Since 2013, natural disasters took the lives of nearly 22,000 people, affected nearly 97 million others, and almost $118 billion in economic damages. USAID helps countries and communities prepare by preventing or reducing the damage caused by hazards like earthquakes, floods, droughts, and storms.

Critical development efforts cannot succeed without a legitimate and democratically elected government that is responsive and accountable to its citizens. Elections provide an important opportunity to advance democratization and encourage political liberalization. USAID supports political competition and consensus-building efforts and provides leadership in these areas to other U.S. government entities and the broader development community. We do this through promoting 10 elements that are essential to fair elections and political processes.

Since March 2003, USAID has worked with Iraqi institutions to strengthen infrastructure, stabilize communities, foster economic growth, and help national, local, and provincial governments better represent and respond to the needs of their people. USAID helps Iraqis use their own resources to build their country.

The United States has invested in India’s development since President Harry Truman’s signed the India Emergency Food Assistance Act in 1951. USAID’s program has evolved progressively over the decades from emergency provision of food, to infrastructure development, capacity building of key Indian institutions, support for the opening of the Indian economy and more.  

Having emerged from decades of authoritarian rule, most of Europe and Eurasia has embraced political and economic reform, leading to vibrant growth and inspiring democratic transformations. But development challenges still slow the area’s growth and transformation into a region that is whole, free and at peace. USAID continues to address the pervasive corruption, political stagnation, significant poverty and undeveloped policy and regulatory environments that hold the region back. As a region of increasing economic importance, our investments help support American trade and investment. And as home to several NATO allies, our development ties strengthen critical national security bonds.

Many Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations have experienced monumental growth and change in the past several decades, and USAID has partnered with these countries to make important progress. Despite the global financial crisis, the region averaged a three percent annual increase in economic growth between 2000 and 2012. Health indicators have greatly improved in the region: for example, maternal mortality has fallen from 140 to 81 deaths per 100,000 live births since 1990. Political advances have been notable, as well: free elections, vibrant civil society, and responsive governments are mostly the norm.

Bashar Amad, one of Jordan’s first Chartered Financial Analyst charterholders, explains the program to a client.

Empowering Female Community Health Volunteers

In the villages of Nepal, where most people live without access to health care, USAID has supported the training of 46,000 female community health volunteers (FCHVs) to deliver basic health care. These women have made Nepal the first country to deliver vitamin A supplements every six months to 3.5 million children nationwide (ages six months to five years) preventing at least 12,000 child deaths annually.

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A file clerk in Nepal retrieving a sack of files from a utility shelf.

Boxing Up Corruption

In a country where corruption and inefficiency are endemic, addressing basic problems, like disorganized government files, is a good start. In the Lalitpur District Court in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal, over 50,000 files, some of them more than 100 years old, overwhelmed the small room in which they were stored. Many files were in bad shape with missing or damaged documents.

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The U.S. Global Development Lab serves as an innovation hub. We take smart risks to test new ideas and partner within USAID and with other actors to harness the power of innovative tools and approaches that accelerate development impact.

Mr. Ikhbayar with his camels.

Working With Herders to Diversify Their Business

This article describes some of the activities of USAID's Gobi Regional Growth Initiative. This project, along with its successor Gobi Regional Growth Initiative II, was implemented by Mercy Corps 1999-2008.

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