African Development Foundation
 | |
| Founded | African Development Foundation Act 1980 |
|---|---|
| Type | US government agency |
| Location |
|
Area served | Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, |
| Slogan | "Fostering hope, growth and goodwill in Africa |
| Mission | "To support under served, marginalized communities in Africa with resources that help create better economic opportunities and an improved quality of life"--$17 million to 200 projects in 20 African Countries--$4.8 million to Capacity Building organizations in Africa |
The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is an Independent United States Government Agency which provides grants of up to $250,000 to community groups and small enterprises that benefit underserved and marginalized groups in Sub-Saharan Africa.[1] USADF measures grant success in terms of jobs created and sustained, increased incomes levels, and improved social conditions. In 2010 USADF has budgeted over $20 million for project grants in 20 countries. An additional $4.5 million is budgeted for African directed partner organizations that provide technical design and implementation support for USADF grantees.[2]
History
Created by an Act of Congress in 1980, USADF began program operations in 1984. It has since provided financing to more than 1,500 small enterprises and community-based organizations. Descriptions, photos, goals and budgets of active projects in each country may be viewed at the USADF website.[3]
USADF's budget is funded through annual U.S. government appropriations for foreign operations, and is governed by a board of directors that includes seven members who are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate.[4]
Operations
USADF currently operates in Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The Foundation plans to begin new program in the Turkana Region of Kenya and do special food security project in the Sahel region of West Africa in 2011.[3]
In 2005, the United States Office of Management and Budget rated ADF's programs fully "effective" under its Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART) program, an efficiency recognition that has been accorded to less than 10 percent of United States Government grantmaking programs. ADF receives most of its programming resources from the United States Government, but it has also established strategic partnerships with African governments and private corporations to leverage the impact of its federal funding.
ADF programs
USADF's programs focus on supporting small local or community businesses and individuals. They support programs that will provide increased employment for their areas of service. The fund has two types of grants that applicants can apply for:
- Enterprise Expansion Grants- enterprise expansion grants provide assistance for preexisting cooperatives, farmer associations, community groups, enterprises, or businesses that have developed a plan for expansion. The grants can amount to up to $250,000 and can last for up to 5 years. Applications for grants are reviewed by field staff of ADF that work on the ground in African countries. If a business or organization receives funding from the African Development fund they are eligible to work with partner organizations which will help them turn their plan into a reality by providing technical or managerial support or assistance.
- Operational Assistance Grants- operational assistance grants offer funding for preexisting cooperatives, farmer associations, community groups, enterprises, or businesses who plan to engage in technical, managerial, organizational improvements. The grants can amount to up to $100,000 over 2 years.
- Capacity Building- The ADF also apportions significant amounts of money for organizations that deliver technical, organizational, managerial services to businesses and organizations who receive funding from ADF. ADF believes that grant recipients will better utilize funding if they have the best technical, organizational, managerial, leadership skills possible. Organizations that help build capacity in local communities, or other local organizations are also eligible for ADF grants. ADF believes these organizations help ensure the success of initiatives ADF sponsors. According to its website ADF will provide $4 million for capacity building organizations within 2011. [5]
See also
References and notes
- ↑ Marginalized groups are people that have significant needs that are not being currently addressed by existing governments programs, NGOs, or other international development efforts.
- ↑ About USADF, www.usadf.gov. Retrieved on 2009-03-23.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 USADF Programs, Quick Source Information Directory, www.usadf.gov. Retrieved on 2009-03-23.
- ↑ USADF Annual budgets, Quick Source Information Directory, www.usadf.gov. Retrieved on 2009-03-23.
- ↑ "USADF's foundations". USADF. 2011. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.