Audit report on USAID"s systems for measuring program results

Audits covers three Washington bureaus and four overseas Missions. USAID has made some program accomplishments and significant progress in the past 2 years in developing a system for measuring program results. However, none of the seven sites reviewed fully meet PRISM requirements for quantifiable or even objectively verifiable and measurable indicators and for reporting systems. Further, three of the four Missions reviewed were not yet required to (and in fact do not) report baseline data and actual results under PRISM, and all four were still in the process of developing management systems to ensure that PRISM data are accurate and fully documented. Finally, USAID"s financial management systems do not enable it readily to identify obligations and expenditures in support of the Agency"s four overall strategic goals or in support of specific Missions" strategic objectives. Moreover, USAID"s own ratings on the implementation of PRISM reveals that bureaus and Missions not fully meeting these requirements have obligations totaling $12.8 billion, or 80% of total obligations under active USAID programs. Recommendations address these problems.