USAID in Africa

Americans have traditionally viewed humanitarian assistance as being in our national interest and conscience, and an investment in the future. USAID therefore is committed to humanitarian assistance that emphasizes a broad range of activities and serves to reinforce democracy, promote economic growth, encourage improvements in population and health, restore infrastructure and protect the environment. This integration across sectors is crucial because most of the humanitarian assistance needed in Africa is for complex civil conflicts that eradicate years of development progress and often destroy a country's social, economic and political institutions.

Rather than just responding to emergencies, USAID is committed to focusing energies and resources on conflict prevention as well. USAID is using a more strategic approach to identify and address the root causes of crisis, which requires careful and creative integration of all Agency resources.