US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 2151u

Private and voluntary organizations and cooperatives in overseas development

(a)

Congressional finding of importance of participation by private and voluntary organizations

section 2151–1 of this titleThe Congress finds that the participation of rural and urban poor people in their countries’ development can be assisted and accelerated in an effective manner through an increase in activities planned and carried out by private and voluntary organizations and cooperatives. Such organizations and cooperatives, embodying the American spirit of self-help and assistance to others to improve their lives and incomes, constitute an important means of mobilizing private American financial and human resources to benefit poor people in developing countries. The Congress declares that it is in the interest of the United States that such organizations and cooperatives expand their overseas development efforts without compromising their private and independent nature. The Congress further declares that the financial resources of such organizations and cooperatives should be supplemented by the contribution of public funds for the purpose of undertaking development activities in accordance with the principles set forth in and, if necessary and determined on a case-by-case basis, for the purpose of sharing the cost of developing programs related to such activities. The Congress urges the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering subchapter I of this chapter, in implementing programs authorized under subchapter I of this chapter, to draw on the resource of private and voluntary organizations and cooperatives to plan and carry out development activities and to establish simplified procedures for the development and approval of programs to be carried out by such private and voluntary organizations and cooperatives as have demonstrated a capacity to undertake effective development activities.

(b)

Payment of transportation charges on shipments by American National Red Cross and United States voluntary agencies

In order to further the efficient use of United States voluntary contributions for development, relief, and rehabilitation of friendly peoples, the President is authorized to use funds made available for the purposes of this part and part X of this subchapter to pay transportation charges on shipments by the American National Red Cross and by United States voluntary agencies registered with the Agency for International Development.

(c)

Reimbursement for transportation charges

Reimbursement under this section may be provided for transportation charges on shipments from United States ports, or in the case of excess or surplus property supplied by the United States from foreign ports, to ports of entry abroad or to points of entry abroad in cases (1) of landlocked countries, (2) where ports cannot be used effectively because of natural or other disturbances, (3) where carriers to a specified country are unavailable, or (4) where a substantial savings in costs or time can be effected by the utilization of points of entry other than ports.

(d)

Arrangements with receiving country for free entry of shipments and for availability of local currency to defray transportation costs

Where practicable, the President shall make arrangements with the receiving country for free entry of such shipments and for the making available by the country of local currencies for the purpose of defraying the transportation costs of such shipments from the port or point of entry of the receiving country to the designated shipping point of the consignee.

(e)

Continuation of support for programs in countries antedating prohibitions on assistance; national interest considerations; report to Congress

Prohibitions on assistance to countries contained in this chapter or any other Act shall not be construed to prohibit assistance by the agency primarily responsible for administering subchapter I of this chapter in support of programs of private and voluntary organizations and cooperatives already being supported prior to the date such prohibition becomes applicable. The President shall take into consideration, in any case in which statutory prohibitions on assistance would be applicable but for this subsection, whether continuation of support for such programs is in the national interest of the United States. If the President continues such support after such date, he shall prepare and transmit, not later than one year after such date, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report setting forth the reasons for such continuation.

(f)

Funds for private and voluntary organizations

1

1 See References in Text note below.
For each of the fiscal years 1986 through 1989, funds in an amount not less than thirteen and one half percent of the aggregate amount appropriated for that fiscal year to carry out sections 2151a(a), 2151b(b), 2151b(c), 2151c, 2151d, 2151s, and 2292 of this title shall be made available for the activities of private and voluntary organizations, and the President shall seek to channel funds in an amount not less than 16 percent of such aggregate amount for the activities of private and voluntary organizations. Funds made available under part IV of subchapter II of this chapter for the activities of private and voluntary organizations may be considered in determining compliance with the requirements of this subsection.

(g)

Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(d) [title II]112 Stat. 2681–150 Repealed. , , , 2681–156

(h)

Promotion of democratic cooperatives

The Congress recognizes that, in addition to their role in social and economic development, cooperatives provide an opportunity for people to participate directly in democratic decisionmaking. Therefore, assistance under this part shall be provided to rural and urban cooperatives which offer large numbers of low- and middle-income people in developing countries an opportunity to participate directly in democratic decisionmaking. Such assistance shall be designed to encourage the adoption of self-help, private sector cooperative techniques and practices which have been successful in the United States.

