The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) leads efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance. Our programs help develop a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Pakistan that can plan, manage, and finance its own journey to self-reliance. 

OUR WORK

The United States and Pakistan have worked together for more than 70 years on issues that are important to both nations, including energy, economic growth, education, health, and community resilience.  Over the past decade, the United States, through USAID, has delivered nearly $7.7 billion in assistance to address these sectors.  

USAID is expanding the writ of government along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, building more peaceful communities, increasing private-sector-led inclusive economic growth, and improving infectious disease prevention, detection and response. USAID engages with Pakistan through bilateral cooperation and robust foreign assistance focused on joint priorities.  USAID seeks to develop transformational partnerships and practices to ensure that the impact of our assistance is sustained beyond the end of our funding.

EXPENDING THE WRIT OF GOVERNMENT ALONG THE BORDER WITH AFGHANISTAN

The Afghanistan-Pakistan border region has a history of disenfranchisement, conflict, poverty, and limited basic services.  Moreover, the region has historically harbored some of the world’s most active and violent extremist organizations, resulting in vulnerable and displaced local populations, particularly young men and women.  USAID supports reforms in the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to extend governance systems along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border; improve essential service delivery in health and education; and increase citizens’ voices, participation, and representation in local government institutions.  This work helps to strengthen government legitimacy, and improves local communities' confidence and trust.  Additionally, USAID’s activities in the NMDs bolster livelihoods, cultivate entrepreneurship, and improve connectivity of isolated areas to promote sustainable economic activity and development.

BUIDLING MORE PEACEFUL COMMUNITIES

The marginalization of different groups, gender-based discrimination, low civic engagement, shrinking civil society space, and limited access to productive livelihoods can weaken social cohesion.  To actively address these risks and reinforce Pakistan’s self-reliance, USAID activities develop and strengthen institutional and informal leadership and coordination at the local level; empower people to address identity-based grievances; and foster a sense of belonging, trust, and agency among community members.  USAID also partners with civil society and government stakeholders to strengthen interaction among diverse groups, and promote social and religious tolerance.  This work increases positive attitudes, expands women’s empowerment, and promotes alternative dispute resolution to help foster peace. 

INCREASING PRIVATE SECTOR-LED INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH

To support sustainable and inclusive growth, USAID invests in activities that increase access to energy and catalyze private-sector growth, investment, and trade.  The focus is on creating an open trade and investment environment with an emphasis on private sector partnerships.  USAID also advances market connectivity, entrepreneurship, job generation, networking, and innovation, particularly for youth, women, and marginalized populations.

IMPROVING INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREVENTION, DETECTION AND RESPONSE 

Pakistan is one of 70 countries worldwide where the U.S. Government supports a Global Health Security Agenda, leveraging investments from the host government, donor partners, and the private sector to detect, prevent, and respond rapidly to infectious disease outbreaks. USAID activities support surveillance efforts, improve the use of data for making decisions, develop the capacity of the health workforce, and increase access to safe water and sanitation so that Pakistan will be more able to successfully prevent and detect infectious disease threats.