What USAID does

USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) was a U.S. federal government agency established on November 3, 1961, by President John F. Kennedy to administer foreign aid and development assistance. The agency operated across global health, humanitarian assistance, economic development, democracy and governance, climate, education, and agriculture in developing nations, employing approximately 16,000 direct staff and an estimated 280,000 contractors, partners, and local hires worldwide. Major programmatic vehicles included PEPFAR ($4.6 billion budget serving 55 countries over 20 years) and a range of bilateral and multilateral agreements with foreign governments, NGOs, universities, and contractors. The agency was funded entirely through congressional appropriations, historically representing less than 1% of the federal budget at approximately $40 billion annually.

USAID's core operating model was grant-making and bilateral agreement administration rather than technology development; it funded implementing partners and provided technical assistance, disease surveillance infrastructure, community health worker networks, and agricultural research (e.g., climate-smart rice programs via IRRI). Its distribution and regulatory position derived from its 64-year tenure as the primary U.S. development finance instrument, with documented outcomes including 91+ million deaths prevented globally (2001–2021) per a Lancet study, 65% reduction in HIV/AIDS mortality and 51% reduction in malaria mortality in high-funded countries, and 47 million women provided with modern contraception annually.

The agency was officially shut down on July 1, 2025, by the Trump administration, with 83% of contracts cancelled, 1,600 U.S.-based staff separated via Reduction-in-Force, and remaining functions absorbed into a 200-person State Department bureau. A subsequent 'Trade Over Aid' initiative launched April 2026 replaced development grants with bilateral investment compacts and private-sector partnerships, with 32 African countries signing $11.1 billion in commitments (unfunded as of launch). The Rescissions Act of 2025 rescinded approximately $8 billion, and the Trump administration diverted $2 billion from global health programs to cover closure costs, while $19 billion in remaining funds was earmarked for terminated-program closeouts.

Name

USAID

Legal name

U.S. Agency for International Development

Website

https://usaid.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

USAID was the U.S. government's primary foreign assistance agency, distributing development aid and humanitarian assistance across 55+ countries via grants and bilateral agreements. Founded in 1961 and historically operating on ~$40 billion in annual appropriations, it was officially shut down by the Trump administration on July 1, 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Assistance

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Administration of Economic Programs (926)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Bilateral Development & Aid Agencies (HLAJAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Country Development Assistance Programs (Bilateral ODA) (BPADABAA), Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG), Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF), Humanitarian & Disaster Assistance (Bilateral) (BPADABAB)

Keywords

• Foreign assistance programs
• Humanitarian aid services
• Global health programs
• Development assistance funding
• International development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, D.C.

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Congressional Appropriations: USAID operated with congressionally appropriated funds, representing less than 1% of the federal budget (approximately $40 billion agency). Funding came through Development Assistance funds, Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia, and other foreign aid accounts.
2. Trump administration diverting $2 billion: The Trump administration planned to divert $2 billion from global health programs to cover costs of closing USAID.
3. Remaining funds for closeout: The shuttered USAID has $19 billion in remaining funds to cover costs associated with closing out terminated programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

USAID administered U.S. foreign aid and international development assistance through congressionally appropriated funds (~$40 billion annually). It delivered programs across global health (including PEPFAR), humanitarian assistance, economic development, democracy and governance, climate, education, and agriculture to recipient countries and implementing partners worldwide. Distribution occurred via bilateral government agreements, grants to NGOs/contractors, and multilateral contributions.

