Summary

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Agency for International Development's (AID) Population Program, focusing on: (1) program policy, goals, and strategy; (2) program resources and management; and (3) program accomplishments.

GAO found that: (1) despite congressional policies and objectives designed to reduce high population growth rates, AID had no projects directed toward motivating couples to limit their family size; (2) the program, implemented by 43 units within AID, lacked overall management or oversight authority and responsibility; (3) because AID lacked a system to provide overall program management above the project level, AID management lacked sufficient information to make sound, fundamental decisions about resource allocations and program priorities; (4) AID did not evaluate the impact of its population assistance in meeting legislative objectives or the priority development needs of recipient countries; (5) AID evaluations were unsystematic, uncoordinated, uneven, and had relatively little influence on project design and management; (6) according to AID, its efforts improved the safety, effectiveness, and acceptability of several contraceptive methods; (7) AID reported that some previously reluctant governments adopted policy reforms and undertook family planning programs; and (8) AID provided training and technical assistance to many program administrators, and equipment and technical support to medical schools and clinics.