**GAO-10-957**                      Published: Sep 24, 2010. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2010.                  

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## Highlights

The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (the Act) made access to safe water and sanitation for developing countries a U.S. foreign assistance policy objective. The United States provides such assistance mainly through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Act requires the Secretary of State to develop a water and sanitation assistance strategy with the Administrator of USAID; designate high-priority countries for assistance; and report annually to Congress on, among other things, implementation of the strategy and progress toward the U.S. policy objective. As requested, in this report GAO (1) describes USAID's accomplishments; (2) describes USAID's obligations of funds for water and sanitation assistance in fiscal years 2006-2009; (3) assesses the Department of State's (State) development of a U.S. water and sanitation strategy; and (4) examines State's designation of high-priority countries. GAO reviewed State and USAID documents and data and obtained the views of State and USAID officials in Washington, D.C., and 15 countries.

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## Recommendations for Executive Action

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## GAO Contacts

David Gootnick
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## Topics

International Affairs

BeneficiariesDeveloping countriesEconomic assistanceFederal aid to foreign countriesForeign aid programsForeign assistanceNatural resourcesSanitationStrategic planningUse of fundsWater qualityWater treatmentAssessments