all USAID budgets. USAID then closed its Washington office that handled development policy and budgeting.

On September 22, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a new policy on Global Development. It aimed to make development aid more important in U.S. policy. It also aimed to rebuild "USAID as the U.S. Government's lead development agency." It added a focus on new ideas and innovation. USAID then re-created a development planning office.

On November 23, 2010, USAID announced a new Bureau for Food Security. It would lead President Obama's Feed the Future Initiative.

On December 21, 2010, Secretary of State Clinton released the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR). It confirmed the plan to rebuild USAID's staff. It also said that State Department staff would play a bigger role in aid. It planned to move health aid back to USAID. The next QDDR in April 2015 confirmed these policies.

USAID's Budget

Top 20 Countries Receiving U.S. Economic Aid in 2012

Nation	Billions of Dollars
Afghanistan	2.24
Pakistan	0.97
Jordan	0.48
Ethiopia	0.45
Haiti	0.31
Kenya	0.31
Iraq	0.28
Democratic Republic of Congo	0.24
Uganda	0.22
Tanzania	0.21
Somalia	0.20
West Bank and Gaza	0.20
Ghana	0.19
Bangladesh	0.18
Colombia	0.18
Indonesia	0.17
Liberia	0.16
Yemen	0.16
Mozambique	0.16
India	0.15

USAID's costs include its "Operating Expenses" and "Bilateral Economic Assistance" program costs. In 2012, operating expenses were $1.35 billion. Program costs were $20.83 billion, mostly managed by USAID.

You can find current budget details on USAID's website. This includes how much money goes to different countries and who provides the goods and services for technical aid.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also shows U.S. aid budgets compared to other countries. At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, many governments agreed to aim for 0.7% of their national income for Official Development Assistance (ODA). Most countries do not reach this goal. In 2011, the average was 0.31%. The U.S. figure was 0.20%, but it was still the largest single source of ODA. In 2022, U.S. ODA increased to $55.3 billion, mainly due to help for Ukraine and refugees. This was 0.22% of its national income.

USAID's Work by Region

Haiti

After the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, USAID helped many people. It provided safer homes for almost 200,000 people. It supported vaccinations for over 1 million people. It cleared a lot of rubble. It helped over 10,000 farmers double their crop yields. It also gave short-term jobs to over 350,000 Haitians, putting over $19 million into the local economy. USAID also gave nearly $42 million to fight cholera. This helped reduce hospital cases and deaths from the disease.

Afghanistan

When American troops entered Afghanistan in 2001, USAID worked with the State Department and Department of Defense. They coordinated efforts to rebuild the country.

Iraq

USAID played a big role in rebuilding and developing Iraq. By June 2009, USAID had spent about $6.6 billion. This money was used to help communities become stable. It also helped grow the economy and agriculture. It helped national and local governments serve the Iraqi people better.

In June 2003, C-SPAN followed USAID administrator Andrew Natsios as he visited Iraq. C-SPAN made a special program about his tour.

Lebanon

USAID has sometimes given money to the Lebanese American University and the American University of Beirut. It made big contributions to the Lebanese American University's Campaign for Excellence.

Cuba

A USAID contractor was arrested in Cuba in 2009. He was giving out satellite equipment to help Cubans get internet access. He was released later when the U.S. and Cuba improved their relationship.

USAID has been involved in programs in Cuba that aimed to encourage change. Between 2009 and 2012, USAID ran a program that was presented as humanitarian aid. It aimed to encourage discussion in Cuba. This program included creating a social network called ZunZuneo. It also involved people who acted as tourists or aid workers to connect with Cubans.

The ZunZuneo messaging service was launched in 2010. It grew to 40,000 users. It first shared non-political content like sports and music. The idea was to later change the content to encourage political discussion. USAID tried to hide its involvement. It used overseas bank accounts and companies. Users of ZunZuneo did not know it was created by the U.S. government. They also did not know USAID was collecting their private information.

The service was closed in mid-2012. USAID said it ran out of money.

Another part of the program involved sending young people from other countries to Cuba. They were meant to encourage Cubans to take part in activities. These people acted as aid workers or tourists. In one operation, they held a health workshop. Memos called this "the perfect excuse" for the program's goals. This operation was criticized for possibly putting the people involved at risk.

Bolivia

In 2008, a farmers' union in Bolivia asked USAID to leave the Chapare region. They were unhappy with U.S. efforts to get them to grow other crops. From 1998 to 2003, Bolivian farmers could only get USAID money if they removed all their coca plants. Other rules, like requiring communities to be "terrorist-free zones," also caused problems. One expert said, "Eradicate all your coca and then you grow an orange tree that will get fruit in eight years but you don't have anything to eat in the meantime? A bad idea."

President Evo Morales expelled USAID from Bolivia on May 1, 2013. He said USAID's goals in Bolivia were to help American interests, not the Bolivian people.

After the 2019 Bolivian political crisis, the new leader, Jeanine Áñez, invited USAID to return. She asked for "technical aid to the electoral process in Bolivia."

East Africa

On September 19, 2011, USAID and the Ad Council started the "Famine, War, and Drought" (FWD) campaign. It aimed to raise awareness about the severe drought in East Africa. Through TV and internet ads, FWD encouraged Americans to share information. It also asked them to support aid groups and look into the Feed the Future program for solutions. Celebrities like Geena Davis and Uma Thurman took part. Companies like Cargill and General Mills also supported the campaign.

Palestinian Territories

USAID ended all its projects in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on January 31, 2019. On November 10, 2023, over 1,000 USAID employees signed a letter. They called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war.

Working with Private Companies

In April 2023, USAID and the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) announced a partnership. They plan to improve food safety and sustainable food systems in Africa. GFSI works to set standards for the food industry. This helps different food safety programs be accepted by each other.

Images for kids

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  Seal of USAID

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  Flag of USAID

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  Wordmark of USAID

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  USAID Packages are delivered by United States Coast Guard personnel

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  Early reading and literacy programs contribute to long-term development, USAID Nigeria

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  USAID Administrator Samantha Power

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  National Open Source Software Competition – USAID financial assistance for groups developing technology in Indonesia

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  Pakistani and U.S. Staff of USAID/Pakistan in 2009

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  A dried fruit vendor in Peshawar, Pakistan (2007)

See also

In Spanish: Agencia de los Estados Unidos para el Desarrollo Internacional para niños