USADF's Programs

Building bridges to opportunity and greater economic security for African entrepreneurs and African communities

Trade and Investment

For the past several years, the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has been piloting some exciting investments that promote new export trade and investment (T&I) opportunities for small-scale African enterprises. The focus of these efforts is to identify and promote non-traditional export crops and existing small-scale manufacturers or processors and to help these enterprises improve production and productivity and successfully move their products into regional and international markets. The African Growth and Opportunity Act of 2000 (AGOA) specifically recognized the important role of USADF in helping to integrate small-scale producers at the grassroots level into the global economy.

USADF has on-going T&I programs in Cape Verde, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, and Ghana, focused on assisting small-scale producers to grow, process and export a variety of primary commodities, including paprika, vanilla, silk, nile perch, rock lobster, leather products, fruit juices, sea salt, and table grapes.

Enterprise Development

The development of small and micro enterprises (SMEs) in Africa has broad macro and micro economic benefits, as well as social and environmental benefits. Because SMEs are a vital source of employment and income in most African countries, increasing their productivity and profitability is critical for broad-based economic growth and poverty alleviation. Some of the common constraints faced by SMEs in Africa include inadequate fixed or working capital, lack of information on better production methods and markets, lack of access to improved technologies, weak business management capacity, low product quality, and selection of low- value products. SMEs typically need both financing and business development services to increase their productivity, incomes, and employment. USADF can effectively provide both types of assistance.

By empowering Africa's poor to increase their incomes and productivity in sustainable ways and by fostering strong self-reliance and self-governance, the Foundation's program is an essential element of a U.S. foreign assistance policy that helps Africa take the road to greater prosperity and political stability.

Participatory Development

At the core of USADF's work is empowering grassroots communities with the skills and knowledge to help themselves. The Foundation's approach is grounded in the assumption that the true development "experts" are the African entrepreneurs, traders, farmers, and villagers who know best what they need and what works for them.

Since its inception, the Foundation has been an innovator and pioneer of "participatory development methodologies" in Africa - the use of tools and techniques that strengthen local capacity and foster ownership of development and empowerment. All USADF-funded projects are "made in Africa" - proposed, designed and implemented by the beneficiaries themselves, with any needed technical assistance and training provided entirely by local experts. USADF's small grants are awarded directly to grassroots African groups and entrepreneurs. USADF's unique participatory approach builds local capacity and promotes self-help and self-reliance by unleashing entrepreneurial spirit and mobilizing community resources.

Quick Source Information Directory

The purpose of the "Quick Source Information Directory" is to provide a simple way to understand more about USADF operations and programs. The information is organized into four primary categories:

- Financial
- Personnel
- Contract
- Program

To view detailed information about these areas of operations click on the link. (Documents can be viewed by clicking on the link, or downloaded to your computer by using the right-mouse-click 'Save-Target-As' feature.)

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