Which sectors does USAID focus on in the Philippines?
 
USAID/Philippines is working in the following focus areas:
  • PEACE AND SECURITY
    USAID is working on programs in Mindanao that promote economic growth, mitigate conflict, and promote peace and security.
     
  • GOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY
    USAID continues to support efforts to promote good governance at the local and national levels, improve electoral systems, and promote rule of law. Many programs across other sectors, including in security, health, education, and natural resource management, also contribute to improved governance, especially at the local level.
     
  • INVESTING IN PEOPLE
    USAID assists the Philippines in health and education. Health programs include reproductive health, maternal and child health, TB, HIV/AIDS and avian flu preparedness. Education programs increase access to and the quality of basic education in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.
     
  • ECONOMIC GROWTH
    USAID helps address constraints to trade and investment, improve regulatory quality, and improve tax collection. USAID implements programs that spur micro-enterprise growth, improve economic infrastructure, increase agricultural productivity, enhance the employability of youth, and help manage over-exploited forest, coastal, and marine resources.
     
  • MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT THRESHOLD PROGRAM
    Initiated in November 2006, the two-year, $21 million program focused on fighting corruption and improving performance in the revenue administration agencies. This, in turn, will allow the Philippines to invest more in programs to support broad-based economic growth, improve social services and reduce poverty. The Philippines is now an MCC Compact–eligible country.
     
  • HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
    USAID provides humanitarian assistance to victims of natural disasters and internally-displaced persons in conflict affected areas. 
     

See Programs for more details. 

Why does USAID provide assistance?
 
The U.S. has given substantial economic assistance to developing countries through USAID. Sometimes this aid is purely humanitarian in nature, such as aid for disaster relief and emergency food programs. In other instances, assistance is provided because of special historical or security relationships. But most often, economic assistance is just one element of U.S. relationships with developing countries - relationships that also include mutually beneficial trade and investment flows and educational and cultural exchanges.
 
USAID programs are financed by the American taxpayer. Many Americans believe that the U.S. has a responsibility to help developing countries achieve better lives for their people. Providing development assistance helps the U.S. build closer ties with developing countries. The U.S. also benefits economically because economies that are developing and growing are better trade and investment partners.

How is USAID assistance programmed?
 
USAID assistance to the Philippines consists of three complementary programs:

  • Global Health and Child Survival (GHCS) provides grants to support programs in population, health, nutrition and infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
  • Development Assistance (DA) provides grants to address long term development challenges through programs in economic growth and agricultural development; environmental management; democracy and governance; human capacity development; and humanitarian assistance.
  • Economic Support Funds (ESF) are provided to advance U.S. interests by helping countries meet short and long-term political, economic, and security needs.

The USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C. and the Regional Development Mission for Asia in Bangkok manage a variety of programs directly. A number of these programs also cover the Philippines. Visit the Agency's website at www.usaid.gov.
 
In addition to USAID assistance, the U.S. supports the growth and development of the Philippine economy through programs of other U.S. government agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Labor, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Treasury and Environmental Protection Agency. It also contributes to multilateral development institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, and to the many United Nations agencies active in the Philippines. 

How do the USAID programs work in the Philippines?
 
The U.S. Embassy in Manila consults extensively with the Philippine Government, the NGO community, the private sector, the donor community and other stakeholders to develop a U.S. country assistance strategy usually for a five-year period. The U.S. Embassy then formulates a Mission strategic plan that proposes how the assistance will be used and the levels of funding needed two years in advance. This plan is reviewed by the Department of State and USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., and becomes the basis for a budget which is incorporated into the President's annual foreign assistance bill submitted to the U.S. Congress. Once the bill is passed, the funds are obligated mainly into negotiated multi-year bilateral assistance agreements with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, or directly to some contracts and grants where USAID direct obligation in accordance with the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the two countries is deemed more appropriate.
 
The members of the USAID Mission work closely with their Filipino counterparts at all stages of the implementation of USAID-funded activities. Implementing teams monitor progress, conduct site visits, and carry out evaluations and audits to ensure that activities are being implemented as planned.
 