Product overview

USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) is a U.S. federal government agency that administers foreign aid and development assistance, not a commercial technology product company. USAID does not offer commercial software products, platforms, or services in the traditional sense. Its work includes administering programs in global health, humanitarian assistance, economic development, democracy and governance, climate, education, and agriculture across developing nations worldwide. The agency was effectively shuttered by the Trump administration in 2025, with its functions largely absorbed into the State Department, and continues wind-down operations with a skeletal staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• USAID DIV Fund: Development Innovation Ventures Fund - a funding mechanism for international development and social innovation
• USAID Office of Inspector General

Products and services

• PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) PEPFAR is the U.S. government's flagship global HIV/AIDS initiative, providing antiretroviral treatment, prevention tools, and health system support to 55 countries over 20 years. It is credited with saving 26 million lives and was the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease. Following USAID's dismantling in 2025, the program was transferred to the CDC.
• Global Health Programs
• Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services
• Agricultural Research and Development Programs
• Conservation and Environmental Protection Programs
• Trade Facilitation and Economic Growth Programs
• Trade Over Aid Initiative
• Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund
• USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) Oversight Services
• Workforce Development and STEM Training Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 65% reduction in HIV/AIDS mortality, 51% reduction in malaria mortality, 32% reduction in under-five mortality in high-funded countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.

• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRRI received USAID funding for climate-smart rice programs. The dismantling of USAID created significant funding uncertainty for IRRI's programs. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation remains a key supporter.
• Borderless AllianceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUSAID West Africa Trade Hub collaborated with Borderless Alliance, GIZ, and ECOWAS on trade facilitation programs including Border Information Centres (BICs) to simplify export procedures.
• GIZminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGerman development agency partnered with USAID West Africa Trade Hub on trade facilitation.
• VertivminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUSAID funded logistical expenses for Vertiv's 'Youth in Smart Territories Program' in Colombia providing STEM workforce training.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSAID co-funded with WWF pilot conservation programs in Belize, Bonaire, and Caribbean destinations.
• World Health Organization (WHO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSAID was a major contributor to WHO and U.S. withdrawal from WHO created gaps in global health response. China's $500 million pledge will make it WHO's largest contributor.
• Rainforest TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided short-term emergency conservation funding following USAID cuts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of State: The U.S. State Department is USAID's parent entity and absorbed the residual ~1,000 USAID contracts and 200-person bureau following the 2025 shutdown. It is the closest structural peer given direct operational overlap and ongoing absorption of USAID functions.
• World Bank: The World Bank provides development financing and technical assistance to developing countries with overlapping country portfolios and programmatic focus areas (health, agriculture, governance). Broader in scope (lending-focused) but directly comparable in development mandate.

Direct peers

• Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC): MCC is a U.S. government foreign assistance agency delivering development aid through compacts with low-income countries, overseen by USAID OIG. It is the closest U.S. peer in bilateral development assistance model and target beneficiary countries.
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO): FCDO is the UK's bilateral development and foreign affairs ministry, combining diplomatic and aid functions similarly to how USAID operated under the State Department. Most directly comparable international peer in mandate and structure.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): GIZ is Germany's federal development agency implementing bilateral programs on behalf of the German government, including joint initiatives with USAID (e.g., West Africa Trade Hub). Closest European peer in bilateral aid delivery model.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): UNDP is the UN's global development network operating in 170+ countries with similar poverty, health, and governance mandates. Comparable multilateral peer in development program delivery to recipient governments.
• World Health Organization (WHO): WHO was a major recipient of USAID funding and primary multilateral partner for global health programs including PEPFAR, disease surveillance, and pandemic response. Direct peer in global health program delivery and recipient country engagement.
• UNICEF: UNICEF delivers child survival, health, and education programs in developing countries with overlapping target populations and country footprint to USAID. Comparable in humanitarian assistance and development program delivery to governments.
• World Food Programme (WFP): WFP is the UN's humanitarian food assistance agency operating in conflict and disaster zones, paralleling USAID's emergency food aid programs (e.g., $21M Djibouti inventory). Directly comparable in humanitarian logistics and emergency response.

Emerging players

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The Gates Foundation has emerged as the largest private alternative funder for global health and development programs following USAID's dismantling, backing IRRI, reproductive health, and PEPFAR-adjacent initiatives. Increasingly filling the donor vacuum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usaid
• Instagraminstagram.com/usaid.oig

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments4 records

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Frequently asked questions about USAID