African Development Foundation Congressional Budget Justification, Fiscal Year 2012. Assisting the Most Marginalized Populations in Sub-Sahara Africa

摘要

The FY 2012 budget request is $24 million. This amount is $6 million less than the FY 2011 appropriation and represents a 20 percent reduction in funding that will require significant adjustments to USADF operations and programs in FY 2012. Consequentially, USADF expects to lower overhead expenses by offering early retirement incentives to eligible employees and, if needed, conduct a mandatory Reduction in Force. As much as possible, administrative services will be outsourced to the Administrative Resource Center at the Department of Treasury. A positive aspect of the funding shortfall is that the Foundation will be even more streamlined and focused. The program focus of the Foundation will continue to be entirely on economic development among marginalized populations; however, funds will be directed towards those countries and populations where economic development will serve both the local communities and United States stabilization interests. This includes a series of active and innovative economic programs across the Sahel corridor from Mauritania to Somalia, specialized food security programs in Liberia and among the Turkana in northern Kenya, and targeted economic development grants with the disabled and most vulnerable in Zimbabwe. However, the 20 percent reduction will result in USADF having full program funding in only 16 countries, and small grant program in five additional countries. This is four fewer countries than 2011.