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'''"The [[Advisory Committee On Voluntary Foreign Aid]] (ACVFA) was established by Presidential directive after World War II to serve as a link between the U.S. Government and private voluntary organizations (PVOs) active in humanitarian assistance and development work overseas." [http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/ Overviewacvfa/]'''
== External Links ==*Steve Peacock,"[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2008/05/washington-takes-action-on-high-gas-prices.html Washington Takes Action on High Gas Prices]," The Peacock Report (archived via ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor''), May 28, 2008.* Heart and Minds Steve Peacock, "[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2012/04/kenya-sees-spike-in-obama-administration-funded-projects.html Kenya Sees Spike in Obama Administration-Funded Projects]," ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'', April 14, 2012.*Steve Peacock, "[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2012/05/obama-slaughter-of-christians-a-misunderstanding-.html Slaughter of Christians a 'Misunderstanding'], ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'', May 25, 2012.*Steve Peacock, "[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2012/06/obama-spending-grows-exponentially-kenya.html Obama's Spending Grows 'Exponentially' in Kenya], ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'', June 23, 2012.*Steve Peacock, "[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2012/07/white-house-rolls-out-kenya-propaganda-plan.html White House Rolls Out Kenya Propaganda Plan; Aims to 'groom' journalists for favorable coverage from Nairobi to New York], ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'', July 7, 2012.*Steve Peacock, "[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2012/07/cover-up-contracting-system-sanitized-of-kenya-documents.html COVER-UP! Contracting System Sanitized of Kenya Documents; USAIDsays information suddenly 'for internal purposes only'], 's Vietnam Mission 'U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'', July 19, 2012.*Steve Peacock, "[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2013/03/usaid-pushing-kenyan-peace-projects.html USAID Pushing Kenyan Peace Projects], ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'', March 13, 2013.*Steve Peacock, "[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2013/05/obama-expands-reading-program-in-kenya.html Obama Expands Reading Program - in Kenya!], ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'', May 22, 2013.*Steve Peacock, "[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2013/05/obama-pushes-50-million-more-for-kenya.html Obama Pushes $50 Million More for Kenya; But officials admit new program could just create more corruption], ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'', May 23, 2013.*Steve Peacock, "[http://www.afsatradeaidmonitor.orgcom/fsj2013/apr0006/leepsonusaid-repackages-kenyan-assistance-scheme.cfmhtml USAID Repackages Kenyan Aid Scheme], ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'', June 18, 2013.
* USAID Chief Blasts Hypocrisy of of "Globalisers" [http[category:democracy]][[category:Government agencies (US)]][[category:US foreign policy]][[category:US government]][[category://www.twnside.org.sg/title/usaid-cn.htmwar in Iraq]]
The '''[http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/usaidorg.html U.S. Agency for International Development] (USAID)''' is "headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has field offices in many of the countries."
"USAID is headed by an Administrator and Deputy Administrator, both appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The agency's Administrator is [http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/bios/bio_asn.html Andrew S. Natsios]; the Deputy Administrator is [http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/bios/bio_fws.html Frederick Schieck]; and the agency's counselor is [[Willard J. Pearson, Jr.]]"[http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/usaidorg.html]
==Overview==
"USAID's history goes back to the [[Marshall Plan]] reconstruction of Europe after World War Two and the Truman Administration's Point Four Program. In 1961, President [[John F. Kennedy]] signed the [[Foreign Assistance Act]] into law and created by executive order USAID.
*Latin America and the Caribbean, and;
*Europe and Eurasia.
