International Food Assistance: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight
Released: 2009-09-30T00:00:00

Letter

Recommendations

Response to Recommendations Based on information provided by USAID and USDA and our own analysis, we determined that recommendation 1 has not been implemented. Although the Interagency Policy Committee has met regularly to develop a governmentwide food security strategy, the group has yet to publish its strategy. However, the Interagency Policy Committee has established an objective to help rural farmers feed themselves and to help countries establish sustainable agriculture systems by (1) investing in country-led food security plans, (2) coordinating stakeholders strategically, (3) supporting multilateral mechanisms, (4) ensuring a sustained commitment, and (5) focusing on a comprehensive approach to agriculture productivity. The Interagency Policy Committee has also identified seven principles for its food security strategy, including the following: stimulate postharvest and private sector growth, support women and families, maintain the natural resource base, expand knowledge and training, increase trade flows, and support an enabling policy environment.

Based on information provided by USAID and USDA and our own analysis, we determined that recommendation 2 has not been implemented. USAID officials stated that they plan to update Congress on progress toward implementation of a governmentwide food security strategy as part of the agency’s 2008 Initiative to End Hunger in Africa report; the full version of this report was not publicly available as of September 2009. A summary report provided by USAID identifies three food security pillars—(1) immediate humanitarian response, (2) urgent measures to address causes of the food crisis, and (3) related international policies and opportunities—used to respond to the 2007 and 2008 global food crisis. However, the governmentwide strategy has not yet been finalized, and it is premature to report on its implementation.

Oversight Questions 1. What coordination and integration mechanisms has the U.S. government established to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S. international food assistance? 2. What is the nature and scope of current U.S. global food security activities? What agencies, programs, and funding levels are involved? How are NGOs, international organizations, foreign governments, and host governments involved in these efforts? 3. What progress have U.S. agencies made in developing an integrated governmentwide global food security strategy? What are the goals and timeframe for the implementation of the strategy? 4. What key criteria has the U.S. government developed to assess the implementation of the global food security strategy? Does the U.S. government plan to report annually to Congress on the results of the strategy?