DRD's Approach to Assistance
DRD manages USDA technical assistance, training and cooperative programs with
other nations to help build stable economies and a more prosperous world.
Emphasized are government-to-government institutional development, with the goal
of achieving sustainable agricultural production, mutual economic growth,
conservation of natural resources, and a protected environment. DRD’s approach
is to utilize all pertinent capabilities of USDA’s 19 technical and program
agencies in its overseas work, as well as the expertise of Land-Grant
Universities throughout the United States. Projects span a wide variety of
agricultural sectors and disciplines, reflect the types of programs carried out
by USDA services and agencies, and operate in Africa, Asia, the Middle East,
Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and the Former Soviet Union.
DRD negotiates and coordinates working agreements between USDA agencies and
institutions interested in enlisting USDA assistance in international
development projects. Since the Department receives no appropriated funding for
foreign assistance, USDA project services are provided on a cost-reimbursable
basis to donors and cooperating countries. Assistance is furnished on either
long- or short-term assignments.
Program Funding Partners
Current funding partners include the (1)
United
States Agency for International Development,
which sponsors the largest part of DRD’s portfolio, and (2) the
World
Bank, which is enlisting USDA
participation in the Ecuador
Agricultural
Census Project.
Institutions that have worked with USDA agencies through DRD include: the
Inter-American Development Bank, African Development Bank, Food and Agriculture
Organization, United Nations Development Programme, World Food Program, and
International Atomic Energy Agency.
Agreements with the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID)
DRD is involved in numerous activities affecting international agricultural
development, and most of this work is performed under reimbursable agreements
with USAID, pursuant to its delegated authority under the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 (FAA). Additional reimbursable agreements with USAID that
focus on the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe are authorized by the Freedom
Support Act of 1992 and the Support to Eastern European Democracies Act
of 1989. USAID agreements enlist the unique personnel resources,
capabilities and experience of USDA on a partnership basis to plan, execute and
evaluate those USAID programs for which USDA has special competence.
In managing and implementing activities funded by USAID, DRD draws upon the
technical, programmatic and regulatory expertise of USDA agencies to furnish
broad technical and institutional support for USAID/Washington and its Missions
overseas. In 2003 DRD’s activities with USAID are carried out by a full-time
workforce of approximately 148 persons who provide advisory and
project-management services. The workforce is comprised of USDA employees and
advisors under Land-Grant University agreements. Of these approximately 103 are
detailed to a USAID/Washington project to carry out specific long-term
activities, and 10 are stationed at USAID Missions in Botswana, Kenya, Senegal,
Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and the Russian Federation. The
remaining 35 are DRD employees who provide management, technical and
administrative support to this group.
In addition, numerous USDA and Land-Grant University employees perform
short-term consultancies during temporary duty assignments (typically for 1–3
weeks) to USAID Missions overseas or provide part-time management, technical,
and administrative support for these activities from Washington or USDA field
offices and campuses in the United States.
DRD’s Organizational Structure
DRD is composed of four organizational units that focus on USDA project
development, support to off-site staff, and improved program administration.
The
RSSA (Resources
Support Services Agreement) Management Center (RMC)
manages agreements with USAID for USDA experts in specific technical fields to
provide long-term services and advice for USAID-managed programs in Washington
and at USAID Missions overseas. Center staff assist in the design of agreements,
recruit and select individual experts to work on detail at USAID, monitor and
evaluate their performance, and ensure provision of USDA backstopping needed to
carry out their assignments. As RSSA’s are DRD’s most significant
source of collaborative programming, quality support for these agreements
remains a top priority.
The
Project
Development and Management Center (PDMC)
expands current and explores new opportunities for providing USDA technical
assistance, training and information to donors, partners, and beneficiaries,
while emphasizing internal and external outreach and expansion of relations with
other USDA agencies. The Center develops and manages overseas projects that draw
upon the Department’s broad resources and utilize the unique capabilities and
expertise of USDA agencies and Land-Grant Universities. Center staff design new
projects, identify USDA experts to staff the projects (utilizing short- and
long-term technical assistance), manage the projects, and evaluate project
outcomes and impact. By building on USDA’s existing capacity to undertake a
wider array of program activity, the PDMC strengthens DRD’s ability to expand
its partnership portfolio and adapt to changing market needs.
The
Business
Management Center (BMC) centralizes and
standardizes all fiscal and administrative functions for effective project and
RSSA implementation and facilitates financial reporting to clients. BMC teams
specialize in staff support, budget, travel and procurement and provide services
to the RMC, PDMC and Director’s Office. The Center also provides
administrative guidance to staff, establishes effective systems to meet DRD’s
unique needs, and liaises with administrative offices at USDA’s Farm Service
Agency.
The
Director’s
Office fosters an environment for
building stronger partnerships with USDA agencies and external organizations.
Internal management practices demand accountability and encourage teamwork, open
communications and risk-taking.
Contact Information:
U.S. Department of Agriculture—Foreign Agricultural Service
International Cooperation Division
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.- Stop
1087 Room 3208-South
Washington, D.C. 20250-1087
Phone: 202-690-1924
Fax: 202-720-6364
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