==Personnel==
*[[Rajiv Shah]], Administrator,(sworn in December 31, 2009) [http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/organization/rajiv-shah]
*[[Donald Steinberg]], Deputy Administrator [http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/organization/donald-steinberg]
*[[David E. Eckerson]], Counselor [http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/organization/david-e-eckerson]
*[[Maura O'Neill]], Chief Innovation Officer and Senior Counselor [http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/organization/maura-oneill]
*[[Margaret C. Sullivan]], Chief of Staff [http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/organization/margaret-c-sullivan]
==Selling Aid==
"The U.S., which saw positive PR results from the millions donated to [[Indonesia]] after the tsunami devastation in May, wants a PR firm to spread awareness that Uncle Sam has given over $1 billion to the archipelago over the last 50 years." The U.S. Agency for International Development requested proposals for a $350,000 to $370,000 campaign promoting American efforts "in partnership with Indonesians to generate prosperity and a better quality of life." The contract includes research, polling, public service announcements and "other aspects of a social marketing campaign." [[APCO Worldwide|APCO]], [[Ogilvy]] and [[Weber Shandwick]] already work in Indonesia, a majority Muslim country and key U.S. ally in the "war on terror." [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0913indonesia.htm]
==USAID in Iraq==
On 11 August 2006, "The U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded the Iraq Community Stabilization cooperative agreement to [[International Relief and Development]] (IRD), an Arlington, Virginia based non-governmental organization specializing in providing relief and development programs in civil society, food security, health, humanitarian assistance, infrastructure, and economic development." [http://www.usaid.gov/iraq/]
==USAID in Haiti==
The U.S. Agency for International Development's [http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/transition_initiatives/country/haiti/rpt0805.html Haiti Field Report] "provides an excellent case study for investigating the role of USAID in promoting U.S. foreign policy objectives under the friendly guise of aid," writes Sasha Kramer in ''Counterpunch''. [http://counterpunch.org/kramer10142005.html]
"The United States is primarily concerned with Haiti's upcoming elections. ... In [[Haiti]], as in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]], the timeliness and appearance of legitimacy of the electoral process are of paramount importance for the Bush Administration's PR machine." USAID, she writes, has a "strategy for pacifying Haiti's largest political party, [[Fanmi Lavalas |Lavalas]], though selective distribution of aid." For example, USAID established a "Play for Peace" summer camp in the neighborhood of a popular priest and Lavalas activist. According to Kramer, USAID concluded, "The fruits of these efforts were seen during a recent demonstration attended by 200 people. At the same time ... 300 people were enjoying the summer camp. It is believed that the camp prevented the demonstration from being larger and giving greater legitimacy to the protesters."
==USAID in the Palestinian Territories==
In the summer of 2005, a USAID program was launched in the [[Palestinian]] territories to put $2 million towards a series of "small, popular projects and events," such as computer donations, a soccer tournament, and free food and water at border crossings, prior to the January 25, 2006 elections. The program "bears no evidence of U.S. involvement," and a newspaper ad campaign (also funded by the U.S.) gives credit to the [[Palestinian Authority]], "which the public closely identifies with Fatah." The program, called the "Gaza Action Plan Support Unit," was advised by former Army Special Forces member [[Larry Sampler]] managed by the private consulting firm [[ARD]]. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012101431.html]
A report on the program said its goal was "a constant stream of announcements and public outreach about positive happenings ... in the critical week before the elections." U.S. officials were concerned that the governing Fatah party will lose parliamentary seats to Hamas. "We are not favoring any particular party," said [[James A. Bever]], the USAID mission director for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. "But we do not support parties that are on the terrorism list." A Hamas leader called for an investigation, while other Palestinian politicians criticized the program. "Let us do our elections entirely on our own," said [[Mustafa Barghouti]]. "This effort was completely counterproductive." [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012101431.html] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR2006012301611.html]
== USAID in the "Moderate Muslim" World==
"The Bush administration has made promoting education a focus of assistance to friendly Muslim countries through the United States Agency for International Development," Jane Perlez reported for the ''New York Times'' in August 2006. "[[Pakistan]], Afghanistan, [[Egypt]] and Iraq have all received increased American funds in the last several years for building schools and training teachers and administrators." [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/world/asia/07indo.html]
"Indonesia, a moderate Muslim country, was added to the list, American officials said, because of concerns about a growing streak of fundamentalism among graduates of privately run Islamic religious schools, known as pesantren." U.S. education-related assistance to Indonesia is planned to total $157 million, over five years. [[RTI International]] is organizing the U.S.-funded teacher trainings in Indonesia. [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/world/asia/07indo.html]
==USAID in Nigeria==
USAID's [[Office of Transition Initiatives]] (OTI) funds the [[Nigeria Journalism Network]] which "is designed to create a network of journalists in [[Nigeria]] committed to strengthening the [[media]] and promoting democracy." "This is a project that was initiated by The [[Institute of World Affairs]] (IWA) in cooperation with [[Global Communication Solutions]] (GCS)." [http://www.mediapeace.org/resource/research.cfm]
== Contact ==
U.S. Agency for International Development <br>Information Center<br>
Ronald Reagan Building<br>
Washington, D.C. 20523-1000<br>
Telephone: 202-712-48104320<br> FAXFax: 202-216-3524<br> ---------== Other Related SourceWatch Resources ==Web: http://www.usaid.gov
== SourceWatch resources ==
*[[Henrietta Holsman Fore]] - former Administrator (2007-9)
*[[Andrew S. Natsios]]
*[[Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa]]
*[[Development Alternatives, Inc.]]
