Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

HOME NEWS REPORT CRITICIZES LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AROUND U.S. AID TO... Report Criticizes Lack of Transparency Around U.S. Aid to Haiti APRIL 13, 2013 0 0Google +0 1Print The U.S. Agency for International Development continues to limit the disclosure of information about its efforts in Haiti, casting doubt on the effectiveness of U.S. aid to the earthquake-battered country, a new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research finds. According to the report, Breaking Open the Black Box: Increasing Aid Transparency and Accountability in Haiti (14 pages, PDF), the handful of audits and evaluations of USAID programs in Haiti present a 'troubling picture of the manner in which U.S. relief and reconstruction efforts have been conducted so far.' That concern is driven, in part, by a lack of information on sub-awards — the subcontracting done by direct recipients of USAID awards. Indeed, of the $540 million in contracts awarded by USAID, only one recipient — MWH Americas — has reported any information on its use of subcontractors to USASpending.gov, while only five grantees have reported sub-grant data. The report also found that of the $1.15 billion in contracts and grants awarded by USAID since the country was struck by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in 2010, more than half went to the top ten recipients of USAID funding globally, while less than 1 percent has gone to local businesses or organizations. To improve transparency around the $1 billion in Haiti recovery funds yet to be disbursed, as well as any future aid, the report's authors suggest that USAID reduce its reliance on large, multiyear contracts which favor its traditional partners while increasing direct contracting to Haitian entities; strengthen its capacity to carry out effective monitoring and evaluation of assistance programs; and make all evaluations of its aid programs publically available. 'Without transparency, not only is it impossible for U.S. taxpayers to know what is being done with their money,' said Alex Main, who co-authored the report, 'but the Haitian government and the Haitian people have little opportunity to ensure that U.S.-funded projects actually assist Haiti in rebuilding and dealing with ongoing urgent humanitarian needs.' 'New Report on U.S. Aid to Haiti Finds 'Troubling' Lack of Transparency, Effectiveness.' Center for Economic and Policy Research Press Release 04/03/2013. LOCATION: HAITI