Digital Government Strategy

Document policy for architecting new IT systems for openness by default

The Target Architecture for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID, Agency) is the future, desired state of USAID’s information and communications environment. The Target Architecture supports the Information Technology Strategic Plan (ITSP). The Enterprise Transition Roadmap (ETR) supports the Target Architecture and is how the Agency builds its Target State.

Since the Target Architecture’s release in 2012, the DGS, which was adopted by the US Government and the US Government’s involvement in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) have come to the forefront of the Agency’s strategy development considerations for open data. These initiatives impact the Agency’s strategic direction and thus impact the Target Architecture. 

URL of policy: http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/USAID_ITSP_FY2013.pdf ITSP

Engage with customers to identify at least two existing major customer-facing services that contain high-value data or content as first-move candidates to make compliant with new open data, content, and web API policy.

URL: www.usaid.gov/developer

Customer Engagement Approach:

“USAID collaborates with a range of partners through sharing of networks, expertise, and joint innovation to address development challenges that no one organization can solve on its own.” (USAID Open Government Plan v2.0, 3.0 Collaboration)

Grand Challenges for Development http://www.usaid.gov/grandchallenges

The Grand Challenge for Development Model is designed to focus attention on specific and narrowly defined development challenges that facilitate innovative, collaborative, and engaging approaches to solving those challenges. The initiative focuses on solutions that are grounded in science and technology, and are robust, cost-effective, and scalable.  This approach promotes the expansion of ideas, engages new actors in creating solutions and brings to the fore solutions that might not otherwise receive support.  The inaugural USAID Grand Challenge for Development, ?Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development, targeted improvements in maternal and newborn health. Under another Grand Challenge, USAID, World Vision and the Australian Agency for International Development are partnering to launch a multi-year initiative that seeks to improve early grade reading outcomes in

low-resource settings called, ?All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development.?  Through this fund, USAID is working to bring clarity and attention to the problem, to articulate the fundamental barriers to success, and to fund the design and implementation of solutions. The Agency expects to achieve substantial global impacts in early grade reading by leveraging the power of research, capitalizing on innovation, catalyzing partnerships, and increasing the utilization of science, technology, and 21st century infrastructure.  Overall, the Grand Challenges for Development will increase the pool of solvers through open innovation and public engagement to USAID Open Government Plan v2.0. 

System Name: USAID Development Credit Authority Guarantee Data: Loan Transactions
System Description: USAID’s Development Credit Authority (DCA) works with investors, local financial institutions, and development organizations to design and deliver investment alternatives that unlock financing for U.S. Government priorities. USAID guarantees encourage private lenders to extend financing to underserved borrowers in new sectors and regions. This dataset is the complete list of all private loans made under USAID's DCA since it was established in 1999. To protect the personal information of borrowers and bank partners, all strategic and personal identifiable information was removed. For explanations and limitations of the dataset, download the attachment in the metadata.

System Scope: both
Main Customer: International Development Community and American Public

URL:  Development Credit Authority Guarantee Data (API)

Publish plan on future activity:

USAID has launched an effort to identify the future business needs of the Agency. This effort is called The New Standardization Project as a part of the Development Information System (DIS) Element 2. Its objective is to get Missions the information systems they need to manage their operations well and to complete information management tasks quicker, with greater accuracy and quality. The way in which the Agency is working to accomplish this objective is to first standardize Mission business processes for functions like budgeting, judging program performance, and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). This information will provide the outline of how IT capabilities can be updated, developed, or purchased to enable those business processes, thus satisfying the future business needs. (USAID Target Architecture FY2011-2015, Updated April 12, 2013)

System Name: USAID Development Credit Authority Guarantee Data: Loan Transactions
System Description: USAID’s Development Credit Authority (DCA) works with investors, local financial institutions, and development organizations to design and deliver investment alternatives that unlock financing for U.S. Government priorities. USAID guarantees encourage private lenders to extend financing to underserved borrowers in new sectors and regions. This dataset is the complete list of all private loans made under USAID's DCA since it was established in 1999. To protect the personal information of borrowers and bank partners, all strategic and personal identifiable information was removed. For explanations and limitations of the dataset, download the attachment in the metadata.

System Scope: both
Main Customer: International Development Community and American Public

URL:  Development Credit Authority Guarantee Data (API)

Establish an agency-wide governance structure for developing and delivering digital services

Paragraph on Governance: The vision for IM is information anywhere, anytime, on any device. Information should be readily available and accessible anywhere in the world where the Agency operates. Information should be capable to be displayed on any device – mobile, tablet, PDA, desktop, etc. The architecture of our systems should be conformed to interoperability and openness and overall we will operationalize an information-centric model. This effort will assist USAID’s commitment to the President’s Open Government Initiative of upholding the values of transparency, participation and collaboration in terms of international assistance related information. In addition, the IMS aligns with the Digital Government Strategy through providing information and services anywhere, anytime, on any device. Appendix B illustrates the alignment between the IMS, USAID IT Strategic Plan, Digital Government Strategy, and Open Government Plan.

