USAID Country Strategies

USAID continues country strategy rollout, pushes deadline to end of 2014

In line with its USAID Forward reform agenda, which aims to transform the way the largest U.S. aid agency does business, the U.S. Agency for International Development continues to prepare five-year country development cooperation strategies for the 64 countries where it operates.

By Pete Troilo // 10 February 2014
Ugandan women at work in a flower farm. Photo by: Zubedah Nanfuka (U.S. Embassy Kampala) / CC BY-NC-SA

In line with its USAID Forward reform agenda, which aims to transform the way the largest U.S. aid agency does business, the U.S. Agency for International Development continues to prepare five-year country development cooperation strategies for the 64 countries where it operates. According to USAID, its missions have been working closely with host country governments, civil society and private sector groups and other relevant stakeholders to develop evidence-based and results-oriented strategies that help focus investments in key areas that maximize development impact.

Country development cooperation strategies must include goals, objectives and expected results for U.S. foreign assistance, as well as performance indicators and a supporting narrative. Each CDCS must also integrate country-level plans from the Obama administration’s signature aid initiatives: Feed the Future, the Global Health Initiative and the Global Climate Change Initiative.

The first step in USAID’s program cycle, country development cooperation strategies will serve as the basis for agencywide planning, budgeting and reporting, including the annual congressional budget justification. Subsequent USAID projects will flow from these strategies.

With the exception of those implementing single sector programs or phasing out operations in fiscal 2014, all USAID missions must develop a country development cooperation strategy by the end of fiscal year 2014. This deadline was originally set for October 2013.

(Back in 2012, Devex launched our own coverage of donor funding strategies which we have recently integrated into our procurement database.)

Public versions of each CDCS are typically made available within two months of approval. For the official status of each USAID CDCS, please visit here.

As of February 2014, USAID has approved and released the following country development cooperation strategies. Please note that two of the strategies — South Sudan and Sri Lanka — formally expired in 2013, but may still be relevant.

Devex published a version of this article in May 2012. Join the Devex community and gain access to more in-depth analysis, breaking news and business advice — and a host of other services — on international development, humanitarian aid and global health.