The United States Information Agency (USIA) carries on a variety of programs in twenty-five sub-Saharan African countries. USIA activities include “the operation of American libraries in 25 principle and 10 branch posts; placement in local media of films, radio programs, texts, and articles; distribution of Agency-produced periodicals and other printed materials, including the popular magazine Topic, especially edited for African audiences; sponsorship of lectures and seminars on subjects such as economics, foreign affairs, and American life; presentation of American musicians, performers, and artists; and assistance to American firms and embassies in promoting U.S. “commercial objectives abroad” (USIA Activities in Africa).

The Agency for Volunteer Service administers volunteer-orinted programs in the United States and in developing countries abroad. ACTION’s international programs are coordinated and administered by the Peace Corps, which is currently situated in twenty-three African countries. The aim of ACTION International Programs “is to promote world peace and friendship through the Peace Corps and to provide technical assistance and encouragement to the development of volunteer activities in less developed countries and internationally.”

The General Accounting Office’s (GAO) role in African affairs is limited to reviewing various United States programs in Africa, assessing the impact of economic policy actions against African nations, and compiling reports on other forms of U.S. involvement in Africa. A list of issued reports and current assignments involving fieldwork in Africa appears below.

The purpose of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Eximbank) is to “assist in financing and to facilitate export sales of U.S. equipment and services” (Letter of July 18, 1977). Eximbank does not allocate its resources by geographic area; rather it responds to requests for support of American export sales on a case-by-case basis. Eximbank extends its credit in a number of ways. In conjuction with the Foreign Credit Insurance Association, Eximbank “insures short-term (up to 180 days) and medium-term (181 days to 5 years) export credit provided by the private sector.” Second, Eximbank “guarantees the repayment of medium-term export credit extended by U.S. banks to foreign buyers, without recourse to U.S. exporters.” Third, it “facilitates exports of major capital equipment, requiring repayment terms over 5 years through direct loans to foreign buyers for a portion of the required financing.”

The purpose of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is “to mobilize and facilitate the participation of United States private capital and skills in the economic and social development of less developed friendly countries and areas, thereby complementing the development assistance objectives of the United States” (Foreign Assistance Act of 1969, quoted in Investment Insurance Handbook, p. 3). OPIC seeks to accomplish this through providing investment insurance and financing to corporations which are willing to invest in less developed countries. “In all instances the projects OPIC supports must assist in the social and economic development of the country, and must be consistent with the economic interests of the United States” (Investment Financing Handbook p. 3).

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) carries out a variety of cooperative programs with African countries, the most extensive being the Landsat data analysis projects begun in 1972. Other programs include television broadcasts via satellite to Africa and use of meteorological satellites. All of NASA’s cooperative programs in Africa are run on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, with each nation bearing its own costs. Hence, no NASA funds are transferred to Africa in connection with cooperative activities. In NASA’s Office of International Affairs, the staff of twenty-five persons spends somewhat less than ten per cent of their time on African matters.

The Energy Research and Development Administration’s (ERDA) primary involvement in Africa has been with Egypt and the Republic of South Africa. ERDA is also concerned to a lesser extent with several black African nations and has provided equipment grants to eight African countries in conjunction with AID and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awards financial grants to individuals and institutions for research in various fields of the humanities, including African studies. Grants are awarded through several Divisions within NEH, including Public Programs; Education; Fellowships; Research; and the Office of Planning. In FY 1976 and the transition quarter, NEH grants for African studies totaled $742,452. A list of those grants appears below. A list of grants for FY 1977 and FY 1978 was not available.

Within the Library of Congress, two sections cover Africa: the Africa section, which is responsible for Africa south of the Sahara, and the Near East Section, which covers Africa’s northern tier, or Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. The Africa Section publishes a brochure, appropriately entitled “The Africa Section in the Library of Congress,” which describes the Library’s holdings relating to sub-Saharan Africa and lists the twenty-five publications put out by the Section between 1960 and 1974. The brochure is available from the Africa Section, Room 1040-C. Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540.

The Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) involvement in Africa can be divided into two general areas: technical assistance and meetings with African officials concerning annual World Administrative Radio Conferences (WARC). A few FCC officials have travelled to Africa recently, however most of the Commission’s Africa-related activities, including the technical assistance program, are coordinated and administered in Washington.

The National Endowment for the Arts awards grants for projects related to the arts, and makes grants to museums, theatres, dance companies, and educational institutions in the United States to help support and improve their programs. Because of the Endowment's organization it was not possible to compile a list of Africa-related grants.

Within the Smithsonian Institution, the Office of Museum Programs sponsors an internship program “to provide training and experience in museum methods, for persons preparing for careers in the museum field or for those already in the field who wish to improve their knowledge of current museum practice” (Jane Glaser, completed questionnaire). In FY, 1976 and FY 1977, one intern from Botswana and one intern from Nigeria participated in this program.

Within the National Science Foundation, the Division of International Programs administers the United States-Africa Cooperative Science Program. Three types of cooperative activities receive grant support under the program: cooperative research projects, scientific seminars or workshops, and scientific visits including travel to plan or confer about scientific activities. Priority is given to projects which focus on resources, food and nutrition, ecology, and engineering. Organizations which are eligible for grant funding include non-profit higher educational institutions, scientific institutes, scientific and technical institutes and similar organizations that are chartered to do business in the United States. A list of project grants for FY 1976 and FY 1977 was not obtained.

The International Trade Commission (ITC) has no direct involvement in Africa. However, the ITC is in charge of administering the Generalized System of Preferences, under which most African nations are designated beneficiary developing countries. Products from such countries are allowed duty-free import into the United States.

The National Security Council has several functions in the foreign policy formulation process. NSC is responsible for coordinating interagency policy efforts to assure coherent policy proposals and implementation; for generating policy proposals of its own; and for coordinating policy research projects. NSC also makes sure that proposals mesh with existing U.S. policy. In discharging its responsibilities the NSC staff works closely with officials of the Department of State and other government agencies. Two NSC staff members are concerned with Africa. One covers all countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the other is responsible for the Horn of Africa. These two staff members work closely together on policy questions concerning Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan.

The Federal Energy Administration (FEA) has no direct involvement in Africa. However, the Office of International Energy Affairs (FEA/IEA) “monitors energy supply, consumption, and trade activities, worldwide, including the African nations.”

Vice President Mondale has been participating extensively in Africa-related foreign policy matters since taking office in January, 1977. The Vice President works closely with Secretary of State Vance and Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young in the development of Africa-related policy recommendations for consideration by the President. The Vice President also participates in meetings with visiting African leaders and monitors political developments in Africa. Finally, at the President’s request, Vice President Mondale met with Prime Minister Vorster of South Africa to explain the new Administration’s policies toward southern Africa. Information on the Vice President’s staff’s involvement in Africa-related matters was requested but not received.

Officials of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Office for Africa, Office of Legislative Counsel, and the Freedom of Information Coordinator were contacted in an attempt to obtain information on the CIA’s involvement in Africa. These officials all declined to provide such information. Moreover, they all declined to provide a written statement of refusal to answer the ASA’s questions on the CIA’s involvement in Africa. The only material provided by the CIA was the Central Intelligence Agency Information Kit from which the photograph from page 112 is reproduced.