Pub. L. 87–195Pub. L. 95–424, title I, § 102(e)92 Stat. 941Pub. L. 96–53, title I, § 12193 Stat. 366Pub. L. 96–533, title III, § 30794 Stat. 3147Pub. L. 97–113, title III, § 30995 Stat. 1535Pub. L. 99–83, title III99 Stat. 215Pub. L. 101–513, title V, § 562(d)(6)104 Stat. 2031Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(d) [title II]112 Stat. 2681–150(, pt. I, § 123, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 309, 310, , ; , , ; , , , 2681–156.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 87–19575 Stat. 424section 2151 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (e), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Section 2151s of this titlePub. L. 101–513, title V, § 562(d)(5)104 Stat. 2031, referred to in subsec. (f), was repealed by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 105–2771998—Subsec. (g). struck out subsec. (g) which read as follows: “After , funds made available to carry out section 2151a(a), 2151b(b), 2151b(c), 2151c, 2151d, 2292, or 2293 of this title may not be made available for programs of any United States private and voluntary organization which does not obtain at least 20 percent of its total annual financial support for its international activities from sources other than the United States Government, except that this restriction does not apply with respect to programs which, as of that date, are receiving financial support from the agency primarily responsible for administering subchapter I of this chapter. The Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering subchapter I of this chapter may, on a case-by-case basis, waive the restriction established by this subsection, after taking into account the effectiveness of the overseas development activities of the organization, its level of volunteer support, its financial viability and stability, and the degree of its dependence for its financial support on the agency primarily responsible for administering subchapter I of this chapter.”

Pub. L. 101–513, § 562(d)(6)(A)1990—Subsec. (b). , inserted “and part X of this subchapter” after “this part”.

Pub. L. 101–513, § 562(d)(6)(B)Subsec. (g). , substituted “2292, or 2293” for “2191s, or 2292”.

Pub. L. 99–83, § 309(a)1985—Subsec. (e). , substituted “one year” for “thirty days”.

Pub. L. 99–83, § 309(b)(1)Subsec. (f). , substituted “1986 through 1989” for “1982, 1983, and 1984”.

Pub. L. 99–83, § 309(b)(2), which directed the substitution of “thirteen and one half” for “twelve” was executed by making the substitution for “12” as the probable intent of Congress because “twelve” did not appear in text.

Pub. L. 99–83, § 309(b)(3), inserted provisions relating to funds for determining compliance with subsec. (f).

Pub. L. 99–83, § 310Subsec. (h). , added subsec. (h).

Pub. L. 97–113, § 3091981—Subsecs. (f), (g). , added subsecs. (f) and (g).

Pub. L. 96–533, § 307(1)1980—Subsec. (a). , (2), provided for contribution of public funds to private and voluntary organizations and cooperatives for purpose of sharing cost of developing programs related to development activities and encouraged establishment of simplified procedures for development of programs to be carried out by such entities having a capacity for undertaking effective development programs.

Pub. L. 96–533, § 307(3)Subsec. (e). , added subsec. (e).

Pub. L. 96–531979—Subsec. (b). substituted “Agency for International Development” for “Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

References to Subchapter I Deemed To Include Certain Parts of Subchapter II

section 202(b) of Pub. L. 92–226section 2346 of this titleReferences to subchapter I of this chapter are deemed to include parts IV (§ 2346 et seq.), VI (§ 2348 et seq.), and VIII (§ 2349aa et seq.) of subchapter II of this chapter, and references to subchapter II are deemed to exclude such parts. See , set out as a note under , and sections 2348c and 2349aa–5 of this title.

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–83section 1301 of Pub. L. 99–83section 2151–1 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–53section 512(a) of Pub. L. 96–53section 2151 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

section 605 of Pub. L. 95–424section 2151 of this titleSection effective , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note under .

