| Description |
1 online resource (iv, 81 pages) : color illustrations |
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text txt rdacontent |
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computer c rdamedia |
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online resource cr rdacarrier |
| Note |
"March 2017." |
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"GAO-17-316." |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Note |
Online resource, PDF version; title from cover (GAO web site, viewed Mar. 6, 2017). |
| Summary |
The U.S. government plans to spend approximately $35 billion on foreign assistance in 2017. Evaluation is an essential tool for U.S. agencies to assess and improve the results of their programs. Government-wide guidance emphasizes the importance of evaluation, and the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016 requires the President to establish guidelines for conducting evaluations. However, evaluations can be challenging to conduct. GAO has previously reported on challenges in the design, implementation, and dissemination of the evaluations of individual foreign assistance programs. GAO was asked to review foreign aid evaluations across multiple agencies. This report examines the (1) quality, (2) cost, and (3) dissemination of foreign aid program evaluations. GAO assessed a representative sample of 173 fiscal year 2015 evaluations for programs at the six agencies providing the largest amounts of U.S. foreign aid --USAID, State, MCC, HHS's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, and DOD's Global Train and Equip program--against leading evaluation quality criteria; analyzed cost and contract documents; and reviewed agency websites and dissemination procedures. GAO recommends that each of the six agencies develop a plan to improve the quality of its evaluations and that HHS, MCC, State, and USDA improve their procedures and planning for disseminating evaluation reports. |
| Subject |
United States. Agency for International Development -- Appropriations and expenditures.
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United States. Foreign Agricultural Service -- Appropriations and expenditures.
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United States. Department of Defense -- Appropriations and expenditures.
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United States. Department of State -- Appropriations and expenditures.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) -- Appropriations and expenditures.
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Economic development projects -- Finance -- Evaluation.
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Economic assistance -- Finance -- Evaluation.
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| Genre/Form |
Online resources.
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Electronic books.
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Electronic government information.
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| Added Title |
Agencies can improve the quality and dissemination of program evaluations |
| Gpo Item No. |
0546-D (online) |
| Sudoc No. |
GA 1.13:GAO-17-316 |
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