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	USAID-State Strategic Plan 2007-2012 National Security Strategy of the United States, March 2006 Policy Framework for Bilateral Foreign Aid, January 2006 [PDF, 440 KB] White Paper: US Foreign Aid: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, January 2004 [PDF, 353 KB] Fragile States Strategy, January 2005 [PDF, 305 KB] Democracy and Governance Strategic Framework [PDF, 343 KB] Mitigating the Development Impacts of HIV/AIDS [PDF, 406 KB] Foreign Aid in the National Interest [PDF, 353 KB] Nine Principles, February 2005 Business Transformation
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USAID Primer: What We Do and How We Do It

Download the USAID Primer: What We Do and How We Do It (PDF, 3mb)

The purpose of this primer is to explain the internal doctrines, strategies, operational procedures, structure, and program mechanisms of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The primer has been prepared primarily for employees of other federal agencies such as the departments of State and Defense, partner organizations, congressional staff, and new USAID employees.

USAID plays a vital role in promoting U.S. national security, foreign policy, and the War on Terrorism. It does so by addressing poverty fueled by lack of economic opportunity, one of the root causes of violence today. As stated in the President’s National Security Strategy, USAID’s work in development joins diplomacy and defense as one of three key pieces of the nation’s foreign policy apparatus. USAID promotes peace and stability by fostering economic growth, protecting human health, providing emergency humanitarian assistance, and enhancing democracy in developing countries. These efforts to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide represent U.S. values and advance U.S. interests for peace and prosperity.

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 in many regions of the world. The agency works in 100 developing countries and inclose partnership with private voluntary organizations, indigenous groups, universities, American businesses, international organizations, other governments, trade and professional associations, faith-based organizations, and other U.S. government agencies. USAID has working relationships, through contracts and grant agreements, with more than 3,500 companies and over 300 U.S.-based private voluntary organizations.

The types of assistance USAID provides include

• technical assistance and capacity building
• training and scholarships
• food aid and disaster relief
• infrastructure construction
• small-enterprise loans
• budget support
• enterprise funds
• credit guarantees

We hope you find the information in this primer useful.

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