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 Southern Africa Frequent Answered Questions

 

  1. What is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and who funds it?
  2. Why do the United States and the American people give money to help people in other countries?
  3. How long has USAID been working in Southern Africa regional program?
  4. Which sectors does USAID focus on in Southern Africa region?
  5. Why does USAID have a regional mission to Southern Africa if there are bilateral missions in many of the Southern African countries?
  6. How much money has USAID provided to Southern Africa?
  7. How does USAID make funding decisions?
  8. How can I get a job with USAID/Southern Africa?
  9. How can our organization access USAID funding for programs in Southern Africa?
  10. We have an idea for a development project in South Africa. Can we submit an unsolicited proposal to USAID?
  11. Who are USAID/Southern Africa’s current partners, grantees, and contractors?
  12. Will you send me some general information on USAID activities in Southern Africa region?
  13. I would like to ask permission to use materials (images) from your website in my presentation or publication.

 

 

1. What is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and who funds it?

USAID is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that provides economic, development, and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States.  USAID receives overall policy guidance from the U.S. Secretary of State.  In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed the Foreign Assistance Act into law, creating by executive order what is now known as USAID.

With headquarters in Washington, USAID has field missions in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Near East, Latin American and the Caribbean, and Europe and Eurasia.  USAID operates in over 100 countries around the world and manages a budget of approximately $9.5 billion.

The American people provide funding for USAID through their taxes.  USAID funding is allocated from the U.S. Federal Budget approved by the U.S. Congress.

Related links: www.usaid.gov

 

2. Why do the United States and the American people give money to help people in other countries?

The United States has a long history of extending a helping hand to people overseas struggling to make a better life, recovering from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country.  It is this caring attitude 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 two-fold purpose of furthering America’s foreign policy interests by expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing world.

Development is now a crucial pillar (along with diplomacy and defense) of the U.S. Government’s national security strategy.  For over 40 years, USAID programs have helped to improve the lives of the poor in developing countries and to lessen the kind of poverty and disenfranchisement that can feed international terrorism and the flow of illegal immigrants. 

USAID programs also work on transnational issues such as global climate change and HIV/AIDS that affect us all. 

 

3. How long has USAID been working as a Southern Africa regional program?

In March 1995, the Regional Center for Southern Africa was established in Gaborone, Botswana with the task of developing, implementing, and managing the Initiative for Southern Africa (ISA). This initiative provided $300 million over the course of five years for regional programs to open markets, attract increased investment, increase participation of disadvantaged groups in all segments of the regional economy, strengthen democracies, expand the production of food and fiber, and better develop and utilize the region’s impressive natural resource base in an environmentally sensitive manner.

In 2008, USAID’s Southern Africa regional program moved to Pretoria, South Africa, creating USAID/Southern Africa which consisted of both regional and bilateral programs. Additionally, USAID/Southern Africa provides support services (contracts, financial management, legal, etc) and technical assistance to other bilateral missions in the region.

For more information see our history page. 

 

4. Which sectors does USAID focus on in Southern Africa region?

Based on USAID’s overall agency strategy and goals, USAID/Southern Africa implements projects in the following focus areas:

  1. Assure food security through agriculture support and regional trade facilitation;
  2. Protect the environment while meeting human needs through programs in the areas of water supply and sanitation, clean energy, natural resource management, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation;
  3. Mitigate the prevalence of and enhance treatment for those with HIV/AIDS; and
  4. Democracy and governance.

In focusing on these areas, USAID/Southern Africa seeks development that considers the appropriate roles of the public and private sectors and promotes gender equality, anti-corruption measures, and a cleaner environment.

 

5. Why does USAID have a regional mission to Southern Africa if there are bilateral missions in many of the Southern African countries?

USAID/Southern Africa works on regional issues that are better addressed and supported through a regional approach. Through a regional mission, USAID is able to:

  • Support regional entities like the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
  • Address cross-boundary issues such as trade and customs regulations or water management of rivers that cross borders.

Additionally, USAID is able to provide a regional support platform for technical assistance and support services (contracts, executive office, etc) to bilateral missions.
 

6. How much money has USAID provided to Southern Africa?

In FY 2009, the U.S. Government provided USAID with $17.2 million to implement regional programs in Southern Africa.  Since 2000, USAID has received almost $175 million in assistance funds for the regional programs.

Fiscal Year 2009: Funding by program objective, pie chart. Democracy and Governance: 9%, HIV/AIDS: 11%, Agriculture: 24%, Economic Growth: 33%, and Environment: 23%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. How does USAID make funding decisions?

Every few years, USAID/Southern Africa develops a multi-year strategy, which identifies priorities where the country has the greatest need for USAID’s assistance.  USAID develops the priorities in close connection with the South African government, other U.S. government entities working in the country, the non-governmental organization community, local civil society organizations, the private sector, and other stakeholders.  The strategy reflects a careful study of South Africa’s socio-economic and political environment and the assistance provided by other donors.  It is important that the work reflects the priorities of the South African people and does not duplicate what is already being provided.