URL to Governance Document: www.usaid.gov/digitalstrategy

Develop wireless and mobile inventory

Bureau/Component: USAID/M/CIO 

Evaluate the government-wide contract vehicles in the alternatives analysis for all new mobile-related procurements

Paragraph on policy: USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) 302.3.4.9  Information System Security

Information system security (ISS) is the protection of the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of automated information and the resources used to enter, store, process, and communicate the information.  ADS 545 details the security policies, consistent with Federal regulations, mandates and directives that serve as the highest-level basis for USAID ISS.

In accordance with the Contract Clause Guide for Unclassified Information System Security Systems and Services, Contracting Officers must ensure that appropriate ISS requirements are accurately specified, funded, and enforced for all USAID ISS acquisition, operation, and maintenance contracts under their supervision.  The guide provides procedures for including ISS requirements in the acquisition of information systems and services.

This guide applies to all contracts, regardless of the source of funding, when the contracted systems or services will be connected to, or require the use of, a USAID general support system (GSS) in USAID/W or at the Missions.  USAID staff may also apply the guide whenever a requestor, an acquisition or contracting authority, or the cognizant designated Information System Security Office (ISSO) believes it would be in

the best interest of protecting USAID’s information systems.

Ensure all new digital services follow digital services and customer experience improvement guidelines

Paragraph on policy:

7.1.2. Prioritized list of systems (datasets)

System Name: Development Experience Clearinghouse
System Description: USAID's Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) is the largest online resource for USAID funded technical and program documentation, with over 141700 documents available for electronic download. Search USAID's online database of agency-funded technical and program-related documents to download USAID documents in PDF format for free.
 

System Scope: both
Main Customer: International Development Community

URL: http://www.usaid.gov/results-and-data/mobile-apps

System Name: USAID Portfolio Map
System Description: The Portfolio Map is a mobile app for accessing information about the development work USAID is performing every day. The app will give mobile device users the ability to browse our portfolio for a subset of the countries in which USAID is working. The app will provide general country overviews at a glance and also will allow users to access more detailed information as needed.

System Scope: both
Main Customer: International Development Community

http://www.usaid.gov/results-and-data/mobile-apps

Optimize at least two existing priority customer-facing services for mobile use and publish a plan for improving additional existing services

The Mobility Strategic Initiative supports USAID’s desire to expand the delivery of existing and new services to operate on portable computing devices using mobile web applications. This supports the M/CIO’s overarching vision for USAID users to have web-based, Internet access to applications and services using Cloud-based technologies.

As most IT services will be presented through web portal technologies, where users can access an enterprise portal through their web browser, there will be instances where performance and functionality requirements will drive the M/CIO to develop or upgrade applications for optimal use on mobile devices. Some examples of these requirements include access to a local data store and the need for availability in the absence of network coverage. Other may include the need for a specific device feature such as display, navigation methods and screen resolutions, or functionality such as Global Positioning System (GPS) embedded within the application. The M/CIO will develop and modernize applications driven by mission and business needs in proper balance with controlling costs for what could be considerable investments in mobile solutions. (USAID Enterprise transition Roadmap FY2013-FY2015)

URL of plan: www.usaid.gov/digitalstrategy

Report on services

System Name: Development Experience Clearinghouse
System Description: USAID's Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) is the largest online resource for USAID funded technical and program documentation, with over 141700 documents available for electronic download. Search USAID's online database of agency-funded technical and program-related documents to download USAID documents in PDF format for free.
 

System Scope: both
Main Customer: International Development Community

URL: http://www.usaid.gov/results-and-data/mobile-apps

System Name: USAID Portfolio Map
System Description: The Portfolio Map is a mobile app for accessing information about the development work USAID is performing every day. The app will give mobile device users the ability to browse our portfolio for a subset of the countries in which USAID is working. The app will provide general country overviews at a glance and also will allow users to access more detailed information as needed.

System Scope: both
Main Customer: International Development Community

http://www.usaid.gov/results-and-data/mobile-apps

Implement performance measurement tool

Implemented Digital Analytics Program: yes
If Not, Describe Implementation:
Percent of websites covered: 100% of the USAID External web site

URL of performance data: usaid.gov

Implement customer satisfaction tool

Describe Implementation: Standardize through the implementation of Google Analytics and customer comment feedback via website and social media.
URL of performance data: