Enhancing Democracy and Human Rights Activities

Supporting democracy and human rights abroad is a major U.S. foreign policy objective. U.S. programs to strengthen democratic institutions primarily focus on promoting (1) free and fair elections, (2) good governance, and (3) a robust civil society. Activities and programs range from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), which provides assistance for political, economic, and educational reform and women's empowerment assistance to aid for nonviolent democratic change in Cuba, to strengthening weak governance structures in Congo. U.S. agencies' strategic plans often do not address critical challenges, including coordination with other donors, which is necessary to maximize scarce resources, and agencies have not consistently evaluated program results or shared lessons learned from completed projects, thus missing opportunities to enhance the outcomes of their programs.

• It is crucial that the U.S. government and grant recipients manage available international resources as efficiently as possible for maximum impact and sustainability.
  
  Highlights of GAO-07-147 (PDF)
• In addition, projects to combat global trafficking in persons could be strengthened by improved information on the nature and severity of the problem,
  
  Highlights of GAO-06-825 (PDF)
  and often lack important elements for measuring performance and impact, such as frameworks linking project activities with goals and targets.
  
  Highlights of GAO-07-1034 (PDF)

^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done

USAID and State should take several steps to improve program planning and management, including:

• improve communication among entities responsible for implementing U.S. democracy assistance, as well as management of grants, by implementing more structured, timely, and specified processes;
  
  Highlights of GAO-07-147 (PDF)
• ensure program  managers clearly delineate and communicate roles and responsibilities for project monitoring, and regularly obtain and assess key program information; and
  
  Highlights of GAO-05-711 (PDF)
• improve the monitoring and evaluation of human trafficking projects, including by developing better data, applying rigorous evaluation methodologies, and clearly linking activities with goals.
  
  Highlights of GAO-07-1034 (PDF)

^ Back to topKey Reports

Human Rights: U.S. Government's Efforts to Address Alleged Abuse of Household Workers by Foreign Diplomats with Immunity Could Be Strengthened

GAO-08-892, July 29, 2008

Summary (HTML)   Highlights Page (PDF)   Full Report (PDF, 50 pages)   Accessible Text   Recommendations (HTML)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Major Challenges Impede Efforts to Achieve U.S. Policy Objectives; Systematic Assessment of Progress Is Needed

GAO-08-562T, March 6, 2008

Summary (HTML)   Highlights Page (PDF)   Full Report (PDF, 24 pages)   Accessible Text

The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Systematic Assessment Is Needed to Determine Agencies' Progress toward U.S. Policy Objectives

GAO-08-188, December 14, 2007

Summary (HTML)   Highlights Page (PDF)   Full Report (PDF, 45 pages)   Accessible Text   Recommendations (HTML)

Human Trafficking: Monitoring and Evaluation of International Projects Are Limited, but Experts Suggest Improvements

GAO-07-1034, July 26, 2007

Summary (HTML)   Highlights Page (PDF)   Full Report (PDF, 64 pages)   Accessible Text   Recommendations (HTML)

Foreign Assistance: Enhanced Coordination and Better Methods to Assess the Results of U.S. International Basic Education Efforts Are Needed

GAO-07-523, March 30, 2007

Summary (HTML)   Highlights Page (PDF)   Full Report (PDF, 80 pages)   Accessible Text   Recommendations (HTML)

Foreign Assistance: U.S. Assistance to the West Bank and Gaza for Fiscal Years 2005 and 2006

GAO-07-443R, March 5, 2007

Summary (HTML)   Full Report (PDF, 20 pages)   Accessible Text

Foreign Assistance: U.S. Democracy Assistance for Cuba Needs Better Management and Oversight

GAO-07-147, November 15, 2006

Summary (HTML)   Highlights Page (PDF)   Full Report (PDF, 63 pages)   Accessible Text   Recommendations (HTML)

Foreign Assistance: Recent Improvements Made, but USAID Should Do More to Help Ensure Aid Is Not Provided for Terrorist Activities in West Bank and Gaza

GAO-06-1062R, September 29, 2006

Summary (HTML)   Full Report (PDF, 44 pages)   Accessible Text   Recommendations (HTML)

Human Trafficking: Better Data, Strategy, and Reporting Needed to Enhance U.S. Antitrafficking Efforts Abroad

GAO-06-825, July 18, 2006

Summary (HTML)   Highlights Page (PDF)   Full Report (PDF, 69 pages)   Accessible Text   Recommendations (HTML)

Foreign Assistance: Middle East Partnership Initiative Offers Tools for Supporting Reform, but Project Monitoring Needs Improvement

GAO-05-711, August 8, 2005

Summary (HTML)   Highlights Page (PDF)   Full Report (PDF, 43 pages)   Accessible Text   Recommendations (HTML)

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