How can I or my organization receive funding from USAID?
 
Overall, priorities areas for USAID assistance are determined in conjunction with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) of the Philippines and the U.S. Embassy. The programs are then implemented mainly through USAID-administered contracts and grants, in consultation with appropriate agencies of the national, provincial and local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private voluntary organizations (PVOs), and businesses and civic organizations. USAID assistance is generally in the form of technical assistance -- services supplied by people and firms that USAID hires. Decisions regarding specific contractors and grantees are done through competitively bid contracts and grants which support specific objectives of current USAID program activities.
 
Project proponents may submit unsolicited proposals or request for assistance to USAID, if the concept being proposed has a clear and direct fit with USAID's development strategy in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao and its conflict-affected areas. Over the years, however, every region in the Philippines has benefited directly from USAID's assistance. Bicol, Eastern and Western Visayas, and Mindanao, in particular, have received special attention because of the magnitude of their needs.

Does USAID fund higher education, conferences, training and research in the Philippines, other countries, or the United States for Filipinos?
 
USAID/Philippines has no programs, guidelines or funds available to provide scholarships, grants or loans directly to individuals for education, training, conferences, seminars and research in the Philippines, other countries, or the United States. Partners in current USAID programs and activities are sometimes eligible under the Participant Training Programs. 

Can USAID help me obtain visas to the U.S.?
 
USAID is a development Agency and has no jurisdiction over the application, review, or approval process of obtaining visas or other entry documents to the United States for either American or Filipino citizens. Please contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manila directly for information and assistance in this matter.

How can I get a job with USAID/Philippines?
 
All vacancies for local positions are advertised in major Filipino newspapers with instructions on how to apply.
 
For U.S. Citizens interested in a long-term career with USAID, please contact:
U.S. Agency for International Development
Office of Human Resources
Personnel Operations Division
Room 2.08, RRB
Washington, D.C. 20523-2808
 
You can also find additional information on the Employment Opportunities page of the Agency's website.

How can I do business with USAID/Philippines?
 
USAID-funded activities in the Philippines are carried out through contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with American, Filipino, and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and contractors. For more information on available opportunities, please visit our Business page. We also post our solicitations in www.fedbizopps.gov for contracts and www.grants.gov for grants.

Do you have any recommended outline for a concept paper?
 
We suggest that proponent organizations use the following Concept Paper Outline:

  1. Project Summary: (one page)
    • Project Title
    • Project Summary (problem, goals and objectives, activities)
    • Duration
    • Location
    • Target Beneficiaries
    • Proposed Budget
    • Key Personnel
    • Contact Information
  2. Background (include problem statement or description of the problem/s being addressed)
  3. Project Purpose/Goal
    • The project goal should directly support the problem statement.
    • Define what objectives will be met.
    • Describe how the project supports USAID/Philippines’ country assistance strategy and how it will contribute to the achievement of USAID objectives. Please refer to our website: http://philippines.usaid.gov
  4. Implementing Strategy. Describe major activities envisioned and approaches to achieve the project goals and objectives.
  5. Expected Results. Describe expected project results and their indicators or measures of performance. The expected results should directly contribute to addressing the identified problem and achieving the project goals and objectives.
  6. Proposed Budget. Provide cost estimate of expected expenses in implementing the project. Include all sources of funding for the project.

Note: Concept papers must not be more than five pages in length. If requested by USAID/Philippines, organizations may submit full proposals based on the above outline.

Which U.S. Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) do business with USAID?
 
For more information, USAID's Office of Private Voluntary Cooperation (OPVC) in Washington, D.C. maintains a list of registered PVOs.

Do you provide in-country, third country or U.S.-based training?
 
If you are looking for information about in-country, third country or U.S.-based training, please click on this link.

Could you send me some general information on USAID activities in the Philippines?
 
All information about USAID in the Philippines is available on this website. We urge you to browse the site and print whatever you deem appropriate. If you are still in need of further information, please feel free to Contact Us.