**GAO-11-922**                      Published: Sep 28, 2011. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2011.                  

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## Highlights

The United States and other member states have long-standing concerns about the management and operations of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a United Nations (UN) specialized agency charged with leading international efforts to defeat hunger. After an external evaluation found that FAO needed to reform, FAO adopted its reform plan, called the Immediate Plan of Action for FAO Renewal (IPA), which includes 272 action items. This report examines (1) the methodology that FAO uses to report on the status of its reform plan, (2) factors that affect FAO's ability to implement its reform plan, and (3) actions the United States has undertaken to support FAO reform efforts. GAO analyzed FAO documents, including FAO's most recent 2010 IPA progress report; interviewed U.S. and UN officials, and representatives of FAO member states; and analyzed 30 IPA action items from FAO's reform plan.

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## Topics

International Affairs

AccountabilityAgricultural programsDecentralizationEvaluation methodsFood relief programsForeign assistanceInternal auditsInternational cooperationInternational food programsInternational organizationsInternational relationsInternational reliefProgram managementRisk assessmentSchedule slippagesStandardsStrategic planningAssessments