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Explore ForeignAssistance.gov to see how the U.S. Government invests in countries around the world.
Foreign assistance is aid given by the United States to other countries to support global peace, security, and development efforts, and provide humanitarian relief during times of crisis. It is a strategic, economic, and moral imperative for the United States and vital to U.S. national security.
The first U.S. aid program took shape after World War II when then Secretary of State George Marshall acted to provide significant aid to Europe after the war to assist the continent in rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening its economy, and stabilizing the region. This led to the creation of several foreign assistance programs in subsequent years to build off the success of the Marshall Plan. The next milestone for foreign assistance occurred in 1961, when President Kennedy signed the Foreign Assistance Act into law and created the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This marked a significant increase in U.S. foreign assistance efforts and USAID became the first U.S. foreign assistance agency whose primary focus was long-term global development to include economic and social progress.
In 2010, President Obama signed the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, which calls for the elevation of development as a core pillar of American power in accord with diplomacy and defense for an integrated approach to national security. The directive governs U.S. efforts in support of global development and provides clear policy guidance to all U.S. government agencies managing and implementing foreign assistance.
Today, the U.S. manages foreign assistance programs in more than 100 countries around the world through the efforts of over 20 different U.S. Government agencies. These investments further America's foreign policy interests on issues ranging from expanding free markets, combating extremism, ensuring stable democracies, and addressing the root causes of poverty, while simultaneously fostering global good will.
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Foreign assistance funding is classified into one of nine categories, which is further detailed into 52 sectors. Funds are uniquely aligned to one category and sector.
ForeignAssistance.gov’s nine categories are shown below.
Click to learn more about each category and its respective sectors.
To save lives, alleviate suffering, and minimize the economic costs of conflict, disasters and displacement. Humanitarian assistance is provided on the basis of need according to principles of universality, impartiality and human dignity. It is often organized by sectors, but requires an integrated, coordinated and/or multi-sectoral approach to be most effective. Emergency operations will foster the transition from relief, through recovery, to development, but they cannot and will not replace the development investments necessary to reduce chronic poverty or establish just social services.
Generate rapid, sustained, and broad-based economic growth.
To provide the general management support required to ensure completion of U.S. foreign assistance objectives by facilitating program management, monitoring and evaluation, and accounting and tracking for costs.
Multi-Sector is used when a sector cannot be identified and/or aid may be cross-cutting across several categories
To help nations effectively establish the conditions and capacity for achieving peace, security, and stability; and for responding effectively against arising threats to national or international security and stability.
To contribute to improvements in the health of people, especially women, children, and other vulnerable populations in countries of the developing world, through expansion of basic health services, including family planning; strengthening national health systems, and addressing global issues and special concerns such as HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.
Promote equitable, effective, accountable, and sustainable formal and non-formal education systems and address factors that place individuals at risk for poverty, exclusion, neglect, or victimization. Help populations manage their risks and gain access to opportunities that support their full and productive participation in society. Help populations rebound from temporary adversity, cope with chronic poverty, reduce vulnerability, and increase self-reliance.
Activities that support the sustainability of a productive and clean environment by: ensuring that the environment and the natural resources upon which human lives and livelihoods depend are managed in ways that sustain productivity growth, a healthy population, as well as the intrinsic spiritual and cultural value of the environment, and conserving biodiversity and managing natural resources in ways that maintain their long-term viability and preserve their potential to meet the needs of present and future generations.
To promote and strengthen effective democracies in recipient states and move them along a continuum toward democratic consolidation.
Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance
There are over 20 U.S. Government agencies responsible for either funding or executing U.S. foreign assistance activities. The agencies listed below represent the agencies which are currently reporting to ForeignAssistance.gov. These 10 reporting agencies represent approximately 98% of all U.S. foreign assistance. All agencies are working to improve the quantity and quality of their data and to report data on a quarterly basis.
Click to learn more about each Agency.
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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency that provides economic, development, and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States.
As the official international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps gives Americans the opportunity to become global citizens and serve their country by tackling the most pressing needs of people around the world. Peace Corps Volunteers live in their communities of service and work at the grassroots level with host country governments, schools and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in areas like education, health, economic development, agriculture and environment, and youth development. They bring this experience and their skills, knowledge and ideas back home with them to the United States, and the ripple effect of their global outlook follows them wherever they go and enriches the lives of those around them.
The mission of the State Department (DOS) is to advance freedom for the benefit of the American people and the international community by helping to build and sustain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world composed of well-governed states that respond to the needs of their people, reduce widespread poverty, and act responsibly within the international system.
The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) is a U.S. Government’s agency dedicated to promoting African-led development. USADF grants of up to $250,000 provide capital and local technical expertise to grassroots enterprises that empower underserved communities to become a part of Africa’s growth story.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) forms partnerships with some of the world’s poorest countries who are committed to good governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) mission is to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.
The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is an independent agency working throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to support citizen-led initiatives to help communities thrive. It prioritizes the social, economic, and political inclusion of the region’s most disadvantaged people, including: indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, women, young people, persons with disabilities, and LGBTI groups.
The mission of the U.S. Department of the Treasury is to maintain a strong economy and create economic and job opportunities by promoting the conditions that enable economic growth and stability at home and abroad; strengthen national security by combating threats to and protecting the integrity of the financial system; and manage the U.S. Government’s finances and resources effectively.
The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of the United States.
Visit www.defense.gov for more information.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. HHS is headed by the Secretary who is the chief managing officer for the HHS family of agencies, including 11 operating divisions, 10 regional offices, as well as the Office of the Secretary.
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