Most Agencies Have Marking and Publicizing Policies, Regulations, and Guidelines

Most of the agencies we reviewed involved in foreign assistance activities  have established some marking policies, regulations, and guidelines. USAID has established the most detailed policies, regulations, and  guidelines for marking and publicizing its assistance. However, USDA, DOD, HHS, Treasury, and MCC  efforts in this area have been more limited. State Policy Allows Program Managers and Ambassadors Discretion for Marking and Publicizing Assistance

According to State officials, State’s policy provides that department  program managers and country ambassadors use their discretion to  determine when it is appropriate to mark and publicize U.S. foreign  assistance. Foreign Assistance Marking Efforts and Publicity Have Varied

To increase awareness of U.S. assistance abroad, key agencies that we  reviewed used various methods to mark and to publicize some of their  activities and exercised flexibility in deciding when it was appropriate to  do so. These agencies used different methods of marking, or visibly  acknowledging, their assistance, including applying graphic identities or  logos on such things as publications and project signage. In addition,  agencies generally used embassy public affairs offices for publicizing, or  disseminating information about, the source of their assistance and, in  some cases, augmented these efforts with their own publicity methods. In some cases, the markings used do  not convey that the donor is a U.S. entity or that the United States is the  source of the foreign assistance. To enhance publicity of its  foreign assistance programs, USAID has also, as mentioned earlier,  established a network of communications specialists to increase  awareness of these programs in the host country. First, little reliable work has been  done to assess the impact of U.S. assistance on foreign citizens’ awareness  of that assistance. Second, although the newly appointed DFA has begun  to develop governmentwide guidance for marking and publicizing all U.S.  foreign assistance, it is unclear to what extent this policy will be  implemented by agencies whose foreign assistance programs are not  under State’s direct authority. The United States Lacks Governmentwide Guidance for Marking and Publicizing Its Assistance

While some agencies have established policies, regulations, and guidelines  on marking and publicizing U.S. foreign assistance, we found that USAID  missions and all federal agencies and presidential initiatives providing  assistance overseas have not received clear and consistent direction on  marking and publicizing U.S. foreign assistance. To enhance U.S. marking and publicity efforts, and to improve the  information used to measure the impact of U.S. marking and publicizing  programs, we recommend that the Secretary of State, in consultation with  other U.S. executive agencies, develop a strategy, which appropriately  utilizes techniques such as surveys and focus groups, to better assess the  impact of U.S. marking and publicity programs and activities on public  awareness.
Why GAO Did This Study

The negative perceptions of the United States associated with U.S. foreign policy initiatives have underscored the importance of the United States presenting a complete portrayal of the benefits that many in the world derive from U.S. foreign assistance efforts. Congress has expressed concerns that the United States has frequently understated or not publicized information about its foreign assistance programs. As requested, this report (1) describes the policies, regulations, and guidelines that agencies have established to mark and publicize foreign assistance; (2) describes how State, USAID, and other agencies mark and publicize foreign assistance; and (3) identifies key challenges that agencies face in marking and publicizing foreign assistance.

What GAO Found

Most of the agencies we reviewed involved in foreign assistance activities have established some marking and publicity requirements in policies, regulations, or guidelines. USAID has the most detailed policies and regulations relating to marking and publicity. USAID has also established a network of communications specialists at its missions to publicize its assistance efforts and has issued communications guidelines to promote that assistance. According to State officials, its policy is to allow its program managers and ambassadors to use their discretion when determining which programs and activities to mark or publicize. USDA, DOD, HHS, Treasury, and MCC have also established some policies for marking and publicizing assistance, though these policies vary in their level of formality and detail. To increase awareness of U.S. assistance abroad, key agencies that we reviewed used various methods to mark and publicize some of their activities and exercised flexibility in deciding when it was appropriate to do so. These agencies used different methods of marking, or visibly acknowledging, their assistance. In addition, agencies generally used embassy public affairs offices for publicizing, information about the source of their assistance and, in some cases, augmented these efforts with their own publicity methods. We identified some challenges to marking and publicizing U.S. foreign assistance, including the lack of (1) a strategy for assessing the impact of marking and publicity efforts on increasing the awareness of U.S. foreign assistance and (2) governmentwide guidance for marking and publicizing U.S. foreign assistance. First, although some agencies conduct surveys in recipient countries that primarily capture information on public opinion of the United States, little reliable work has been done to assess the impact of U.S. assistance on foreign citizens' awareness of the source of U.S. provided assistance. Second, while the newly appointed Director of Foreign Assistance has begun to address the issue of developing a governmentwide policy for marking and publicizing all U.S. foreign assistance, it is unclear to what extent this policy will be implemented by agencies whose foreign assistance programs are not under DFA's direct authority.