USAID Missions
Created in 1961, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal government agency that extends assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms. The agency advances US foreign policy objectives by supporting long-term and equitable economic growth, agriculture and trade; global health; and democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance.
In sub-Saharan Africa, USAID provides assistance to 47 countries and operates 23 bilateral missions. In addition, three regional missions provide support to countries with a limited USAID presence. Community Connector's aim to develop long-term community partnerships that stimulate economic and community development complements USAID's goal of strengthening institutional capacity to contribute to stable and secure development in Africa. A brief description highlighting the activities of each USAID mission in Africa is provided below.
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Bilateral Missions
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Regional Missions
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USAID/East Africa
The USAID/East Africa Mission was established in 1972 to provide technical and support services to USAID Missions and African partners in the East and Central Africa region. The Mission, which is co-located with USAID/Kenya at the American Embassy in Nairobi, serves 14 countries in the region, including four countries where there are no bilateral USAID Missions. USAID/East Africa's purpose is to provide assistance across borders, helping countries to improve their capacity to achieve food security and boost economic growth, to better contain and prevent conflict and to improve health systems, with a special emphasis on fighting HIV/AIDS. The regional program provides technical support to bilateral missions, ensuring that lessons learned in one country are shared. The Mission also plays a key role in carrying out activities under the new Presidential Initiatives in the region and supports USAID priorities reflecting hunger alleviation and increasing global competitiveness, along with curbing corruption and building public-private alliances. Click here to go to the USAID/East Africa website.
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USAID/Southern Africa
USAID/Southern Africa was created in 1995 to promote sustainable growth and support U.S. foreign policy priorities in Southern Africa. The Mission, which is located in Pretoria, South Africa, serves 11 countries in the region, including three countries where there are no bilateral USAID Missions. The Mission's purpose is to: 1) promote democratic government and good governance; 2) increase economic prosperity and security; 3) conserve the region's natural resource base; and 4) counter the spread of HIV/AIDS. USAID/Southern Africa achieves this through programs that strengthen regional institutions, advance regional integration, create jobs through increased trade, improve food security, strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS, promote electoral reform, and improve the management of shared natural resources. Click here to go to the USAID/Southern Africa website.
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USAID/West Africa
For over a decade, USAID/West Africa has been a leading actor in protecting the region's unique biodiversity, improving the health of families and communities, promoting democracy, and increasing opportunities for economic growth in the country. The Mission has four priority areas: 1) Trade, Investment and Infrastructure; 2) Conflict Mitigation and Reconciliation; 3) Health and HIV/AIDS; and 4) Agriculture and Environment. USAID/West Africa ensures the sustainability of its programs by working in partnership with West African governments and regional institutions, such as The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), CILLS, UWEMU and CORAF. The Mission, which is headquartered in Accra, Ghana and has a satellite office in Dakar, Senegal, serves 21 countries in the region, including 13 countries where there are no bilateral USAID Missions. Click here to go to the USAID/West Africa website.
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USAID/Angola
Although USAID's assistance to Angola began soon after the nation's declaration of independence from Portugal in 1961, the USAID/Angola Mission was not created until 1998. The purpose of the Mission, which is located in the capital city of Luanda, is to promote stability, good governance, economic opportunity, and access to health services and electricity. USAID/Angola accomplishes this by implementing a unified set of programs centered on principles of good governance, improved service delivery, and increased economic opportunity in order to help consolidate past gains and develop the enormous potential of Angola and its people. Click here to go to the USAID/Angola website.
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USAID/Benin
The USAID/Benin Mission is focused on the objective of investing in people. Since 1991, USAID has invested $385 million in the people of Benin and its efforts to grow its economy and consolidate its democracy. The Mission, which is located in the capital city of Cotonou, focuses on: 1) expanding the use of family health services and preventive measures in a supportive policy environment; 2) ensuring that a quality basic education is more widely available on an equitable and sustainable basis; and 3) assisting vulnerable and at risk populations, primarily women and children, with social services and protection. A cross-cutting theme of The Mission's programs is combating corruption by promoting good governance, responsible management, and accountability. Click here to go to the USAID/Benin website.
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USAID/Ethiopia
The USAID/Ethiopia Mission's main objective is to overcome the country's near-constant state of food insecurity. The Mission, which is located in the capital city of Addis Ababa, aims to achieve this objective by working to improve disaster prediction and response management, economic growth, governance structures, and the quality of health care and education. Click here to go to the USAID/Ethiopia website.
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USAID/Ghana
USAID has had a presence in Ghana since its independence from Great Britain in 1957. The purpose of the USAID/Ghana Mission, which is located in the capital city of Accra, is to strengthen decentralized governance systems, promote private sector competitiveness, improve health care delivery, enhance access to quality basic education, and increase food security. Click here to go to the USAID/Ghana website.
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USAID/Guinea
The USAID/Guinea Mission focuses on advancing democratic values and promoting good governance that brings improved health, education and other services to the Guinean people. The Mission, which is located in the capital city of Conakry, supports projects aimed at promoting sustainable management of natural resources, increasing food security and rural incomes, and addressing human rights issues such as human trafficking and female genital cutting. Click here to go to the USAID/Guinea website.
