Evolution of assistance to Africa 1962-1985

foreign assistance only in recent years. The last five years have accounted for 37% of the $13 billion of total U.S. economic assistance to Africa since 1962. Africa has generally received the smallest share of total U.S. assistance, which was less than 10% in the 1970"s. This has meant that the U.S. has been a relatively minor actor in the region compared to the West Europeans. Moreover, of the $13 billion total in the last 25 years, one-third has been food assistance. One of the most striking characteristics of U.S. assistance to Africa has been discontinuity due to: (1) changes in country focus, fluctuations in program size, and interruptions in assistance; (2) the evolution of development strategy and change of target group; (3) shifts in sectoral priorities and approaches; and (4) varying emphasis on bilateral, multilateral, or regional modes of assistance. One conclusion that emerges from a review of the history of U.S. assistance is that Africa"s lack of development progress cannot be attributed to a failure of U.S. aid, but if anything to the absence of a sustained commitment to Africa"s development in terms of resource allocations and continuous aid relationship with the countries of Africa. This is changing today because of the crises Africa faces, the priority the present administration is according to African aid, and the realistic approach A.I.D. is following. (Author abstract, modified)