HEALTH

Our in-country health program is one of the Agency's largest. Our work emphasizes leadership, governance, sustainability and training of the South African health system. 

South Africa has the highest burden of HIV/AIDS in the world, with an estimated 7.1 million people living with HIV. South Africa funds more than 80 percent of its national HIV response, which currently provides lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) to more than 3.7 million people living with HIV (PLHIV).  Since 2004, as a key implementing agency for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), USAID has delivered the majority of the more than $5.6 billion invested in South Africa’s response to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and TB, saving millions of lives. 

With PEPFAR funding, USAID supports national, provincial, district and community programs focused on the 27 highest HIV-burdened districts, which collectively represent more than 85 percent of South Africa’s PLHIV. South Africa also faces one of the world’s highest incidence rates of tuberculosis (TB), with more than 834 people out of 100,000 living with TB in 2015.  USAID supports South Africa to improve the response to TB, including drug susceptible and multi-drug resistant TB, as well as the risk of HIV/TB co-infection.

DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE

We support South African leadership in promoting lasting development solutions in other developing countries.  An innovative government-to-government partnership allows us to enhance the ability of nations to deliver demand-driven technical assistance, exchange programs and capacity development through the National Treasury’s International Development Cooperation arm. As South Africa emerges as a donor in its own right, decades of experience and lessons learned from USAID shape South Africa’s new legacy as a leading African nation advancing stability on the continent. Our programs also help survivors of sexual assault by increasing access to justice and integrated support services (medical, legal, and psychosocial counseling) through expansion of the government’s Thuthuzela Care Center network.

The USAID-funded Thuthuzela Care Centre network provides support for rape and sexual assault survivors to ensure they do not experience secondary trauma while seeking justice and medical treatment. More than fifty rape crisis centers have been established. 

EDUCATION

Our work is aligned with the USAID Education Strategy, which supports interventions that improve learning outcomes, especially primary grade reading. Selected models receive funding to expand, refine and rigorously test before rolling out to the district, provincial or national level.

USAID/South Africa’s education and youth programs seek to improve reading outcomes in the early grades, and to close the gap between skills and employment opportunities for youth by building teacher effectiveness and strengthening classroom and school management.  In addition to collaborating with the Government of South Africa, USAID/South Africa’s resource partners include the ELMA Foundation, J.P. Morgan Foundation and DG Murray Trust.

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TRADE

South Africa has a strong economic foundation; however suffers from income inequality, poverty, unemployment, and a lack of relevant job skills among historically disadvantaged populations. USAID advances financial sector innovation, evidence-based policy reform, and inclusive economic development. 

Working in partnership with the Government of South Africa, USAID is increasing access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, improving market linkages for historically disadvantaged businesses and promoting evidence-based policy-making to maximize the effectiveness of public resources. USAID also promotes the Government of South Africa’s capacity to adopt policies and programs that foster economic growth, equity, and employment. 

ENVIRONMENT

We partner with civil society and higher education institutions, including the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa and the University of Cape Town, to help adapt to climate shocks through education and training programs and the introduction of innovative technologies.

South Africa has undertaken significant efforts to develop a more climate resilient, lower emissions, job-creating economy. With its unique role in the region and the potential to serve as a model for other countries, the U.S. government partners with South Africa to accelerate their transition and support their development of a Low Emissions Development Strategy. 

USAID supports various congressional and executive priorities including protection of biodiversity and combating wildlife crime; advancing water supply and sanitation services; promoting strategic investments and partnerships, and; fostering collaborative, transboundary cooperation to reduce drivers of insecurity.

AGRICULTURE

South Africa’s agricultural expertise makes the country a key partner for reducing hunger, poverty and malnutrition in the region.

Through the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future (FTF) initiative, USAID is leveraging South Africa’s public and private sector, universities and other institution’s technical expertise and training capacity to enhance food security across the African continent. USAID is engaging South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to build capacity and support their efforts to assist countries in the region to enhance their food security. 

TRILATERAL ASSISTANCE 

The Trilateral Assistance Program (TAP) allows USAID to support various small-scale development projects on the continent implemented by South African departments and agencies. Through these programs, the Government of South Africa provides technical assistance to other countries in Africa to promote peace, democracy and development. USAID is maximizing its development resources across the continent by supporting the GoSA to further our development priorities. This partnership is important politically to the USG in terms of cementing a sound relationship with South Africa given their significant influence in the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and the United Nations Security Council. The program provides a platform for the GoSA to enhance its capacity to promote and strengthen democratic norms, rule of law, good governance and human rights on the continent.