Foreign Assistance: USAID's Earthquake Recovery Program in El Salvador Has Made Progress, but Key Activities Are Behind Schedule
GAO-03-656
Published: May 15, 2003. Publicly Released: May 15, 2003.
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Highlights
In early 2001, two major earthquakes struck El Salvador, causing more than 1,100 deaths and $1.7 billion in damage to property and infrastructure. GAO has been periodically monitoring the recovery program being implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the lead U.S. agency. The House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs asked GAO to review USAID's (1) oversight and accountability measures, (2) progress and factors affecting progress, and (3) coordination with other donors and the government of El Salvador.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Agency for International Development | To ensure that USAID achieves its goal of constructing over 26,000 houses by September 30, 2004, the USAID Administrator should take action to accelerate construction activities and establish interim milestones to benchmark its progress and determine whether program goals will be met. |
USAID has taken action responsive to GAO's recommendation by taking action to accelerate construction activities and establishing interim milestones to benchmark its progress and determine whether program goals will be met. Actions taken by USAID include (1) conducting numerous training sessions to increase housing implementers' awareness and understanding of the criteria needed for houses to pass inspections, and (2) identifying the specific number of houses that will be completed each month until the end of the program, slated for September 2004. In specifying monthly targets, it will be easier to assess whether USAID is making progress and meeting its interim milestones.
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| U.S. Agency for International Development | Also, if warranted and to the extent possible under existing agreements, USAID should consider reducing the number of houses to be built by the government of El Salvador's housing agency (FONAVIPO) and increasing the number of houses to be built by private voluntary organizations with a proven record of meeting construction goals. |
Based on a team trip to El Salvador in February 2004, GAO determined that USAID was on target to achieve its housing construction goals. Accordingly, GAO considers this part of the recommendation to be closed because USAID was able to get the Salvadoran housing agency to increase the pace of its construction.
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Topics
Disaster recoveryDisaster relief aidEarthquakesFederal aid to foreign countriesHurricane MitchHurricanesInternal controlsInternational economic relationsRisk managementStrategic planningInfrastructure rebuilding (foreign)