Over half of Chad's population live in poverty and have experienced decades of conflict and instability. Since the 2010 peace agreement with neighboring Sudan, however, the country has enjoyed relative stability. Beginning in 2000, foreign direct investment in the oil sector has boosted revenues from oil production.

However, the health situation remains bleak: Chadians face one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, high infant mortality and a life expectancy of less than 50 years. Over a third of the population is undernourished, one of the most severe cases of food insecurity in the world. Primary school completion rates are low, particularly for girls, and only about a third of the population is literate. USAID programs focus on responding to humanitarian emergencies and addressing the drivers of violent extremism.