The United States Foreign Assistance Reforms: An Overview

1. The United States Foreign Assistance Reforms: An Overview

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. USAID Core Values EmpowermentandAccountability ValuingDiversity Managing forResults Customer Focus Teamwork and Participation

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

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

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

9. Standardization Begins……. • Program Components • Common Indicators

10. 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……..

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

12. 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.

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

14. Country Categories • Rebuilding countries • Developing countries • Transforming countries • Sustaining partnership countries • Restrictive countries

15. Foreign Assistance Standardized Structure and DefinitionsAvailable at www.state.gov/f/reform • Each Objective broken down into • Program Areas • Program Elements • Program Sub-Elements • Standardized OP Indicators that describe whatwill be achieved at Program Area & Element Levels

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Unified USG Planning • Old terminology: • USAID Strategic Objective • New terminology: • Foreign Assistance Objective • www.state.gov/f

25. 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?