Who were USAID’s top grantees in 2024?

The U.S. Agency for International Development has made significant strides throughout President Joe Biden’s four-year term, especially in the area of localization. The portion of the money that went to local organizations improved in the last four years and different initiatives were implemented to help the agency — albeit slowly — reach its goal of allocating a quarter of its funding to local partners. Historically, USAID has channeled the bulk of its budget via the assistance mechanism, which includes grants and cooperative agreements. Beginning in 2022, direct payments — another financing method under the assistance mechanism — were utilized as a response to the war in Ukraine. Direct payments mainly go through the multilateral system, with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development being the largest recipient. USASpending data shows that USAID obligated nearly $23 billion via the assistance mechanism in the fiscal year that ended in September 2024 — a 26.7% cash-term decrease from 2023. USAID’s overall assistance and acquisition, or A&A, spending went down by $7.6 billion, in cash terms, from the previous year — from $37.8 billion to $30.2 billion. Of this, $17 billion was obligated through grants and cooperative agreements. This represents a slight cash-term increase from the $16.3 billion obligated in 2023. Another $4.3 billion was made in direct payments, while the remaining $1.6 billion was obligated through insurance, other financial assistance, and unspecified financing methods. As usual, we identified the top 10 bilateral and multilateral recipients of funding. Our findings also show that while the placements differed from 2023, the same 10 bilateral grantees topped the 2024 list. However there is a new organization at the top of the list, which had been topped by FHI 360 for many years. And while most recipients saw funding drop, the largest recipients saw big gains. Among multilaterals, UNAIDS and the United Nations Office for Project Services, or UNOPS, replaced the United Nations Population Fund — which went down by two notches — and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs — which went down four notches. Overall, the top 10 bilateral and top 10 multilateral grantees received a cumulative obligation worth $9.7 billion, or 57.3% of the total grants and cooperative agreements in 2024. All year-on-year comparisons are in cash terms. Top 10 bilateral grantees 1. Catholic Relief Services Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $508,447,815. Rank in FY 2023: 2. Catholic Relief Services took the top spot from FHI 360, which has been USAID’s top bilateral implementer since 2019. The nonprofit saw the biggest relative increase among the top 10 bilateral grantees in 2024, at 23.9%. CRS carries out several humanitarian activities and relief services on behalf of USAID. Its largest award in 2024, worth $207.8 million, was for emergency food assistance to Ethiopia. 2. FHI 360 Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $474,383,046. Rank in FY 2023: 1. In 2024, FHI 360’s total obligation amounted to $474.4 million — up 15.1% from 2023. FHI 360 is the lead implementer of the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control, or EpiC, project, which is an eight-year initiative for HIV, global health security, COVID-19, and monkeypox jointly funded by USAID and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. The other core partners include Right to Care, Palladium, and Population Services International, while another 260 local organizations are involved in the implementation. EpiC remains FHI 360’s largest award, with $181 million obligated for it in 2024. 3. RTI International Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $223,888,069. Rank in FY 2023: 5. RTI International is a research institute working to improve the human condition through science-based solutions. Up two ranks from 2023, its total obligation increased by 16.9% in 2024. In September 2018, RTI International was awarded the Control & Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases, or CEP-NTD, Element Two Project — a five-year initiative to eliminate several neglected tropical diseases in over 10 countries. The project was later extended to 2026. CEP-NTD has been among RTI International’s largest activities, with $42.5 million obligated in 2024. 4. Mercy Corps Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $202,643,892. Rank in FY 2023: 4. Mercy Corps maintained its rank despite a 4.6% drop in its total obligation in 2024. USAID obligated $34 million to Mercy Corps to deliver cash assistance to Sudan as a response to the humanitarian crisis brought on by the ongoing civil war that started in April 2023. 5. Save the Children USA Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $189,929,560. Rank in FY 2023: 3. Save the Children USA went down two ranks from 2023, with its total obligation decreasing by 10.8%. In 2024, it was awarded $26 million to provide services in the health; nutrition; protection; and water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 6. Jhpiego Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $159,035,100. Rank in FY 2023: 10. Founded in 1973, Jhpiego is a leading provider of health care solutions in family planning and reproductive health, maternal and child health, infection prevention and control, and HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases. Its total obligation from USAID grew by 16.7% in 2024, boosting its rank by four notches. Its top award in 2024, worth $66.9 million, will help reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity in Kenya. 7. The Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $154,100,113. Rank in FY 2023: 6. Founded in 1995, CEPPS supports democratic practices and institutions globally. Even though its obligation from USAID went down by 5.7%, it climbed a rank from 2023. Unlike the other top grantees, which implement a combination of a few large-scale and several small-scale projects, the awards to CEPPS in 2024 were all under $10 million. This includes $8.5 million to promote transparent elections in Venezuela and $7.5 million to support civil societies in Jordan. 