Mission Directory

Angola's low level of human development is at odds with its potential for economic prosperity, considering the country's wealth of natural resources. Much of this paradox is explained by the social disruption and physical destruction caused by 27 years of civil war. As sub-Saharan Africa's second largest oil producer and with its tremendous agricultural potential, the country could become a powerhouse for regional trade and investment. Our work strengthens good governance, increases economic opportunity, and improves the delivery of social services.

Asia is home to more than half of the world’s population and is the planet’s most dynamic and fastest-growing region. How Asia develops in the coming years will directly impact our security and prosperity.

Many Asian countries have made tremendous progress toward meeting development goals; however, ensuring economic prosperity and security across borders remain a challenge. USAID’s Bangkok-based Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) works to address key transnational challenges.

Bangladesh is a key U.S. strategic partner in South Asia and shares a strong friendship driven by common interests. Yet, with nearly one in three people living in poverty, the country faces immense development challenges and today finds itself at an important crossroads in its democratic evolution. The United States is helping address the underlying factors that threaten Bangladesh’s progress and stability by supporting the country’s continued development.

Benin is a stable and peaceful country that has maintained more than two decades of democratic governance. The country’s refurbished port, increased investments in infrastructure, and sustained economic growth rate of around 5.5 percent underscore its potential to move in the right direction.  However, the country continues to face many of the same challenges related to endemic poverty that affects countries in the region.  Benin ranks 167 out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index, and more than a third of the population lives in poverty. Nearly half of all Beninese children under five years old are stunted due to malnutrition. Regional disparities also remain a challenge, as does worrying levels of corruption that impede the flow of services to citizens. 

With its long history of stable democracy, Botswana is a strong ally of the United States. Throughout most of the last half century, the country has experienced robust economic growth. It is now considered a middle-income country, although there are concerns about the economy’s dependence on diamond mining.  The population has better access to education and clean water than others in sub-Saharan Africa but struggles with one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world.  Nearly one-quarter of adults are infected with HIV, placing a heavy burden on social services and the economy. 

Burkina Faso and Niger are the focus countries for our resilience agenda in the Sahel. We coordinate all of our programs with the Government of Burkina Faso, other donors—particularly G7 member countries under the New Alliance for Nutrition and Food Security—and regional organizations such as the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

USAID builds the resilience of vulnerable rural residents by:

Burundi remains one of the least developed countries in the world with alarming levels of hunger and malnutrition.  According to the United Nations World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization, more than 40 percent of the population is facing chronic or acute food insecurity, including 2.3 million who are severely food insecure.  This is exacerbated by an economic crisis, which was triggered by the political crisis of 2015 and continues to affect the lives of millions of people. 

The republic is dominated by a strong central government and a longstanding president. Human rights problems persist despite some improvement. However, economic success has not sufficiently raised the health levels of the population: life expectancy, under-5 mortality, and maternal mortality are worse than the regional average. The rate of HIV infection is 4.3 percent – among the highest in West and Central Africa region. About 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.