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USAID/Kenya
The USAID/Kenya Mission, which is located in the capital city of Nairobi, works to promote broad-based economic growth and raise the living standards of the poor; strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law, and accountability; prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS; promote family planning and improve public health care; and foster better management of the country's natural resources. Click here to go to the USAID/Kenya website.
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USAID/Madagascar
The USAID/Madagascar Mission, which is located in the capital city of Antananarivo, works to support the government's anti-corruption efforts; enhance the quality of health services, promote maternal and child health and nutrition, and reduce diseases, particularly malaria and HIV/AIDS; accelerate economic growth by improving agricultural productivity and managing natural resources sustainably; and increase access to education techniques and tools. Click here to go to the USAID/Madagascar website.
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USAID/Malawi
The USAID/Malawi Mission was created in 1979 and is located in the capital city of Lilongwe. The Mission supports four main objectives: 1) investing in people, through improving social services in health and education; 2) promoting economic growth to combat poverty and reduce the country's dependence on donor assistance; 3) governing justly and democratically; and 4) humanitarian assistance. Click here to go to the USAID/Malawi website.
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USAID/Mali
USAID has had a presence in Mali since 1961, working to help improve the lives of Malians, especially those in rural areas. The USAID/Mali Mission, located in Bamako, is working to increase Malians' incomes and well-being, improve their health standards, increase literacy, and provide tools to govern effectively and transparently at the local level. The Mission achieves this in various ways, including: improving teacher skills in reading instruction through the implementation of a new nation-wide radio broadcast program; helping local governments improve the delivery of services through more transparent management and greater involvement of civil society, particularly in the area of education; improving citizen access to information by helping create more community radio stations in remote areas and by promoting increased access to the internet in rural areas; increasing citizen access to health services in remote areas, including a major focus on reducing malaria through the distribution of mosquito nets; increasing agricultural productivity of cereal crops through access to improved seeds, fertilizers and irrigation and to credit; and raising farmers' incomes through improved access to markets, with a particular focus on women and their access to credit. Click here to go to the USAID/Mali website.
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USAID/Mozambique
The USAID/Mozambique Mission was created in 1984 to bring positive changes in the lives of people and to help address the evolving development needs of the country. The Mission, which is located in the capital city of Maputo, implements programs aimed at strengthening the capacity of local government and civil society; building the capacity of the public health system and ensuring that quality basic health services are accessible to the rural poor; and improving food security through the adoption of more productive agriculture technologies, improved nutrition and health practices, and better linkages to agricultural markets. Click here to go to the USAID/Mozambique website.
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USAID/Namibia
The USAID/Namibia Mission was created in 1991 to provide needed financial support, technical assistance, and capacity building to introduce strategic interventions that benefit groups of disadvantaged individuals in Namibia while piloting development models that could be expanded in the long-term. The Mission, which is located in the capital city of Windhoek, provides assistance in HIV/AIDS and TB prevention, care, and treatment; basic education; community-based natural resource management; democracy and governance; and employment creation/enterprise development. Click here to go to the USAID/Namibia website.
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USAID/Nigeria
The USAID/Nigeria Mission, which is located in the capital city of Abuja, seeks to strengthen social stability through improved social services, support transparent and accountable governance, promote a more market-led economy, and enhance Nigeria's capacity as a responsible regional and trade partner. Click here to go to the USAID/Nigeria website.
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USAID/Rwanda
The USAID/Rwanda Mission, which is located in the capital city of Kigali, works with the Government of Rwanda to improve the health and livelihoods of Rwandans, increase economic growth, and promote political development. The Mission achieves this in various ways, including: supporting community-managed pre-paid health insurance schemes; providing scholarships to academically-talented yet disadvantaged children; developing the skills, attitudes, and capacity of local youth to find jobs or create their own employment, maintain healthy lifestyles, and participate constructively in their communities; expanding agri-business opportunities, particularly in the coffee and the dairy sectors; establishing legal aid centers for the poor; assisting the government in improving the quality of legislation through a stronger legislative drafting process; and supporting reconciliation by promoting increased dialogue and debate on important and sensitive national topics. Click here to go to the USAID/Rwanda website.
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USAID/Senegal
The USAID/Senegal Mission, which has had a presence in the country since 1961 and is located in the capital city of Dakar, works with the Government of Senegal to promote private-sector development, democratic local governance, health, basic education, and conflict resolution in the Casamance. The Mission achieves this in various ways, including: assisting the Senegalese in generating income from local resources, connecting to markets, and managing the country's natural resources; promoting government-wide transparency and decreasing executive influence on the legislature; increasing access to and use of quality health services, especially for high risk and vulnerable groups; ensuring higher-quality middle school education and broader accessibility, especially for girls; providing in-service training for teachers, school principals, and trainers of teachers, and training new teachers in basic teaching techniques; and supporting peace-building activities such as grassroots conflict resolution, peace process advocacy, and training to build local negotiation and conflict resolution skills. Click here to go to the USAID/Senegal website.
