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Bringing Accountability to Foreign Aid

Published: Jan 01, 1988. Publicly Released: Jan 01, 1988.
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Highlights

This article, which appeared in the GAO Journal, No. 2, Summer 1988, discusses the financial management of foreign aid programs. Some of the major obstacles to adequate and effective accountability include the: (1) ability of underdeveloped countries to adequately manage foreign aid resources; (2) recipients' political and economic instability, which hampers the ability to ensure that aid reaches those who need it; and (3) Agency for International Development's (AID) ability to monitor its 2,100 active projects and activities. Although AID has improved its internal control systems, it needs to place a higher priority on improving financial management in developing countries.

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