Agency for International Development

Definition/Scope: The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the United States federal government organization responsible for most non-military foreign aid. An independent federal agency, it receives overall foreign policy guidance from the United States Secretary of State and seeks to "extend a helping hand to those people overseas struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country..." USAID advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting economic growth, agriculture and trade; health; democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance. It provides assistance in Sub-Saharan Africa; Asia and the Near East, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Eurasia. USAID is also organized around three main pillars: Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade; Global Health; Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance.

Used For:

United States Agency for International Development

Acronym:

AID
USAID

Broader Terms:

economic cooperation
international cooperation
US International Development Cooperation Agency

Narrower Terms:

Economic and Community Revitalization Activity
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance

Related Terms:

Agency for International Development Inspector General
AID job titles
AID personnel
Department of State
Humanitarian Assistance
State Department