U.S. Assistance to Haiti: Progress Made, Challenges Remain

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed economic assistance programs being administered by the Agency for International Development (AID) in Haiti, specifically: (1) the reasonableness of AID strategy in meeting development objectives; (2) Haitian support of AID development efforts; (3) the use and selection of nongovernment organizations to administer programs; and (4) the status of P.L. 480 food assistance programs.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
U.S. Agency for International Development	The Administrator, AID, should encourage formation of a working group of Haitian officials and external donor representatives to examine the recurrent cost problem.	Closed – Implemented At a July 1985 meeting of the joint donor/Government of Haiti, Commission on Foreign Aid, plans were formulated for a more concerted effort to deal with the recurrent cost problem.
U.S. Agency for International Development	The Administrator, AID, should have a comprehensive evaluation made of the Special Development Activities (SDA) program to assist in assessing whether this approach should be expanded and what oversight the mission needs to devote to such community-implemented projects.	Closed – Implemented An AID contractor is currently completing an evaluation of the SDA program.
U.S. Agency for International Development	The Administrator, AID, should have the current staffing structure in Haiti assessed to see if a shift is warranted to oversee P.L. 480 programs.	Closed – Implemented A U.S. resident hire was added to the mission's staff to oversee the P.L. 480 programs. The staff member assigned to the title I program has been shifted to oversee the new title III program, and an assistant has been hired.

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International Affairs

Agricultural assistanceCharitable organizationsDeveloping countriesEconomic developmentForeign economic assistanceInternational food programsNonprofit organizationsForeign aid to HaitiTechnical assistanceFood assistance