Key Issues > International Food Assistance
International Food Assistance
U.S. food aid, a vital component of U.S. overseas humanitarian assistance and foreign policy, is particularly important given today’s environment of increasing frequency of emergencies and growing global food insecurity.
The United States is the largest donor of international food assistance. It has recently spent about $2 billion per year to provide international food assistance to food-insecure countries—about two-thirds in emergency food assistance to avert humanitarian crises, and about one-third for nonemergency food assistance to support development in agriculture and related sectors.
- U.S. food aid provides crucial life-saving calories, but food rations designed for short-term food insecurity may not provide adequate nutrition during longer-term food emergencies.
- The United States faces challenges in targeting specialized products designed for the most vulnerable groups, such as children under the age of 2, and maintaining quality controls throughout the supply chain.
- Funding development projects through the purchase, shipment, and sale of U.S. commodities—a process known as monetization—is inefficient and can cause adverse market impacts.
- Weaknesses in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) oversight of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program limit its ability to ensure that the program’s objectives are met.
- The U.S. government has set goals to improve the effectiveness of U.S. food aid and reach global targets for reducing hunger and malnutrition, but agencies’ efforts have been fragmented and uncoordinated.
Figure 1: Selected Trends in U.S. Food Aid, Fiscal Years 2001 through 2010
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International Food Assistance
World Food Program
International Food Assistance
Funding Development Projects through the Purchase, Shipment, and Sale of U.S. Commodities Is Inefficient and Can Cause Adverse Market Impacts
GAO-11-636, Jun 23, 2011
GAO-11-636, Jun 23, 2011
Global Food Security
U.S. Agencies Progressing on Governmentwide Strategy, but Approach Faces Several Vulnerabilities
GAO-10-352, Mar 11, 2010
GAO-10-352, Mar 11, 2010
International Food Assistance
Local and Regional Procurement Can Enhance the Efficiency of U.S. Food Aid, but Challenges May Constrain Its Implementation
GAO-09-570, May 29, 2009
GAO-09-570, May 29, 2009
More Reports
Agriculture and Food
USDA's Implementation of New State-Delegated Meat Inspection Program Addresses Most Key Farm Bill Requirements, but Additional Action Needed
GAO-13-332R, May 30, 2013
GAO-13-332R, May 30, 2013
U.S. Assistance to Yemen
Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Emergency Food Aid and Assess Security Assistance
GAO-13-310, Mar 20, 2013
GAO-13-310, Mar 20, 2013
International Food Assistance
U.S. Nonemergency Food Aid Programs Have Similar Objectives but Some Planning Helps Limit Overlap
GAO-13-141R, Dec 12, 2012
GAO-13-141R, Dec 12, 2012
Farm Bill
U.S. Department of Agriculture
More Effective Management and Performance Can Help Implementation of the Farm Bill
GAO-11-779T, Jun 23, 2011
GAO-11-779T, Jun 23, 2011
International School Feeding
USDA's Oversight of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program Needs Improvement
GAO-11-544, May 19, 2011
GAO-11-544, May 19, 2011
International Food Assistance
Global Food Security
Progress toward a U.S. Governmentwide Strategy Is Under Way, but Approach Has Several Vulnerabilities
GAO-10-494T, Mar 11, 2010
GAO-10-494T, Mar 11, 2010
International Food Assistance
A U.S. Governmentwide Strategy Could Accelerate Progress toward Global Food Security
GAO-10-212T, Oct 29, 2009
GAO-10-212T, Oct 29, 2009
International Food Assistance
More...Podcasts
USDA's Oversight of International School Food ProgramThursday, May 19, 2011
Targeting International Food Aid to Vulnerable GroupsMonday, September 24, 2012
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