USAID Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance

USAID Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is an organizational arm of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that has been dedicated to providing community disaster relief since its inception in 1964.

OFDA embodies America’s compassion, which is at the forefront of the U.S. Government’s humanitarian assistance in the wake of natural disasters and conflicts around the world. Its professional team, which is composed of crisis response experts, logisticians, engineers, scientists, infectious disease specialists, doctors, and nutritionists, responds to an average of 70 disasters annually in over 50 countries. OFDA experts work strategically with international response organizations and other donor governments to save countless lives. OFDA acts on behalf of the American people around the world to provide emergency shelters, clean water, medical care and vital nutrition to vulnerable communities. Together with its partners, it has developed early warning systems in order to help people avoid danger. OFDA contributes to reducing the economic impact of future disasters. In addition, it helps to build resilience in communities by providing people with the tools and knowledge they need to recover quickly.

OFDA specializes in Disaster Reduction & Assistance, Humanitarian Aid & Emergency, Agriculture & Food Security, Natural & Technological Hazards, Economic Recovery & Market Systems, Health, Humanitarian Coordination/Information Management, Nutrition, Protection, Shelter & Settlements, WASH, etc.