Fiscal Year 2009 FOIA Annual Report

Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act. The agency's FOIA program is designed to provide access to records and information in response to requests from the public. The FOIA requires federal agencies to disclose records in response to requests, unless the records are exempt from disclosure under one of the nine exemptions. The exemptions are designed to protect sensitive information, such as national defense and foreign relations information, trade secrets and confidential business information, and personal privacy information. In Fiscal Year 2009, USAID received 1,444 FOIA requests, which is a 10% increase from the previous year. The agency processed 1,344 requests, with 1,244 being fully processed and 100 being partially processed. The agency also received 100 administrative appeals, with 50 being fully processed and 50 being partially processed. The agency's FOIA program is managed by the FOIA Team Leader, who is responsible for overseeing the processing of FOIA requests and administrative appeals. The team is composed of 10 staff members, who are responsible for processing requests, conducting research, and providing guidance to requesters. The agency's FOIA regulations are outlined in the USAID FOIA Handbook, which provides guidance on the agency's FOIA program and procedures. The handbook outlines the agency's policies and procedures for processing FOIA requests, including the requirements for submitting requests, the processing times, and the exemptions that may be applied. The agency's FOIA program is also subject to oversight by the Office of Government Information Services (OGI), which is responsible for reviewing the agency's FOIA program and providing recommendations for improvement. The OGI conducts annual reviews of the agency's FOIA program, which include an analysis of the agency's FOIA statistics, a review of the agency's FOIA regulations, and a review of the agency's FOIA procedures. In Fiscal Year 2009, the agency collected $1.4 million in fees for processing FOIA requests, which is a 10% increase from the previous year. The agency also provided 1,344 grants to requesters, which is a 10% increase from the previous year. The agency's FOIA program is designed to provide access to records and information in response to requests from the public. The program is managed by the FOIA Team Leader, who is responsible for overseeing the processing of FOIA requests and administrative appeals. The agency's FOIA regulations are outlined in the USAID FOIA Handbook, which provides guidance on the agency's FOIA program and procedures. The agency's FO