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USAID/Sierra Leone
The USAID/Sierra Leone Mission, which is administered through the USAID Mission for both Sierra Leone and Guinea, is headquartered at the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea, and maintains a small field office at the U.S. Embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The Mission's goals are to prevent conflict; help Sierra Leone to continue to become more democratic, accountable, and just; improve social services; and spur economic growth and job creation. In order to achieve these goals, USAID/Sierra Leone implements a multidisciplinary approach through one overarching strategy: strengthening democratic governance across sectors. This strategy focuses on sector-specific activities in local governance, elections, mineral sector reform, agriculture, and livelihoods promotion, with an emphasis placed on empowering marginalized groups, particularly women and youth. In support of these goals, the Mission's activities include helping improve elections management and the conduct of political parties, building an active civil society, and improving local governance; assisting in the creation of opportunities for livelihoods, improved food security, and greater agricultural productivity; and fostering the country's capacity for health service delivery. Click here to go to the USAID/Sierra Leone website.
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USAID/South Africa
The USAID/South Africa Mission, which has had a presence in the country since 1994, is located in the capital city of Pretoria. The Mission seeks to attain its goal of sustainably transforming the country from apartheid conditions to sustainable development conditions by assisting government and non-government institutions to contribute to the political, social, and economic empowerment of the disadvantaged majority population. The Mission achieves this goal by focusing on the strengthening of small and medium-sized enterprises, creating employment, the strengthening of health systems, and addressing HIV/AIDS. As progress is made, USAID/South Africa re-directs or phases out its long-term programs in education, democracy and governance, and municipal service provision. Click here to go to the USAID/South Africa website.
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USAID/Sudan
The USAID/Sudan Mission, with offices located in both Khartoum and Juba, is committed to supporting the peace process, saving lives, and safeguarding human rights. The Mission accomplishes this through programs that promote stability, recovery, and democratic reform and provide basic health and education services to the Sudanese people. Program activities include assisting returnees and displaced people, providing basic services in underserved areas, and improving food security through increased agricultural production; promoting improved access to independent information and strengthening the capacity of local government to address the root causes of conflict along Sudan's contested North-South border; strengthening maternal and child health services and reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases; rehabilitating schools, training teachers, and mobilizing parent-teacher associations to increase Sudan's capacity to provide quality primary and secondary education, especially for girls; and improving roads, assisting in electrification, and bolstering private sector competitiveness. Click here to go to the Sudan Mission's page on the USAID website.
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USAID/Tanzania
The USAID/Tanzania Mission, which is located in Dar es Salaam, works to address Tanzania's development challenges through democracy, education, health, economic growth, and environment programs. The Mission achieves this in various ways, including: improving public accountability at both the national and local levels as a critical step toward a more competitive democratic process; assisting the government in mentoring and training teachers, improving school management, and strengthening teacher skills; focusing on preventing the spread and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS, combating malaria, and increasing the use of reproductive and child health services; and increasing rural incomes by improving agricultural productivity, increasing market access, and promoting investment and trade. Click here to go to the Tanzania Mission's page on the USAID website.
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USAID/Uganda
The USAID/Uganda Mission, which is located in Kampala, has had a presence in the country since the 1960s. The Mission manages programs in five key areas of assistance: Peace and Security, Governing Justly and Democratically, Investing in People (Health/Education), Economic Growth, and Humanitarian Assistance. Program activities include building the capacity of government institutions and civil society organizations, promoting the institutionalization of multi-party democracy, and furthering truth and reconciliation; reducing poverty through improved agricultural productivity, dissemination of improved production technologies, increased food security, and strengthened rural infrastructure; training community outreach workers in the treatment of tuberculosis and malaria, supporting immunizations against childhood diseases, and improving the quality of and access to family planning services; and training teachers on innovative classroom practices and working to increase parental involvement in school management. Click here to go to the USAID/Uganda website.
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USAID/Zambia
The USAID/Zambia Mission was established in 1977 and is located in the capital city of Lusaka. The Mission's development activities focus on four key areas: agriculture and economic growth, basic education, health and nutrition, and democracy and governance. Program activities include promoting economic growth through trade and investment, enhancing private sector competitiveness, and increasing the sustainable management of natural resources; increasing the quality of education for girls and other vulnerable children, improving the health and nutrition of students, and supporting teacher training; and strengthening maternal and child health, family planning, and reproductive health. Click here to go to the USAID/Zambia website.
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USAID/Zimbabwe
The USAID/Zimbabwe Mission, located in Harare, aims to strengthen the country's prospects for stability through fortified civil society and democratic institutions, a robust response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and a flexible humanitarian response that will save lives. Major activities include advocating to Parliament and local authorities, building an effective committee system within Parliament, and supporting local authorities in being more open to citizen input; training elected officials in modern management practices, good governance, and effective participation with civil society; providing training, technical assistance, and commodities to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS, improving maternal health and nutrition, and slowing the decline of the health system; and supporting programs in agriculture and food security, shelter, livelihoods, relief commodities, humanitarian coordination and information management, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. Click here to go to the USAID/Zimbabwe website.
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