ADS Chapter 438: Foreign Language Program

The objectives of the program are to ensure that career candidate employees meet language requirements for tenure, ensure that overseas Language Designated Positions (LDPs) are staffed with employees that meet position language requirements, and provide monetary incentives to encourage employees to acquire and maintain language skills at a higher level for proficiency in incentive languages. The authority for USAID's Foreign Language Program comes from Section 702 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended. Section 704(b)(3) of the Act is the authority for language incentive pay. The program is responsible for making foreign language training available to FS employees in order to meet tenure requirements and to achieve proficiency required for language designated positions throughout their careers. USAID is responsible for making foreign language training available to FS employees, while Foreign Service employees are responsible for acquiring foreign language proficiency within established timeframes and for maintaining this competency. Supervisors are responsible for releasing their employees from duties when the employee is assigned to full-time intensive language training and for reflecting in the employees' performance appraisals any accomplishments in job-related language training. The Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO), Office of Human Resources (OHR) or designee is responsible for approving curtailment or postponement of language training for career candidate employees, deciding employee appeals regarding eligibility requirements for language incentive payments, and making final decisions on appeals of unfavorable waiver decisions made by the Chief, Office of Human Resources, Foreign Service Personnel Division (OHR/FSP). The Office of Human Resources, Foreign Service Personnel Division (OHR/FSP) is responsible for overseeing all aspects of USAID's Foreign Language Program, coordinating language program activities, developing the training budget, counseling employees and Mission management, allocating funds for training, and making other training determinations, as necessary. Mission Directors and USAID Principal Officers are responsible for reviewing language proficiency requirements for existing positions, certifying that language requirements are adequate for existing positions and needed for new positions, requesting curtailment or postponement of an employee's assignment, or waiver of employee language training in Washington to satisfy an urgent staffing need overseas, ensuring that employees who do not meet the language requirements for language designated positions are provided training at the overseas post, and monitoring, reporting progress, and making decisions on the continuation or termination of Mission language training. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI), or in some instances, other USAID-contracted training facilities may provide foreign language training to FS employees and others as indicated in this chapter. The Bureau for Management, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Payroll Office (M/CFO/P) is responsible for paying language incentives authorized in this chapter.