The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead U.S. Government aid agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential.
Foreign assistance by the US has always had the purpose of furthering America’s interests while improving lives in the developing world.
According to government data, the U.S. government disbursed $71.9 billion in foreign aid in 2023 distributed across several departments and agencies.
The Agency spent most of this money in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe -majorly on humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
The main beneficiaries in 2023 were Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Syria.
USAID beneficiaries are people or organizations that receive assistance from the agency, and they include individuals, households, and microenterprises.
In Kenya, the Agency has disbursed billions of monies to several recipients over many years.
According to the USA Spending website, recipients are any entity that has received federal money in the form of contracts, grants, loans, or other financial assistance.
In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. government disbursed $647,189,874 to Kenya in foreign aid, according to the foreign assistance website. USAID disbursed $601. 2 million of the total amount.
Also Read: USAID Explains Employees Who Will Be Spared in Mass Firings Worldwide
Among public international organizations in Kenya, the Center for Health Solutions is the top recipient of USAID funds over the fiscal years, securing ($246.8 million) from a total of 236 transactions.
Tracking USAID’s transactions to organizations for activities in Kenya
On the other hand, the Kenya Red Cross Society has received more than $9.5 million during the same period.
The top organizations that have received USAID funding (total awarded) for activities in Kenya in all fiscal years are:
CENTRE FOR HEALTH SOLUTIONS: $246.8 million from 236 transactions.
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH, EDUCATION AND BIOSECURITY: $160.9 million from 238 transactions.
KENYA CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS (KCCB): $131.7 million from 90 transactions.
CHRISTIAN HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF KENYA: $106.4 million from 110 transactions.
WORLD VISION KENYA: $48.2 million from 13 transactions.
AMREF HEALTH AFRICA IN KENYA: $25.1 million from 61 transactions.
KENYATTA UNIVERSITY: $21.0 million from 16 transactions.
KENYA MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (KeMRI): $12.9 million from 25 transactions.
PALLADIUM DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTANCY KENYA LIMITED: $13.3 million from 53 transactions.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES KENYA: $7.5 million from 10 transactions.
THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY- KENYA: $5.2 million from 24 transactions.
OPEN UNIVERSITY OF KENYA: $2.9 million from 2 transactions.
THE CO-OPERATIVE BANK OF KENYA LIMITED: $2.5 million from 1 transaction.
M-KOPA KENYA LIMITED: $474,300 from 1 transaction.
TELKOM KENYA LIMITED: $249,174 from 7 transactions (Parent and Child recipient).
Trump targets USAID
The full list of organizations that have received USAID funding for activities in Kenya in all fiscal years can be accessed on the USA Spending website and the Foreign Assistance website.
Also Read: Health CS Reveals Govt’s Next Move After USAID Withdrawal & Job Losses
In the fiscal year 2023, USAID distributed nearly $43.8 billion in aid. The State Department disbursed $21.3 billion in aid in fiscal 2023, almost 30% of the total.
Smaller amounts were disbursed by the Treasury and Health and Human Services departments, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and 16 other agencies.
However, US President Donald Trump during his first week in office issued an executive order imposing a 90-day freeze on all foreign US assistance, pending a comprehensive spending review.
The Trump administration began attempts to dismantle USAID by laying off most of its employees, pausing many of its funding activities and moving those that remain inside the State Department.
According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), USAID employs over 10,000 people, with nearly two-thirds working abroad.
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