What is the Development Objective Assistance Agreement (DOAG)?

On October 8, 2019, former USAID Administrator Mark Green and Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States Carlos Vecchio announced a Development Objective Agreement, the first bilateral agreement USAID has signed with Venezuela in more than 65 years. This agreement serves as a mechanism for USAID and the administration of Interim President Guaidó and the National Assembly to collaborate formally on development programming inside Venezuela. This agreement does not transfer funds to the interim Guaidó Administration and/or the National Assembly.

How is USAID helping the people of Venezuela?

Since Fiscal Year 2017, the United States has provided more than $856 million in humanitarian and development assistance to address the crisis caused by Maduro. This includes more than $647 million in humanitarian and development assistance to support Venezuelans who have fled the crisis to other countries throughout the region and for the communities hosting them, as well as nearly $209 million for Venezuelans inside Venezuela.

Of this $856 million, USAID has provided nearly $571 million; our efforts are outlined below.

Regional Assistance - Outside Venezuela (more than $400 million): USAID is supporting humanitarian response efforts in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. U.S. assistance helps meet urgent humanitarian needs, stem the spread of infectious diseases, and support communities that are hosting vulnerable Venezuelans. With our humanitarian partners, we are providing emergency food and health assistance, safe drinking water, and critical relief items, among other efforts. USAID is also working to boost affected countries’ long-term capacity to respond to the influx of Venezuelans by strengthening and expanding social services, providing technical support to national migration authorities, and creating new economic opportunities in communities hosting Venezuelans.

Inside Venezuela (more than $171 million): Inside Venezuela, USAID is providing more than $43 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance via impartial international and local organizations. In addition, USAID has committed $128 million to support Venezuelan human rights defenders, civil society organizations, independent media, and electoral oversight, as well as to help the Interim Government and the democratically elected National Assembly to continue developing plans for economic recovery and social services during a transition to democracy. When the Maduro regime is gone, the funding will support the recovery efforts—led by a democratically elected Venezuelan administration. USAID will support the restoration of health care completely destroyed by the mismanagement and corruption of Maduro and his allies, and critical work in agriculture to rebuild the private sector production and distribution of food in Venezuela.

Does USAID funding go directly to the interim government to implement these assistance programs?

No. Worldwide, most USAID funding is awarded competitively to private organizations through contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements. Implementing partners include faith-based and community organizations, the private sector, colleges and universities, public international organizations, and non-profit non-governmental organizations.

Although no USAID programs or funds are currently managed by the interim Venezuelan government, in some cases, USAID is providing compensation, travel costs, and other expenses for some technical advisors to the National Assembly and the interim Guaidó Administration through assistance funds. No funds are provided directly to elected National Assembly members, high-level officials of the Guaidó Administration, Ambassadors, or the interim President himself.

How is the Interim Government involved in this DOAG?

USAID regularly consults with interim President Guaidó’s Administration and members of the National Assembly on their vision for a democratic and prosperous Venezuela and the design and prioritization of USAID programming. Dozens of representatives from the interim government, political parties, civil society, and high-priority sectors have participated in these consultations. Their involvement is central to our process of providing helpful and strategic assistance to the people of Venezuela.