U.S. International food assistance report 1997

Government provides food aid to developing countries under three P.L. 480 programs: Title II (concessional sales of agricultural commodities), Title II (emergency and development food aid), and Title III (government-to-government commodity donations), with the bulk of the aid provided through the Title II and III programs administered by USAID. The extent and impact of the three P.L. 480 programs during FY 1997 are documented in this report. The report focuses on the growing need for food aid resources and the policy framework through which the U.S. government is improving its food aid programs, and illustrates, using graphs and figures, how FY 1997 program resources have been allocated. Progress made under the P.L. 480 program is measured through a systematic review of performance indicators, documenting both people-level impact and improvements in food aid management and the technical capacity of USAID and its partners. During FY 1997, Title II became a more tightly focused program with a coherent set of development-oriented food security objectives, increasingly directed to the most food insecure and disadvantaged population groups. USAID developed for the Title II Program two Strategic Food Assistance Objectives. Progress was made on improving targeting through continuous needs assessments; documenting change in nutritional status of target groups; integration of Title II food aid resources as components of USAID Mission strategic planning; collaboration with other donors; and progress on emplacement of measurable performance indicators.