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Explore the service-focused approach of program management in the Foreign Agricultural Service, including priority country selection, agreement negotiation process, food aid operations, monitoring and evaluation, food aid quality improvements, and updating regulations.
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Program Management: A Service Approach • Presented by Ross Kreamer, Assistant Deputy Administrator, Office of Capacity Building and Development, Foreign Agricultural Service
Program Management • Encompasses all of our work with our partners • Our focus is on service: providing better services to support our programs
Improvements Currently Being Implemented • Priority country selection • Agreement negotiation process • Food aid operations • Monitoring and evaluation • Food aid quality improvements • Updating regulations
Priority Country Selection • Presented our priority country list • It’s a shortened, more focused list that reflects FAS priorities • Multi-year agreements to provide greater certainty
Agreement Negotiation Process • Standardized sections of agreements • Increased flexibility in implementation • Financial transparency
Food Aid Operations • Strengthening financial management and reporting • Streamlined purchasing practices • Heightened advocacy/representative efforts • Product and packaging oversight
Food Aid Operations, cont’d • IT improvements • Existing improvements • Commodity Operations System (COS) – one step procurement, FARES, EBES, FBES • PowerTrack – web-based freight and OFD invoice payments • Future improvements • FAIS – food aid program management • WBSCM – commodity and freight procurement
Monitoring and Evaluation • FAS has increased resources on reviewing program implementation and outcomes • OCBD is increasing • Field visits of food aid programs • Evaluation in order to identify positive approaches under food aid programs • The timely closing of food aid agreements
Food Aid Quality Improvements • USDA • Review and update current commodity specifications • Establish lab protocols in support of commodity specifications • USAID • Evaluate current commodities against meeting beneficiary needs • Recommend new products
Updating Regulations • To incorporate Farm Bill changes and other desired changes, FAS is re-drafting food aid regulations • Our goals include: • Clearer guidance on program implementation • Our partners will have an opportunity to comment