The United States Foreign Assistance Reforms: An Overview

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), 1993 Intended to shift the focus of Government officials and managers from program inputs toward program execution — what results (outcomes & outputs) are being achieved & how well are programs meeting expected objectives REQUIRES Long-term goals Annual performance targets Annual reporting of actual performance

USAID Planning Framework A compendium of separate documents: “Policy Framework for Bilateral Foreign Aid” (The White Paper) & many other USAID policies - how we work Strategic resource allocation model - where we work

Managing for Results GPRA & Core Values & USG Priorities programs activities USAID implements programs & activities Results Results that USAID wants to achieve Information Information to assess & improve performance

Managing for Results Valuing Diversity Teamwork and Participation Empowerment and Accountability Customer Focus USAID Core Values

The Managing for Results System Mission/Vision/ Core Values Management Initiatives Achieving Planning Strategic Plans Activity Plans Targets Assessing & Learning Communications Decisions Outcomes

Levels of Results Strategic Level (Results) Tactical Level (Inputs & Outputs) Activities Sub-Intermediate Results Intermediate Results Strategic Objectives USAID Goals

Joint State & USAID Planning Begins Joint State/USAID Agency Strategic Plan USAID Operating Unit Strategy Statement Filter of Agency Framework, Bureau Frameworks &Technical Strategies SO Strategic Goals Performance Goals Mission Strategic Objectives

Standardization Begins……. Program Components Common Indicators

Foreign Assistance Reform Timeline January 2006: Secretary Rice conceptualizes foreign assistance as essential component of transformational diplomacy March 2006: Ambassador Tobias appointed Director of Foreign Assistance (F) to oversee State & USAID funds:  Ensure foreign assistance is used effectively to meet foreign policy objectives  Align foreign assistance activities of State & USAID  Demonstrate responsibility for taxpayer dollars……..

Foreign Assistance Reform Timeline May 2006: New budget & planning process announced June 2006: New Foreign Assistance Framework outlines 5 functional objectives & 5 country categories.

The Goal of the Foreign Assistance framework Helping to build and sustain democratic, well- governed states that will respond to the needs of their people & conduct themselves responsibly in the international system.

Objectives of the Foreign Assistance Framework Peace and Security Governing Justly & Democratically Investing in People Economic Growth Humanitarian Assistance

Country Categories Rebuilding countries Developing countries Transforming countries Sustaining partnership countries Restrictive countries

Foreign Assistance Standardized Structure and Definitions Available at Each Objective broken down into  Program Areas  Program Elements  Program Sub-Elements Standardized OP Indicators that describe what will be achieved at Program Area & Element Levels

An example….. Governing Justly & Democratically 4 Program Areas  1. Rule of Law & Human Rights Program Element 1.1 Constitutions, Laws & Legal systems Program Element 1.2 Judicial Independence Program Element 1.3 Justice System

Foreign Assistance Strategy & Country Operational Plans Global strategy being drafted to amplify framework 67 fast track countries have prepared a combined USAID/State Operational Plan

The Operational Plan Operating Unit Overview Program Area & Element Information  Narrative  USG, Host Country & Donor Activities  OP Indicators & Targets Implementing Mechanism Information  Planned activities  OP Indicators & Targets  Sub-partners

Organizational Structure Four USG-wide sector teams  Peace & Security  Governing Justly & Democratically  Investing in People  Economic Growth Two cross-cutting teams:  Strategic Information  Management and Budget

Unified USG planning Country Team approach under the Ambassador Political Section Economic Section Public Affairs Section Department Of Defense National Institute for Health Centre for Disease Control US Department of Agriculture USAID

Areas, Elements and Indicators Program Areas, Elements & sub-elements must be selected from the “Foreign Assistance Standardized Program Structure & Definitions” OP Indicators must be selected from a menu of standardized indicators – at least one indicator per program element “Custom” indicators from PMPs can be incorporated into the operational plan at the implementing mechanism level

Review & Approval Processes Each OP is reviewed by Objective by inter- agency technical experts Overall OP review by Senior leadership to ensure policy coherence Approval by Director of Foreign Assistance

The OP and Performance Management Indicators & targets established in the operational plan do not replace USAID or partner performance management plans PMPs are a “best development practice” Relevant OP Indicators should be incorporated into PMPs Data Quality Assessments must be done

Unified USG Planning Old terminology:  USAID Strategic Objective New terminology:  Foreign Assistance Objective

Some Questions to Ask…. Is there an adequate role for host country input? Will what gets measured be the only things that get done? Will the Framework better guide potential partners to design more focused projects?