*[[Horn of Africa]]
*[[National Endowment for Democracy]]
*[[RTI International]]
*[[Vision for Post-Conflict Iraq]]
*[[Japan International Cooperation Agency]]
*[[John A. Hannah]]
*[[William S. Gaud]]
*[[Covey T. Oliver]]
*[[Albion Patterson]]
*[[Lloyd Pierson]] - former Assistant Administrator
*[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/kenya/ ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'' - Kenya Page]
*[http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/nigeria/ ''U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor'' - Nigeria Page]
== External links ==
*Peter J. Stavrakis, "[http://www.afpc.org/issues/bulldngr.htm Bull in a China Shop: USAID's Post-Soviet Mission]", ''American Foreign Policy Journal'', 1997.
*"[http://www.wealth4freedom.com/WORLDNEWSSTAND/1/churchstate.htm USAID and World Bank Unite Church and State: Government Money Silences the Church While Turning it Into a Partner in Crime]", November 30, 1998.
*Marc Leepson, "[http://www.afsa.org/fsj/apr00/leepson.cfm Heart and Minds of USAID's Vietnam Mission]", American Foreign Service Association, April 2000.
*Jim Lobe, "[http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/usaid-cn.htm USAID chief blasts hypocrisy of "globalisers"], ''Inter Press Service'', June 29, 2000.
*Timothy Bancroft-Hinchley, "[http://english.pravda.ru/usa/2002/06/18/30529.html USAID sends unfit food aid to Latin America]", ''Pravda'', June 18, 2002.
*"[http://www.opensecrets.org/news/rebuilding_iraq/index.asp Rebuilding Iraq -- The Contractors]", OpenSecrets, April 28, 2003.
*Nancy Dammann, "[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932047875/qid=1126197127/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-0072273-7257603?n=507846&s=books&v=glance My 17 Years With USAID: The Good and the Bad]", Llumina Press, 2003.
*Neil Elliott, "[http://www.world-crisis.com/analysis_comments/442_0_15_0_C35/ USAID, the CIA, and the Coup in Haiti]", ''Minneapolis Star Tribune'', February 28th, 2004.
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0913indonesia.htm U.S. Eyes Indonesian PR Effort]", ''O'Dwyer's PR Daily'', September 13, 2005. (Sub req'd).
*Sasha Kramer, "[http://counterpunch.org/kramer10142005.html The Friendly Face of US Imperialism: USAID and Haiti]," ''CounterPunch'', October 14, 2005.
*Bill Berkowitz, "[http://www.mediatransparency.com/story.php?storyID=102 Paul Bonicelli/USAID: The rest of the story]", ''Media Transparency'', January 8, 2006. "(A number of high-powered Christian evangelical organizations have set up shop in Africa, aiming to transform the continent one small country at a time. USAID's Paul Bonicelli may help fast track these projects").
*Scott Wilson and Glenn Kessler, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012101431.html U.S. Funds Enter Fray In Palestinian Elections: Bush Administration Uses USAID as Invisible Conduit]," ''Washington Post'', January 22, 2006.
*Scott Wilson and Glenn Kessler, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR2006012301611.html Palestinian Candidates Condemn U.S. Program: Events Boosted Government]," ''Washington Post'', January 24, 2006.
*Jane Perlez, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/world/asia/07indo.html Livening Up Today’s Lesson, Courtesy of Uncle Sam]," ''New York Times'', August 7, 2006.
*Ian James, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/26/AR2006082600292_pf.html Chavez Government Probes U.S. Funding]," Associated Press, August 26, 2006.
*Georgianne Nienaber and Keith Harmon Snow, "[http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/print_friendly.php?p=genera_georgian_070920_are_usaid_funds_bein.htm Are USAID Funds Being Used for Covert Operations in Central Africa?]", ''www.allthingspass.com'', September 20, 2007.
