USAID is a federal government agency that conducts foreign assistance and humanitarian aid to advance the political and economic interests of the United States.

ICT focus:

USAID believes that the distribution of information has become a very important aspect of global development, and has made a number of commitments to ICTs in developing countries in this context.

Programme activities:

Africa Link provides technical assistance to networks of scientists and policymakers in Africa, specifically targeted towards agriculture, natural resources and the environment.
http://www.usaid.gov/regions/afr/alnk

Internet for Economic Development Initiative (IED) aims to 'help the spread of the Internet and electronic commerce to developing nations.'
http://www.usaid.gov/info_technology/ied

The Leland Initiative is a five-year, $15million effort to extend full internet connectivity to 20 or more African countries.
http://www.usaid.gov/regions/afr/leland

The Southern African Regional Telecommunications Restructuring Program (RTRP) was a four-year programme designed to promote restructuring of the telecommunications sector in SADC member-countries. It ended in 1999, but some further activities are being undertaken with new USAID funding. The regional regulatory association TRASA is among the initiatives that were supported by the Program.
http://www.rtr.worldweb.net/