	The U.S. Government Supports a Broad Array of Programs and Activities for Global Food Security, but Lacks Comprehensive Funding Data

While the U.S. government supports a wide variety of programs and  activities for global food security, it lacks comprehensive data on funding. In response to our data collection instrument to the 10 agencies, 7  agencies reported providing monetary assistance for global food security  programs and activities in fiscal year 2008, based on the working definition  we developed for this purpose with agency input. USAID and USDA reported providing the broadest array of global food  security programs and activities. USAID, MCC, Treasury (through its  participation in multilateral development institutions), USDA, and State  provide the highest levels of funding to address food insecurity in  developing countries. These 7 agencies reported directing at least $5  billion in fiscal year 2008 to global food security, with food aid accounting  for about half of this funding. However, the actual total level of funding is  likely greater. The agencies also lack reporting requirements to  routinely capture data on all relevant funds. Second, some agencies’  management systems are inadequate for tracking and reporting food  security funding data comprehensively and consistently. The Administration Is Developing a Governmentwide Global Food Security Strategy, but Efforts Are Vulnerable to Data Weaknesses and Risks Associated with the Host Country-Led Approach

While the administration is making progress toward finalizing a  governmentwide global food security strategy through improved  interagency coordination at the headquarters level, its efforts are  vulnerable to weaknesses in data and risks associated with the host  country-led approach called for in the strategy under development. The lack of comprehensive data  on current programs and funding levels may impair the success of the new  strategy because it deprives decision makers of information on all  available resources, actual costs, and a firm baseline against which to plan. Second, the shortage of expertise in agriculture and food security at  relevant U.S. agencies can constrain efforts to help strengthen host  government capacity, as well as review host government efforts and guide  in-country activities. Third, policy differences between the United States and host governments  with regard to agricultural development and food security may complicate  efforts to align U.S. assistance with host government strategies. GAO Recommends That Agencies Address Data Weaknesses and Mitigate Risks Associated with Host Country-Led Approach

In the report issued today, we recommended that the Secretary of State  (1) work with the existing NSC Interagency Policy Committee to develop  an operational definition of food security that is accepted by all U.S.  agencies; establish a methodology for consistently reporting  comprehensive data across agencies; and periodically inventory the food  security-related programs and associated funding for each of these  agencies; and (2) work in collaboration with relevant agency heads to  delineate measures to mitigate the risks associated with the host country- led approach on the successful implementation of the forthcoming  governmentwide global food security strategy. This is a work of the U.S. government and is not subject to copyright protection in the  United States.
Why GAO Did This Study

Global hunger continues to worsen despite world leaders' 1996 pledge--reaffirmed in 2000 and 2009--to halve hunger by 2015. To reverse this trend, in 2009 major donor countries pledged about $22.7 billion in a 3-year commitment to agriculture and food security in developing countries, of which $3.5 billion is the U.S. share. This testimony addresses (1) the types and funding of food security programs and activities of relevant U.S. government agencies and (2) progress in developing an integrated U.S. governmentwide strategy to address global food insecurity and the strategy's potential vulnerabilities. This is based on a new GAO report being released at today's hearing (GAO-10-352).

What GAO Found

The U.S. government supports a wide variety of programs and activities for global food security, but lacks readily available comprehensive data on funding. In response to GAO's data collection instrument to 10 agencies, 7 agencies reported such funding for global food security in fiscal year 2008 based on the working definition GAO developed for this exercise with agency input. USAID and USDA reported the broadest array of programs and activities, while USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Treasury, USDA, and State reported providing the highest levels of funding for global food security. The 7 agencies together directed at least $5 billion in fiscal year 2008 to global food security, with food aid accounting for about half of that funding. However, the actual total is likely greater. GAO's estimate does not account for all U.S. government funds targeting global food insecurity because the agencies lack (1) a commonly accepted governmentwide operational definition of global food security programs and activities as well as reporting requirements to routinely capture data on all relevant funds, and (2) data management systems to track and report food security funding comprehensively and consistently. The administration is making progress toward finalizing a governmentwide global food security strategy--expected to be released shortly--but its efforts are vulnerable to data weaknesses and risks associated with the strategy's host country-led approach. The administration has established interagency coordination mechanisms at headquarters and is finalizing an implementation document and a results framework. However, the lack of comprehensive data on programs and funding levels may deprive decision makers of information on available resources and a firm baseline against which to plan. Furthermore, the host country-led approach, although promising, is vulnerable to (1) the weak capacity of host governments, which can limit their ability to sustain donor-funded efforts; (2) a shortage of expertise in agriculture and food security at U.S. agencies that could constrain efforts to help strengthen host government capacity; and (3) policy differences between host governments and donors, including the United States, may complicate efforts to align donor interventions with host government strategies.