U.S. Agency for International Development
The 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 Andrew S. Natsios; the Deputy Administrator is Frederick Schieck; and the agency's counselor is Willard J. Pearson, Jr."[1]
"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.
"Since that time, USAID has been the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.
"USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. [Its] Work supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting:
- economic growth, agriculture and trade;
- global health; and
- democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance.
The USAID provides "assistance in four regions of the world:
- Sub-Saharan Africa;
- Asia and the Near East;
- Latin America and the Caribbean, and;
- Europe and Eurasia.
Contact
U.S. Agency for International Development Information Center
Ronald Reagan Building
Washington, D.C. 20523-1000
Telephone: 202-712-4810
FAX: 202-216-3524