The U.S. Government (USG) and Afghanistan have partnered for 17 years to achieve shared security and development goals. The August 2017 U.S. South Asia Strategy reaffirms the commitment of the U.S. to Afghanistan and highlights the importance of the country’s stability to U.S. national security. Foreign assistance is crucial to addressing the security and development challenges that, in the past, have made Afghanistan a safe haven for terrorists and violent extremist organizations. It is also a vital component to achieving a political settlement that ends Afghanistan’s conflict and brings lasting stability to the country. USAID will help establish the conditions necessary for peace and self-reliance through this Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) by focusing on long-term, broad-based development in Afghanistan and by transitioning to a more mature relationship with the Government of Afghanistan (GoA). This relationship, driven by accountability for performance, will enable the GoA to take greater ownership of its country’s development. Working with the GoA, USAID will prioritize private sector-driven economic growth that creates the conditions for job growth, revenue generation, and social improvements. USAID will support the Afghan people to advance the social gains made since 2001, particularly around health, education, and opportunities for women. USAID’s development goal – which aligns with the GoA’s policy goals for self-reliance – is to help Afghanistan become a more inclusive, economically viable, and self-reliant country with which the USG can better partner in our national security strategy.