Global
Global
Performance Evaluation
2024
This document was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared under Task Order No. 7200AA22M00005: Program for Local and Urban Sustainability, a task order under OASIS Unrestricted Contract (Pool 1) Contract No. GS00Q14OADU113 implemented by Deloitte Consulting, LLP.
Global
Global
Evaluation Report
2024
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Save Our Seas Initiative (SOS Initiative) in 2022 to combat ocean plastic pollution globally, building on USAID’s initial ocean plastics-oriented programs, the Municipal Waste Recycling Program (MWRP) and Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO). This formative performance evaluation of USAID’s ocean plastics portfolio gathered evidence from USAID activities in Peru, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Vietnam to inform future SOS Initiative decision making and program design. Findings indicate that USAID programming has empowered local actors to identify and implement local solutions, and to some extent sustain them. Additionally, technical assistance to subnational and national governments has begun the process of institutionalizing USAID’s approach in many of the partner countries. A not yet fully-realized opportunity for implementing USAID’s building blocks would come from expanding programming to include more upstream policy and social and behavior change (SBC) interventions to reduce single-use plastics.
This infographic analyzes the consequences of USAID’s 2023–2024 restructuring, which led to the termination of 5,341 projects and the defunding of 2,353 implementing partners, many of whom lost 100% of their USAID support. Over 55% of recipient countries lost all funding. The analysis extends beyond the U.S. to consider concurrent budget contractions by other donor countries, indicating a systemic shift in how foreign aid is prioritized and delivered. The infographic visualizes these changes, offering insights into the scale, distribution, and potential implications of a more constrained and transactional development aid environment.
This article examines the Trump administration’s proposed restructuring of U.S. foreign assistance, which seeks to streamline agencies and align aid with investment-driven growth. The plan introduces promising steps to improve efficiency and expand opportunities for U.S. businesses abroad. However, the transition also brings important considerations, such as ensuring continued access to technical expertise, maintaining regional flexibility, and supporting financing tools that encourage investment in higher-risk markets. The piece outlines ways to maximize the benefits of these reforms while addressing potential challenges to ensure the new structure drives sustainable growth and impact.