Private and Volunteer Organizations

Pub. L. 108–199, div. D, title V, § 502118 Stat. 166Pub. L. 108–199, , , which prohibited any funds appropriated or otherwise made available by div. D of from being made available to any United States private and voluntary organization, except any cooperative development organization, which obtained less than 20 percent of its total annual funding for international activities from sources other than the United States Government, with certain exceptions, was from the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004, and was not repeated in subsequent appropriation acts. Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 108–7, div. E, title V, § 502(a)117 Stat. 180, , .

Pub. L. 107–115, title V, § 502(a)115 Stat. 2139, , .

Pub. L. 106–429, § 101(a) [title II]114 Stat. 1900, , , 1900A–8.

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(2) [title II]113 Stat. 1535, , , 1501A–68.

Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(d) [title II]112 Stat. 2681–150, , , 2681–156.

Pub. L. 105–118, title II111 Stat. 2390, , .

Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(c) [title II]110 Stat. 3009–121, , , 3009–126.

Pub. L. 104–107, title II110 Stat. 708, , .

Pub. L. 103–306, title II108 Stat. 1612, , .

Pub. L. 103–87, title II107 Stat. 935, , .

Pub. L. 102–391, title II106 Stat. 1642, , .

Pub. L. 101–513, title II104 Stat. 1987, , .

Pub. L. 101–167, title II103 Stat. 1204, , .

Pub. L. 100–461, title II102 Stat. 2268–9, , .

Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(e) [title II]101 Stat. 1329–131, , , 1329–139.

Pub. L. 99–500, § 101(f) [title II]100 Stat. 1783–213Pub. L. 99–591, § 101(f) [title II]100 Stat. 3341–214, , , 1783–218, and , , , 3341–218.

Pub. L. 99–190, § 101(i) [title II]99 Stat. 1291, , , 1296.

Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 101(1) [title II]98 Stat. 1884Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(d) [title II]112 Stat. 2681–150, , , 1889; repealed by , , , 2681–156.

Shipment of Humanitarian Assistance

Pub. L. 108–199, div. D, title V, § 534(f)118 Stat. 182

“During fiscal year 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter, of the amounts made available by the United States Agency for International Development to carry out the provisions of section 123(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [this section], funds may be made available to nongovernmental organizations for administrative costs necessary to implement a program to obtain available donated space on commercial ships for the shipment of humanitarian assistance overseas.”
, , , provided that:

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 108–7, div. E, title V, § 534(g)117 Stat. 194, , .

Pub. L. 107–206, title I, § 602116 Stat. 859, , .

Study and Report Concerning Use of Private and Voluntary Organizations, Cooperatives, and Private Sector

Pub. L. 99–83, title III, § 31199 Stat. 216

“(a)

Study .—

The Administrator of the Agency for International Development shall undertake a comprehensive study of additional ways to provide development assistance through nongovernmental organizations, including United States and indigenous private and voluntary organizations, cooperatives, the business community, and other private entities. Such study shall include—
“(1)
an analysis of the percentage of development assistance allocated to governmental and nongovernmental programs;
“(2)
an analysis of structural impediments, within both the United States and foreign governments, to additional use of nongovernmental programs; and
“(3)
an analysis of the comparative economic benefits of governmental and nongovernmental programs.
“(b)

Report .—

The Administrator shall report the results of this study to the Congress no later than .”
, , , provided that:

African Development Foundation

Pub. L. 95–424, title I, § 12292 Stat. 954Pub. L. 97–113, title VII, § 734(a)(5)95 Stat. 1560

“(a)
The Congress declares that the United States should place higher priority on the formulation and implementation of policies and programs to enable the people of African nations to develop their potential, fulfill their aspirations, and enjoy better, more productive lives. In furtherance of these objectives, the Congress finds that additional support is needed for community-based self-help activities in Africa and that an African Development Foundation, organized to further the purposes set forth in section 123 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [this section], can complement current United States development programs in Africa.
“(b)

Pub. L. 97–113, title VII, § 734(a)(5)95 Stat. 1560 [Repealed. , , .]

”
, , , as amended by , , , provided that:

Pub. L. 113–76, div. K, title III128 Stat. 482section 290h–1 of this title[African Development Foundation changed to United States African Development Foundation by , , . See .]

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

section 2381 of this titleFor delegation of functions of President under this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 12163, , 44 F.R. 56673, as amended, set out as a note under .