Agency for International Development Needs To Strengthen Its Management of Study, Research, and Evaluation Activities

Gao ID: ID-79-13 February 12, 1979

GAO examined the management of contracts and grants issued by the Agency for International Development (AID) for study, research, and evaluation activities. During fiscal years 1977 and 1978, AID obligated $109 million and $90 million for services from contractors. The amount projected for fiscal 1979 was $105 million.

Some categories of AID-funded studies and research were not included in fiscal year 1977, such as host-country technical services (about $600 million), support of the international agriculture research centers (about $19 million), and research components of development projects. AID cannot readily determine the full amount it spends for studies, research, and evaluations because its management reporting systems are not designed to provide this information. AID does not: give adequate consideration to the information already available to the U.S. Government before contracting for more studies and research; assure itself that it has received products contracted for; nor systematically disseminate its information to others within AID and the Government. These conditions may lead to buying information already available to the Federal Government and to a reduction in the impact on AID programs.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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