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Five Facts About the 2018 USAID Initiatives

2018 USAID Initiatives
The 2018 USAID initiatives included many successful programs to combat global poverty. Certainly, USAID plays a fundamental role in addressing the needs of the developing world through programs that rebuild infrastructure, increase agricultural diversity and reduce crime rates. Here are five facts about USAID’s accomplishments in 2018.

Five Facts About USAID’s 2018 Accomplishments

  1. Food For Peace – In 2018, the USAID Office of Food For Peace provided assistance to 76 million people in 59 countries. It accomplished this through cash transfers, food vouchers, cooperation with regional and local institutions and other services. Food For Peace donated 254,275 metric tonnes of development food assistance. Additionally, the initiative donated 2,244,815 metric tonnes of emergency food assistance. Food For Peace spent $350 million on development programs designed to directly combat poverty. Furthermore, Food For Peace implemented initiatives related to the improvement of agricultural practices and child nutrition in Guatemala.
  2. AIDS Relief – The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) saw great progress in 2018. With the support of the U.S. government, PEPFAR’s work even placed 13 countries with high rates of HIV on the path to controlling their epidemics by 2020. In 2018, the organization expanded vital AIDS treatment to reach 14 million people. Just over six million children orphaned or affected by AIDS received support from PEPFAR. Furthermore, 250,000 health workers received training and were able to go to the countries that needed their help the most.
  3. Access to Assistive Technology – In July 2018, USAID instituted ATscale: A Global Partnership for Assistive Technology. USAID intended ATscale to increase global access to assistive technology like hearing aids and wheelchairs. ATscale’s goal is to provide assistive technology to 500 million people by 2030 through partnerships with the U.N., the WHO and others.
  4. Central America – Another fact is that several 2018 USAID initiatives focused on Central America. Currently, USAID investments are a source of funding for a restructuring of El Salvador’s tax system. Another USAID program provides job training to young adults in Guatemala. USAID cooperates with the State Department to provide community programming that reduces crime rates.
  5. Aid Transparency – In June 2018, USAID introduced its 2018 Aid Transparency Index. This index, run independently of USAID, will make aid data visible to the public. No other development agency has undertaken a measure like this. Consequently, by making data about its spending available, USAID will be more likely to receive increased support for its initiatives, especially ambitious ones such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

Overall, in 2018, USAID involvement was a positive force for the citizens of many countries throughout the world. The U.S. International Affairs Budget funded countless 2018 USAID initiatives that served a multitude of purposes. For example, treating AIDS in Africa or assisting farmers in Central America. Although the projects that USAID funds are diverse, they share a common purpose: to create a more peaceful world. To encourage continued congressional support of USAID, U.S. voters can contact their representatives here.

-Emelie Fippin
Photo: Flickr

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Top 10 Recipients of US Foreign Aid in 2018

Top 10 Recipients of U.S. Foreign Aid in 2018Despite comprising less than 1 percent of the United States’ federal budget, foreign aid still plays a major part in shaping the United States’ diplomatic and military positions around the world. Many U.S. citizens also have major misconceptions about the amount dedicated to foreign aid and the impact it has on economic growth and national security. This makes it important to look at the top 10 recipients of U.S. foreign aid in 2018 and examine its positive impact on the United States and the world.

