MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Releases Youth Policy

United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a US-based government agency that provides international economic and humanitarian assistance, recently released a policy focused on youth in developing nations that recognizes young people “as a driving force in global development.” The policy notes that approximately half of the global population is under the age of 30 with a majority of that group living in developing nations. It encourages policymakers to “support, prepare, engage and protect youth” as well as “actively leverage the skills, priorities and ideas of young people.” According to USAID administrator Rajiv Shah, “these efforts will not only advance youth development and empowerment but can also help nations accelerate economic growth and capture a demographic dividend. Harnessing this demographic opportunity is not inevitable. It will require strategic, results-oriented investments in youth today.”

Founded in 1961, USAID focuses on administering aid to foreign countries in order to promote social and economic development. This policy is part of several USAID policies released to guide agencies in such areas as gender equality, climate change, violent extremism and now youth. USAID had a total of USD 23.8 billion in budgetary resources in 2011.

USAID offers a suite of resources aimed at improving the outcomes of microenterprise development research and practice at http://microlinks.kdid.org/.

By Sarah Benali, Research Associate

About United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a government agency that provides international economic and humanitarian assistance. It focuses on areas such as economic growth, agriculture, trade, health, democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance. Under the Development Credit Authority (DCA), it provides credit guarantees that cover up to 50 percent of defaults on wholesale loans made by private financial institutions to institutions that lend on a retail basis to underserved borrowers. USAID had a total of USD 23.8 billion in budgetary resources in 2011.

Sources and Additional Resources

USAID Press Release: “USAID Launches New Policy on Youth in Development,” November 2012, http://www.youtheconomicopportunities.org/announcement/685/press-release-usaid-launches-new-policy-youth-development

MicroCapital.org story: “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: US Agency for International Development (USAID), FINCA Jordan Launch Youth Finance Project,” October 23, 2012, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-us-agency-for-international-development-usaid-finca-jordan-launch-youth-finance-project/

MicroCapital Universe Profile: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=United+States+Agency+for+International+Development+%28USAID%29

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