One year into the U.S. State Department’s effort to transform foreign assistance programs, funding is up but criticism remains over the scope of the reforms.

It's important to evaluate foreign aid programs and address questions of accountability and value, especially at a time of concern about the economy, but cuts or reductions in foreign assistance support aren't merited, says CFR's Laurie Garrett.

The $9.9 billion pledged toward Haitian reconstruction at last week's donors' conference will be ineffective without insisting that funding for housing and jobs be wedded to overall goals for Haitian political and economic stability, says CFR expert Kara McDonald.

The global fight against HIV and AIDS cannot be won without success in South Africa, but while President Zuma's government has made progress, it has to do more to prevent future infections and provide better treatment, says CFR's Peter Navario.

CFR fellow Peter Navario says the debate over the impact of billions of HIV dollars on developing countries' health systems misses the point: such aid can address both HIV treatment and improved health systems.

Famine in the Horn of Africa underscores the problems of an international foreign aid community struggling to keep up with its commitments at a time of a falling dollar and rising food prices, says CFR's Laurie Garrett.

The U.S. debt ceiling and deficit debate has led to challenges on foreign aid spending, but while aid could be leaner and more effective, CFR's Stewart Patrick argues Congress should look to consolidate programs rather than simply cut them.

The U.S. Navy's maritime strategy, in which humanitarian missions play a prominent role, is based on a debatable assumption that credible enemies have largely disappeared and that competition of the seas is something of the past, says defense expert Seth Cropsey.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's seven-nation trip to Africa will highlight U.S. security concerns from Somalia to Nigeria and expand on efforts to engage leading African states on governance and trade issues.

Steve Radelet, an expert on African developmental issues, considers the long-term impact of President Bush’s policies toward Africa.

Ethiopia’s U.S. ambassador says his government needs more international help in securing Somalia and is wrongly blamed by Congress for rights abuses.

Shannon O’Neil, CFR’s Mexico expert, says Washington’s $1.4 billion multiyear plan to bolster Mexico’s crackdown on drug and criminal rings, while drawing criticism, is likely to win congressional approval. 

rShannon O’Neil, a CFR expert on Latin America, says President Bush heads for Latin America on March 8 hoping for a “foreign policy success,” but because of his lame duck status, it will be hard for him to achieve very much.

John Danilovich, chief executive of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, says the organization has become more aggressively engaged with developing nations in pressing economic reforms and is now disbursing aid more efficiently. Congress is on course to provide its highest funding levels yet for the program.

Judith Kipper says the economic boycott of the Hamas government has created a major crisis in the Palestinian territories: "The situation is extremely dangerous because the humanitarian despair is really, really drastic, particularly in Gaza: people are hungry and dying." She says both Israel and the United States miscalculated when they sought to cut off the newly-elected Hamas government from international aid.

This CRS report investigates what impact, if any, foreign aid dollars are having, and whether foreign aid programs are achieving their intended objectives.

Robert W. Merry explores why Egypt, Russia, and the UAE have had problems with American NGOs. Merry regards the matter as a foreign policy issue, deserving more attention than what it is getting in American discourse.

This Congressional Research Report provides a comprehensive list of existing laws and pending legislation containing conditions, limitations, and reporting requirements for U.S. foreign assistance to Pakistan.

This report supports U.S. civilian assistance to Pakistan, and makes recommendations to help the Kerry Lugar Berman (KLB) act serve the interests of both countries.