Offices and Departments

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency that provides economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States. 

U.S. foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of furthering America's foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing world. Spending less than one-half of 1 percent of the federal budget, USAID works around the world to achieve these goals.  The 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 Sierra Leone program of the U.S. Agency for International Development: Helping establish peace, security, and stability in Sierra Leone by supporting the national reintegration and reconciliation process.

Ending the trade in conflict diamonds

USAID SL Briefing Paper