The member states of the Southern African Development Community-SADC (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) are diverse in economic, political, and human development. While Southern Africa benefits from a relatively well-developed infrastructure and diverse natural resources, the region is challenged by statistically low standards of living, nascent regional and global market integration, democratic backsliding, limited access to health and education services, the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world, frequent droughts and food insecurity.  As a result, Southern Africa has an average life expectancy of 33 years.   Major obstacles to economic progress are inconsistent or contradictory policies that impede trade and investment across the region.  Finally, without effective trans-boundary water management, full growth potential in the region will not be realized and food security will remain a perennial problem.  

In spite of these issues, Southern Africa is peaceful relative to other regions on the continent, which makes successful regional integration possible.  Overall stability and security of the region is best served by investments that will foster economic growth, and bolster principles of good governance, including the governance of shared natural resources.

USAID Southern Africa was created in 1995 to promote sustainable growth in a democratic Southern Africa. It supports U.S. foreign policy priorities in Southern Africa to : 1) promote democratic government and good governance; 2) increase economic prosperity and security; 3) conserve the region's natural resource base; and 4) counter the spread of HIV/AIDS.

USAID achieves this through programs that strengthen regional institutions, advance regional integration, create jobs through increased trade, improve food security, strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS, promote electoral reform, and improve the management of shared natural resources.

Programs:

• Regional Economic Growth
• Regional Agriculture
• Regional Environment
• Regional Democracy and Governance
• Regional HIV/AIDS