In 1989, the U.S. government began providing large-scale humanitarian aid and emergency assistance. In 1992, with the prospect of elections and a viable peace process, USAID began a relief and development assistance program in Angola for the first time. Nevertheless, with the resumption of fighting soon after the elections, assistance was terminated until 1995 when development assistance resumed with a grant of $4 million for agricultural rehabilitation and $2 million for assistance to displaced children and orphans. In 1996, a USAID office was established in Luanda with the arrival of the first resident USAID official. The initial programs funded by USAID were relief in nature, and included specific health interventions, such as immunization campaigns, emergency feeding, and service delivery. In April 1998, the Angola office was upgraded to full mission status and the USAID/Angola Mission was born.

From 2001 to 2005, programming continued with large-scale humanitarian assistance while also addressing Angola's post-war development needs, focusing on improved food security, strengthened democratic governance, and maternal and child health. In 2006 the nature of programming shifted by removing the humanitarian component and moving to a full development agenda. 2011 marks USAID’s 50th anniversary as an Agency and our 15th year with a full presence in Angola that has supported Angolan efforts in sustainable economic development. Our support, in an integrated fashion, to agriculture, education, economic growth, and health, in addition to democracy and governance, is a development strategy rooted in open markets and a private sector that is based on a sustainable, growing partnership between the U.S. and Angola. During that time USAID/Angola has provided more than $1 billion in relief and development assistance programming. 

In 2014 the mission prepared a new country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) that transforms the relationship between the mission and GRA. Under the CDCS, USAID supports the Ministry of Health to develop, strengthen, and sustain Angolan health systems to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases. USAID also enhances Angola’s ownership of development priorities by increasing capacity within the GRA and among community and civil society organizations.  USAID’s primary focus in the health sector is providing integrated prevention, care and treatment for malaria and HIV/AIDS along with strengthening universal access to high-quality voluntary family planning services and reproductive health care. USAID also partners with the Ministry of Finance to provide technical assistance and academic exchange opportunities to develop their human capital and implement public financial management reforms.