The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was established in the 1960s by an executive order issued by President John F. Kennedy. The agency combines development assistance with the promotion of foreign policy to advance US interests abroad.

USAID has missions in over 100 countries, primarily in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. USAID's decentralized network of resident field missions is drawn on to manage U.S. Government programs in low-income countries for a range of purposes, which includes disaster relief, poverty relief, technical cooperation on global issues (including the environment), U.S bilateral interests and socioeconomic development. USAID provides both technical assistance and financial assistance.

In the late 1980’s USAID has provided various financial assistance to the Maldives for improving Balance of Payment support.

USAID in the Maldives