Office of Civil Rights

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is an Independent Office designed to help enforce anti-discrimination laws and promote equal and fair opportunities for all segments of society regardless of their differences, and is responsible for USAID’s mandated Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program. OCR provides leadership, strategic direction, guidance, technical assistance, and advice to Agency leadership and management, and educates the USAID workforce regarding the Agency’s EEO Program and functions, and their EEO rights and responsibilities. OCR plays a neutral, advisory role in the Agency to help foster and support a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment, and that promotes equitable, fair, and inclusive policies and practices.

OCR administers USAID’s EEO Program in accordance with federal laws, regulations, directives, executive orders, guidance, and Agency policies. OCR supports the Agency to demonstrate the six essential elements for a model EEO program, as described in Management Directive 715, which are:

Demonstrated commitment from USAID leadership
Integration of EEO into the USAID’s strategic mission
Management and program accountability
Proactive prevention of unlawful discrimination
Efficiency, and
Responsiveness and legal compliance.

Any member of USAID’s workforce or any applicant for federal employment with USAID who believes they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, or transgender status), age, genetic information, physical or mental disability, or reprisal for protected EEO activity should contact OCR at eeocomplaints@usaid.gov within 45 calendar days of the alleged discrimination.

For more information on the MD-715 or Special Emphasis Programs, please contact ocr-affirmative-employment- program@usaid.gov.

Elijah E. Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2020

USAID is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. USAID seeks to develop and maintain an environment where individuals can enjoy equal employment opportunities free from any form of misconduct, including reprisal, as defined by Federal law or Agency policy. The Agency is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

The Elijah E. Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2020 amends the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation (No FEAR) Act of 2002 to strengthen federal antidiscrimination laws enforced by the EEOC and expands accountability within Federal agencies. This law requires Federal agencies to post notification of a finding of discrimination (including retaliation) that has been made against them. The notice must be posted online on the agency’s website for a period of one year, and state that a finding of discrimination (including retaliation) has been made, including identifying the date on which the finding was made, the date of each discriminatory act, the law(s) violated, and to advise employees of the rights and protections available under applicable civil rights laws.