U.S. Agency International Development (USAID) Essay

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U.S. Agency International Development (USAID) http://www.usaid.gov / Write response questions . Write response/background report outline point form. Use headings subheadings organize response. Apply APA style guidelines grammar, spelling, punctuation, citing referencing.

Nature of the organization's mandate

Philosophical perspective, with respect to promoting global health

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the result of the Cold War doctrine related to international assistance. During the Kennedy Administration in the 1960s, the interest for assistance to low income countries and those affected by increased degrees of poverty has determined a need for a concerted action that would alleviate, to a certain extent, the pressures of impoverished national budgets and destroyed economies. In this sense, it was considered that developed countries, and especially the United States as the largest economic power of the Cold War, had the "moral duty" to assist countries in need (Committee on International Relations, 2003). Despite this moral aspect, there were beliefs that foreign assistance also implied the export of ideological systems and rules of government (Kissinger, 2011).

b. History

Although certain initiatives had been taken before, the financial assistance was scarce and lacked an organized flow and structure. Hence, "President Kennedy recognized the need to unite development into a single agency responsible for administering aid to foreign countries to promote social and economic development. On November 3, 1961, USAID was born and with it a spirit of progress and innovation." (USAID, 2013).

USAID focused on several key areas of assistance. These included "food and nutrition, population planning, health, education, human resources development" (USAID, 2013). However, these sectors eventually developed as the doctrine of international assistance evolved. Once the practice of sectorial assistance proved to lack the efficiency needed to create the results envisaged through the disposition of funds, it was considered that a wider perspective on international assistance for development must be taken into account.

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This is largely due to the fact that the role of the official assistance for development (ODA) changed in time to ensure a more sustainable development of the societies in which such funds would be disbursed. USAID from this point-of-view is an example of ODA. They expanded their range and policies conducted at the national levels to include sustainable development, different levels of assistance, war reconstruction assistance. This marked the change of perspective and provided a more sustainable approach to assistance.

Even so, the health sector is an essential part of the work USAID does in developing countries. The main areas of concern at this point are related to diseases, children suffering from diseases that in developed countries no longer exist such as malaria, environment health. One of the most important concern at the moment related to health issues is the situation of HIV / AIDS among the young populations in Africa and regions where developmental work is scarce and where the economic disasters affect children the most.

2. Merits of the way this organization fulfills its mandate

a. Role

The role of this organization is essential for the segments of society it touches upon. Firstly USAID represents for the countries in which it operates a source of financial assistance that for the African and poor Asian regions is crucial.

Secondly, the expertise USAID has in the sectors it activates, such as the treatment of malaria or pandemic influenza is vital for countries that cannot and do not have the necessary framework to deal with cross cutting problems. The experts that are employed by USAID play a key role in determining better courses of action and advising local stakeholders and decision makers. At the same time, USAID activates similar to any other international organization but in a….....

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Latest APA Format (6th edition)

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"U S Agency International Development USAID " (2013, January 30) Retrieved May 21, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/us-agency-international-development-usaid-85561

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

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"U S Agency International Development USAID " 30 January 2013. Web.21 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/us-agency-international-development-usaid-85561>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

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"U S Agency International Development USAID ", 30 January 2013, Accessed.21 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/us-agency-international-development-usaid-85561
   

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