Taking into consideration this multi-year strategy, the mission then develops a one-year strategic plan for operations to take place two years from the development of the strategy. This strategic plan proposes how the assistance will be used and the levels of funding needed.  This plan is reviewed by USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., and incorporated into the President’s annual foreign assistance budget submitted to the U.S. Congress.  Once Congress passes the appropriations bill, USAID/Southern Africa and the appropriate South African Government officials negotiate the agreements required to release USAID funds.  By obligating funds through these agreements, USAID commits to use them to pursue certain development objectives in key sectors.

Subsequently, USAID provides funding through a transparent and competitive process to organizations with the expertise to implement projects.  USAID seeks the best value for money invested and gives funds to organization that have the capacity to manage and account for USAID funds in accordance with U.S. law.  Periodic audits are carried out to ensure that USAID is in compliance with U.S. law.

Recognizing the key role of the private sector in advancing development, USAID promotes public-private partnerships to leverage additional resources and encourage effectiveness.

 

8. How can I get a job with USAID/Southern Africa?

Job vacancies are advertised on this site, under employment.

If you have South African citizenship and wish to apply for a Foreign Service National (FSN) job that has been advertised on our website or in the newspaper, please send your application to:

U.S. Agency for International Development
Human Resource Office
P.O. Box 43
Groenkloof 0027
Pretoria, South Africa
Fax: +27-12-460-3177

If you are a U.S. citizen and are interested in a long-term career with USAID, please contact:

Office of Human Resources Management
Recruitment Branch
United States Agency for International Development
Second Floor, Ronald Regan Building
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20523
USA

You can also find additional information on the Agency’s website: www.usaid.gov/careers.

 

9. How can our organization access USAID funding for programs in Southern Africa?

Worldwide business opportunities (in the form of solicitations) can be found on the USAID Business Site. 

USAID does business through a variety of available federal mechanisms – each with their own distinct policies, forms, procedures and associated documents. The two main categories are:

  • Contracts (Acquisitions): Direct contracts are subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), the USAID Supplement to the FAR (AIDAR), and applicable portions of the ADS Series 300.  Notices of contract opportunities and corresponding solicitations are publicized at FedBizOpps (http://www.fbo.gov/), the single source for federal procurement opportunities. 
  • Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Assistance): Federal Grants and or Cooperative Agreements are used to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA).  The Agency may publish an Annual Program Statement (APS) or a Request for Applications (RFA) in order to satisfy the requirement for public notice as well as provide a mechanism for advertising competitive assistance programs.  APSs and RFAs are publicized at FedGrants (http://www.grants.gov/), the U.S. government-wide portal for grant opportunities.

USAID/Southern Africa solicitations can also be found on our Doing Business with USAID site.  This page also contains agency guidance governing USAID grants, contracts, and other implementing mechanisms used by USAID.

Instruction on how to apply for each USAID solicited program are contain in each solicitation.  Each solicitation also includes a point of contact and contact information.

 

10. We have an idea for a development project in Southern Africa.  Can we submit an unsolicited proposal to USAID?

USAID generally undertakes direct assistance programs to benefit developing countries through competitive grants and cooperative agreements. Resources available to USAID for programs must be concentrated and focused on clear objectives which fit within program priorities. Thus, only exceptional unsolicited applications can be considered for funding on a noncompetitive basis – ones which present a unique approach, are fully supportive of USAID's development objectives, demonstrate a unique capacity by the applicant to carry out proposed activities, and where there is clear support for such activities by the recipient country government or private institutions. Further, only limited funding may be available for even the best of such applications, since most funding is reserved for development priorities already established by USAID. Accordingly, it is strongly recommended that potential applicants review USAID competitive announcements (see http://www.fbo.gov/ and http://www.grants.gov/). Applicants responding to specific announcements should follow the directions contained in that announcement. If a potential applicant still desires to submit an unsolicited application, the applicant should follow the procedures described in Guide to Submitting Unsolicited Assistance Applications and Guidelines for Submitting Unsolicited Contract Proposals.

 

11. Who are USAID/Southern Africa’s current partners, grantees, and contractors?

A list of all USAID partners can be found on this website by linking to our partners page.

 

12. Will you send me some general information on USAID activities in South Africa?

All our information is available on this website.  We urge you to browse the site and print whatever you deem appropriate.  If you are still in need of further information, please feel free to contact us.

 

13. I would like to ask permission to use materials (images) from your website in my presentation or publication.

Unless a copyright is indicated, information on this website is in the public domain and may be reproduced, published or otherwise used without USAID’s permission.  We request that USAID be cited as the source of information and that any photo credits or bylines be similarly credited to the photographer or author or USAID, as appropriate.

If a copyright is indicated on a photo, graphic, or any other material, permission to copy these materials must be obtained from the original source.