United States Agency for International Development

United States Agency for International Development

Salisbury

When the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was created, it brought together several existing foreign assistance organizations and programs. Until then, there had never been a single agency charged with foreign economic development, so with the passage of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 by Congress, U.S. foreign assistance activities underwent a major transformation.

Leading this transformation was President John F. Kennedy. 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.

Established during the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland, the head office was based in Salisbury. USAID continues to support Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nyasaland today.

References

Contributors
  • James Gavin