8. CARE USA Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $137,848,019. Rank in FY 2023: 7. CARE USA is one of the world’s largest implementers of humanitarian and relief services. Its total obligation from USAID was worth $137.8 million in 2024 — 14.3% less than the previous year. USAID obligated $21.3 million to CARE USA to implement the Afghanistan Integrated Youth Activity, or AIYA, which aims to improve job opportunities among youth, especially women, through technical and soft skills. 9. World Vision USA Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $133,947,773. Rank in FY 2023: 8. World Vision USA slid down one rank from 2023, with 14.7% less in obligation. Its top award, worth $29.6 million, supports the Resilience Food Security Activity, or RFSA, an initiative of the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance to enhance food resilience in vulnerable communities. 10. JSI Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $111,271,399. Rank in FY 2023: 9. JSI remains one of USAID’s top recipients despite receiving 24.4% less in obligation in 2024 than the previous year. Along with partners, JSI leads the implementation of the Country Health Information Systems and Data Use, or CHISU, program — a multicountry flagship program of USAID Bureau for Global Health’s Office of Health Systems. In 2024, $3.6 million was obligated to JSI to support CHISU activities in Kenya. Top 10 multilateral grantees 1. World Food Programme Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $3,275,851,330. Rank in FY 2023: 1. WFP — which describes itself as the largest humanitarian organization in the world — remains USAID's top recipient of grants and cooperative agreements among multilaterals, with $3.3 billion obligated in 2024. This is 11.2% less than the previous year. USAID made over 300 transactions with WFP in 2024, with the largest awards intended for food and emergency assistance in conflict-affected and fragile states. This includes $390.3 million for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, $280 million for Afghanistan, and $145.4 million for South Sudan. 2. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $2,326,796,688. Rank in FY 2023: 2. The Global Fund is the largest multilateral partnership working to combat HIV, TB, and malaria, investing $5 billion annually to address these epidemics. USAID obligated $2.3 billion as a core contribution to the Global Fund, an increase of 186.7% from 2023 — the biggest jump among the top 50 recipients. 3. International Organization for Migration Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $454,283,664. Rank in FY 2023: 4. Up one rank from 2023, IOM’s total obligation climbed by 10.5%, taking UNICEF’s spot. Its largest award, worth $78.6 million, was for the provision of shelter, protection, WASH, and psychosocial services in Ukraine. 4. United Nations Children's Fund Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $325,145,410. Rank in FY 2023: 3. UNICEF saw a 32.3% reduction in its total obligation in 2024, although it remains one of the top recipients among multilateral agencies. UNICEF implements several projects aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of children, including $47.4 million for Nigeria, $30.2 million for Afghanistan, and $30 million in Tunisia. 5. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $300,000,000. Rank in FY 2023: 5. Gavi is a multilateral partnership that has been instrumental in increasing immunization in low- and middle-income countries. It received $300 million as a core contribution from USAID, up 3.4% from 2023. 6. World Health Organization Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $210,417,073. Rank in FY 2023: 8. Up two notches from 2023, WHO’s total obligation increased by 3.4%. USAID obligated $103.1 million to WHO as a core contribution and another $54.7 million for the agency’s global polio immunization initiative. The rest went to other global and country-specific programs. 7. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $174,086,148. Rank in FY 2023: 6. IBRD is the World Bank Group’s lending institution that caters to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries. In 2024, its total obligation from USAID suffered a 31.3% drop from the previous year. USAID obligated $130 million to IBRD to support its works within Pakistan’s education system. This is funded through the Global Partnership for Education, or GPE, a multidonor fund supporting the education sector in low-income countries. 8. Food and Agriculture Organization Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $142,748,005. Rank in FY 2023: 7. FAO is a specialized agency of the U.N. that focuses on addressing food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition. As with several other multilaterals, FAO's biggest transaction, worth $82 million, was obligated as a core contribution to support its humanitarian activities. 9. UNAIDS Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $93,644,472. Rank in FY 2023: 11. Since its establishment in 1996, UNAIDS has led the effort toward the eradication of AIDS as a public health threat. It received $93.6 million from USAID in 2024, a 3.7% rise from 2023. Its entire $93.6 million obligation in 2024 was in the form of core contributions. 10. United Nations Office for Project Services Total federal action obligation in FY 2024: $69,125,062. Rank in FY 2023: 12. UNOPS is the U.N.’s lead agency for infrastructure, procurement, and project management services. The largest among its awards, worth $50.8 million, supports its work to eliminate tuberculosis in Nigeria. Update, Feb. 14, 2025: This piece has been updated to reflect the figure obligated to JSI to support CHISU activities in Kenya. Try out Devex Pro Funding today with a free five-day trial, and explore funding opportunities from over 850 sources in addition to our analysis and news content.