  1. Iraq – $347.9 million
    One of the most notable recipients of U.S. foreign aid is Iraq. The conflict in Iraq has remained a major contributor to global instability for 15 years now, claiming the lives of thousands of American soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Thus, the United States plans to spend $347,860,000 in 2018 to help stabilize the region. Current plans involve economic assistance following the collapse of world oil prices (a major contributor to Iraq’s economy), the stabilization of territories recovered from the Islamic State, and support for a humanitarian response to the needs of displaced citizens. Foreign aid to Iraq is key to the United States’ success, as it strengthens national security and helps diminish the threat of terrorist organizations such as ISIL that thrive in unstable regions.
  2. Nigeria – $419.1 million
    The primary goal of the United States’ foreign assistance in Nigeria is the reduction of extreme poverty in the region. Aid in Nigeria also seeks to support the creation of a stable democratic system that engages citizen input and is less vulnerable to attacks by radical terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, which has devastated the northern region of the country through bombings and assassinations over the past several years. Better aid in Nigeria would promote a higher quality of life for local citizens, economically benefit the United States and stop the spread of radical terrorism.
  3. Zambia – $428.9 million
    In Zambia, the United States has pledged funding in order to lower extremely high rural poverty rates in the county, as well as create a mineral economy that offers more prosperity for its citizens. Aid will also go towards establishing sustainable agriculture and combating the spread of deadly diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Investing in Zambia is both humanitarian and helps develop new foreign markets for United States goods in the future.
  4. Uganda – $436.4 million
    Helping the government of Uganda establish sustainable economic development in its communities is key to the stabilization of East Africa as a whole. Uganda has been an ally of the United States, helping with regional threats to national security, and further aid benefits both countries immensely. Aid planned for 2018 will also support the ideals of a multi-party democratic system and will help fight the spread of deadly diseases that threaten to devastate local communities.
  5. Tanzania – $535.3 million
    Despite an increasingly flawed, but stable, multiparty governmental system, and a strong and growing economy, over a quarter of Tanzanians live below the poverty line. As one of the top recipients of U.S. foreign aid, Tanzania aims to address issues of poverty among the populace, and at the same time advance American interests by creating a strong economic ally in the region.
  6. Kenya – $639.4 million
    Despite a series of democratic reforms that have taken place throughout the past decade, Kenya’s political system still suffers from pervasive government corruption and ethnic feuds. Many farmers and citizens live in drought-prone areas, which could spell disaster for some communities in future years and worsen tensions in the country. Planned aid to Kenya this year will increase the ability of the public to hold officials accountable and foster development of drought-prone areas in order to protect people from climate disasters in the future.
  7. Afghanistan – $782.8 million
    Like Iraq, Afghanistan has been one of the least stable countries in the Middle East in the past decade. The presence of the Taliban and subsequent military invasion by the United States caused immense instability in the struggling country. Planned aid in 2018 aims to cement democratic conditions in the fragile new Afghani government and embolden security forces to fight Taliban insurgencies and the expansion of the Islamic State, while also creating self-reliant communities that are less susceptible to occupation and exploitation. Aid to Afghanistan is key to establishing a more stable Middle East and stopping the dangerous spread of radical terrorism.
  8. Jordan – $1 billion
    Due to its location next to war-torn Syria, Jordan is at the center of the current refugee humanitarian crisis, which makes strengthening economic development in the country essential. As one of the top recipients of U.S. foreign aid, Jordan is receiving help to cope with the massive influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the devastating Syrian civil war, as well as increase democratic accountability and gender equality within the Jordanian government.
  9. Egypt – $1.39 billion
    In providing aid to Egypt, one of the top recipients of U.S. foreign aid, the United States intends to improve food security and good governance in the country, while also strengthening its ability to fight extremist terrorism that threatens the country. Aid will also help to continue the healthy economic relationship between Egypt and the United States. Though most aid is dedicated to security and economic development, around $30 million is intended to promote health and education among Egyptian citizens.
  10. Israel – $3.1 billion
    As one of the only functioning democracies in the Middle East, the United States has long supported Israel’s development efforts. The clear majority of Israeli foreign aid goes towards the development of defense programs against regional threats that jeopardize both American and Israeli interests. The United States also hopes to open a pathway of diplomatic negotiations with Palestinians to develop a peaceful resolution to regional conflicts.

These examples demonstrate the varied uses of U.S. foreign aid, and the different methods in which it is used to benefit the country. Whether invested in unstable states to boost global economic development and prevent terrorism, used to promote humanitarianism and improve the global view of the United States, or delegated to defense programs and assistance that increase U.S. soft power and influence, foreign aid has been used to benefit United States interests throughout the globe. This shows that foreign aid is not just an altruistic option, but one beneficial to the U.S. and its citizens.

– Shane Summers

Photo: Flickr