Embassy Sections

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Overview

The United States has a long history of extending a helping hand to people overseas who are struggling to make a better life, recovering from a disaster, or striving to live in a free and democratic country. It is this caring that stands as a hallmark of the United States around the world--and shows the world our true character as a nation.

U.S. foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of furthering America's foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of citizens in the developing world. Spending less than one-half of one percent of the federal budget, USAID works around the world to achieve its goals.

USAID's history goes back to the Marshall Plan reconstruction of Europe after World War II and the Truman Administration's Point Four Program. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed the Foreign Assistance Act into law and, by executive order, created USAID.

Since that time, there has been a proliferation of agencies engaged in development. USAID has been the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries that are recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, or engaging in democratic reforms. 

USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. The agency works to support long-term equitable economic growth and the advancement of U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting:

• economic growth, agriculture and trade;
• global health; and,
• democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance

USAID provides assistance in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Near East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and Eurasia. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID's strength is its field offices with 1095 foreign service officers and 4966 foreign service national employees working overseas. The Agency operates in approximately 100 developing countries in close partnership with private voluntary organizations, indigenous organizations, universities, American businesses, international agencies, other governments, and other U.S. government agencies. USAID has working relationships with more than 3,500 American companies and over 300 U.S.-based private voluntary organizations.

For additional information, visit USAID's web site at www.usaid.gov.