USAID

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the primary U.S. government agency responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. USAID is an independent agency that works closely with the U.S. Department of State and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with missions and programs in numerous countries worldwide. In Africa, USAID provides funding and technical support through grants and other instruments to advance economic growth, improve health outcomes, and strengthen food security and market systems. Based on available investment records, USAID has supported companies in Nigeria and Kenya through seven funding rounds between October 2021 and October 2023, using grant and other non equity instruments. These investments have focused on Agri Tech, Health Tech, and Services and Marketplaces, including support to Maisha Meds in Kenya, and Kitovu, Farmspeak, and AyosifamHub in Nigeria. Through these activities, USAID’s engagement with African startups and enterprises reflects its broader development mission, which includes promoting inclusive growth, strengthening agricultural value chains, and expanding access to essential health and market services. Its use of grants and other catalytic funding tools is intended to help local innovators test, scale, and sustain solutions that address development challenges in their communities.