Frequently Asked Questions

What is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
and who funds it?

Why do the United States and the American people give money to help
people in other countries?

How does USAID make funding decisions?

How can I get a job with USAID/Uganda?

How can our organization access USAID funding for programs in Uganda?

We have an idea for a development project in Uganda. Can we submit an
unsolicited proposal to USAID?

Will you send me some general information on USAID activities in Uganda?

I would like to ask permission to use materials (images) from your
website in my presentation or publication.

1. What is the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) and who funds it?

USAID is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that
provides economic, development, and humanitarian assistance around the
world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States.
USAID receives overall policy guidance from the U.S. Secretary of State.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed the Foreign Assistance Act
into law, creating by executive order what is now known as USAID.

With headquarters in Washington, USAID has field missions in Sub-Saharan
Africa, Asia and the Near East, Latin American and the Caribbean, and
Europe and Eurasia.  USAID operates in over 100 countries around the
world and manages a budget of approximately $9.5 billion.

The American people provide funding for USAID through their taxes.
USAID funding is allocated from the U.S. Federal Budget approved by the
U.S. Congress.

Related links: www.usaid.gov

2. Why do the United States and the American people give money to help
people in other countries?

The United States has a long history of extending a helping hand to
people overseas struggling to make a better life, recovering from a
disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country.  It is
this caring attitude that stands as a hallmark of the United States
around the world - and shows the world our true character as a nation.

U.S. foreign assistance has always had the two-fold purpose of
furthering America's foreign policy interests by expanding democracy and
free markets while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing
world.

Development is now a crucial pillar (along with diplomacy and defense)
of the U.S. Government's national security strategy.  For over 40 years,
USAID programs have helped to improve the lives of the poor in
developing countries and to lessen the kind of poverty and
disenfranchisement that can feed international terrorism and the flow of
illegal immigrants.

USAID programs also work on transnational issues such as global climate
change and HIV/AIDS that affect us all.

3. How does USAID make funding decisions?

Every few years, USAID/Uganda develops a multi-year strategy, which
identifies priorities where the country has the greatest need for
USAID's assistance.  USAID develops the priorities in close connection
with the Government of Uganda, other U.S. government entities working in
the country, the non-governmental organization community, local civil
society organizations, the private sector, and other stakeholders.  The
strategy reflects a careful study of Uganda's socio-economic and
political environment and the assistance provided by other donors.  It
is important that the work reflects the priorities of the Ugandan people
and does not duplicate what is already being provided.

Taking into consideration this multi-year strategy, the mission then
develops a one-year strategic plan for operations to take place two
years from the development of the strategy. This strategic plan proposes
how the assistance will be used and the levels of funding needed.  This
plan is reviewed by USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., and
incorporated into the President's annual foreign assistance budget
submitted to the U.S. Congress.  Once Congress passes the appropriations
bill, USAID/Uganda and the appropriate Ugandan Government officials
negotiate the agreements required to release USAID funds.  By obligating
funds through these agreements, USAID commits to use them to pursue
certain development objectives in key sectors.

Subsequently, USAID provides funding through a transparent and
competitive process to organizations with the expertise to implement
projects.  USAID seeks the best value for money invested and gives funds
to organization that have the capacity to manage and account for USAID
funds in accordance with U.S. law.  Periodic audits are carried out to
ensure that USAID is in compliance with U.S. law.

Recognizing the key role of the private sector in advancing development,
USAID promotes public-private partnerships to leverage additional
resources and encourage effectiveness.

4. How can I get a job with USAID/Uganda?

Job vacancies are advertised on this site via employment opportunities.

If you have Ugandan citizenship and wish to apply for a Foreign Service
National (FSN) job that has been advertised on our website or in the
newspaper, please send your application to:

U.S. Agency for International Development

Human Resource Office
Plot 1577 Ggaba Road, Nsambya
P.O. Box 7856
Kampala, Uganda

If you are a U.S. citizen and are interested in a long-term career with
USAID, please contact:
Office of Human Resources Management
Recruitment Branch
United States Agency for International Development
Second Floor, Ronald Regan Building
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20523
USA

You can also find additional information on the Agency's website:
www.usaid.gov/careers.

5. How can our organization access USAID funding for programs in Uganda?

Worldwide business opportunities (in the form of solicitations) can be
found on the USAID Business Site.

USAID does business through a variety of available federal mechanisms -
each with their own distinct policies, forms, procedures and associated
documents. The two main categories are:

Contracts (Acquisitions): Direct contracts are subject to the Federal
Acquisition Regulations (FAR), the USAID Supplement to the FAR (AIDAR),
and applicable portions of the ADS Series 300.  Notices of contract
opportunities and corresponding solicitations are publicized at
FedBizOpps, the single source for federal procurement opportunities.

Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Assistance): Federal Grants and or
Cooperative Agreements are used to accomplish a public purpose of
support or stimulation authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961,
as amended (FAA).  The Agency may publish an Annual Program Statement
(APS) or a Request for Applications (RFA) in order to satisfy the
requirement for public notice as well as provide a mechanism for
advertising competitive assistance programs.  APSs and RFAs are
publicized at FedGrants, the U.S. government-wide portal for grant
opportunities. USAID/Uganda solicitations can also be found on our Doing
Business with USAID site.  This page also contains agency guidance
governing USAID grants, contracts, and other implementing mechanisms
used by USAID.

Instruction on how to apply for each USAID solicited program are contain
in each solicitation.  Each solicitation also includes a point of
contact and contact information.

Local procurements can be found on the Funding Opportunities page of
this website.

6. We have an idea for a development project in Uganda.  Can we submit
an unsolicited proposal to USAID?

USAID generally undertakes direct assistance programs to benefit
developing countries through competitive grants and cooperative
agreements. Resources available to USAID for programs must be
concentrated and focused on clear objectives which fit within program
priorities. Thus, only exceptional unsolicited applications can be
considered for funding on a noncompetitive basis - ones which present a
unique approach, are fully supportive of USAID's development objectives,
demonstrate a unique capacity by the applicant to carry out proposed
activities, and where there is clear support for such activities by the
recipient country government or private institutions. Further, only
limited funding may be available for even the best of such applications,
since most funding is reserved for development priorities already
established by USAID. Accordingly, it is strongly recommended that
potential applicants review USAID competitive announcements (see
http://www.fbo.gov/ and http://www.grants.gov/). Applicants responding
to specific announcements should follow the directions contained in that
announcement. If a potential applicant still desires to submit an
unsolicited application, the applicant should follow the procedures
described in Guide to Submitting Unsolicited Assistance Applications and
Guidelines for Submitting Unsolicited Contract Proposals.  For more
information, see our Unsolicited Proposals page.

7. Will you send me some general information on USAID activities in
Uganda?

All our information is available on this website.  We urge you to browse
the site and print whatever you deem appropriate.  If you are still in
need of further information, please feel free to contact us.

8. I would like to ask permission to use materials (images) from your
website in my presentation or publication.

Unless a copyright is indicated, information on this website is in the
public domain and may be reproduced, published or otherwise used without
USAID's permission.  We request that USAID be cited as the source of
information and that any photo credits or bylines be similarly credited
to the photographer or author or USAID, as appropriate.

If a copyright is indicated on a photo, graphic, or any other material,
permission to copy these materials must be obtained from the original
source.