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- USAID-State
Strategic Plan 2007-2012
- National
Security Strategy of the United States, March 2006
- Policy
Framework for Bilateral Foreign Aid, January 2006 [PDF,
440 KB]
- White Paper:
US Foreign Aid: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,
January 2004 [PDF, 353 KB]
- Fragile
States Strategy, January 2005 [PDF, 305 KB]
- Democracy
and Governance Strategic Framework [PDF, 343 KB]
- Mitigating
the Development Impacts of HIV/AIDS [PDF, 406 KB]
- Foreign Aid in the National
Interest [PDF, 353 KB]
- Nine Principles,
February 2005
- Business
Transformation
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Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART)
The interagency Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) Initiative, led by USAID, seeks to ensure that reliable and consistent data, starting with three critical data points on mortality, nutritional status, and food security, are rapidly accessible for policy and resource decision making.
The initiative developed a new computer-based system, SMART Methodology Version 1, to improve data collection and assessment capabilities of NGO and host government partners. The Windows-based analytical software program and its standardized reporting format simplify the tedious process of entry and analysis of complex nutrition and mortality data. Unlike previous methodologies, SMART is easy for field workers to understand and to apply. With its ease of use and adjustment for migration and population displacement, SMART is a practical tool for monitoring fragile, conflict-prone situations where more frequent, good quality data is needed. The SMART methodology is available from the community shared website www.smartindicators.org.
SMART was developed by an interagency expert team led by UNICEF and USAID, with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). "We are pleased to announce a major step forward in understanding of the real needs of populations in crisis situations," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman at the official launch in June 2005. Ms. Veneman noted the Task Force on Hunger of the UN Millennium Project recommended the support of SMART to help build and strengthen early-warning systems.
"One of the United States' top priorities at the UN is good stewardship of UN resources. For that reason, we will promote the SMART methodology with enthusiasm. In humanitarian emergencies, correct and timely data can make the difference between death and life for thousands of people," said Ambassador Sichan Siv, the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council at the UNICEF meeting. He noted that the 2004 G-8 Summit hosted by President Bush at Sea Island explicitly committed support to the SMART Initiative
SMART harmonizes core elements of several existing methods and current best practices. It is an iterative tool with continuous upgrading informed by research and best practices. The flexibility of the software program enables adjustments and the addition of other indicators, or can be used in conjunction with other tools. Since its launch, the nutrition/mortality survey method and software have been used or is in the process of being used in several countries such as Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. The food security component is a work in progress with initial positive feedback from its pilot test.
A recent GAO report on Darfur death estimates (pdf) noted the efforts of SMART to improve and standardize data collection and dissemination, including the establishment of a central database that provides quick access to accurate and reliable data.
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