Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government Accountability Office Center for Audit Excellence and the United States Agency for International Development

The Partnership aims to enhance accountability, transparency, good governance, and sound utilization of public funds in partner countries. The Center's mission is to promote good governance and build the capacity of domestic and international accountability organizations by providing high-quality training, technical assistance, and related products and services. USAID's Mission Statement and Vision for Ending Extreme Poverty include promoting democratic societies that embrace legitimate, inclusive, and accountable institutions, and strengthening local institutions and systems that facilitate the rule of law and checks and balances among branches of government. The Partnership will focus on several areas of collaboration, including identifying and facilitating capacity development opportunities, coordinating capacity development activities, sharing information, training for USAID staff, and co-organized events. The Participants intend to strengthen the capacity of accountability organizations by seeking to identify and implement training, technical assistance, and other initiatives based upon mutual consent regarding financial, logistical, and/or technical contributions to such efforts. The Participants will establish points of contact with relevant decision-makers and explore respective authorities, capabilities, and objectives in order to determine the potential scale and scope for identification, coordination, and implementation of capacity development activities. A Steering Group or other appropriate coordinating mechanism may be established to periodically review and implement more detailed plans and activities in furtherance of the purposes of this Memorandum. The operative period of this Memorandum is five years, and it may be renewed by mutual written consent by the Participants. This Memorandum shall be terminated ninety days after either Participant provides written notice of intent to terminate the agreement. Each Participant has designated representatives with responsibility for implementing this Memorandum, and additional or different persons may be designated as points of contact for activities undertaken pursuant to this Memorandum. This Memorandum reflects the views and intentions of the Participants, expressed in good faith but without the creation of any liability. Any dispute over the interpretation or application of any provision herein contained shall be settled amicably through consultations or by such other means as the Participants shall mutually agree. No provision of this Memorandum shall be construed to interfere in any way with the independent decision-making autonomy of each Participant with regard to its respective affairs and operations.