The United States International Financial Institutions Act directs the United States Government (USG) to strengthen the environmental and social performance of each multilateral development bank (MDB) in which the United States is a shareholder. To this end, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) leads pre- and post- approval field reviews of selected MDB projects. The teams that perform these reviews comprise technical specialists from USAID’s Missions and headquarters and, in some cases, from other Federal Departments and Agencies.
USAID’s pre- and post-approval field reviews yield findings and recommendations intended to improve the environmental and social performance of MDB-funded projects. Post-approval reviews also evaluate the incorporation and effectiveness of any previous USG recommendations and/or assess an MDB’s implementation of its safeguard policy.
USAID’s pre- and post-approval field reviews are distinct from, but related to, the USG loan reviews and other Congressionally mandated MDB-oversight functions led by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Both pre- and post-approval field reviews can inform USAID’s input into future USG reviews of MDBs’ safeguard policies and guidance.
USAID publishes the resulting reports on our public website and distributes them to stakeholders. USAID also translates the executive summaries of reports into local languages, as appropriate.
The U.S. International Financial Institutions Act further directs USAID to report semiannually to Congress on our reviews of MDB projects. This report covers the period from April through September 2020. During this time, USAID advanced our review of a multinational project in the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Kenya and initiated a review of a project in the Independent State of Samoa. USAID is considering three projects for future reviews.
