Aid Effectiveness

Maximize Impact of U.S. Resources

Development, coupled with defense and diplomacy, makes up the critical balance of U.S. national security and foreign policy. Achieving our critical policy objectives requires effective foreign assistance programs. We must ensure that American foreign assistance dollars are spent as efficiently and effectively as possible. Greater involvement in international development by community and faith-based organizations, private sector, international organizations, traditional international donors, and even former recipient countries requires a more nuanced understanding of the environment in which U.S. foreign assistance is delivered. Maximizing the use of those resources allocated for foreign assistance within this challenging global landscape means developing effective and coordinated strategies and designing and promoting innovative approaches to deliver aid. It includes developing an understanding of which strategies are effective and which are not by analyzing existing programs and monitoring results. In doing so, we must examine our overall assistance approach in order to effectively improve U.S. foreign assistance policies and programs.