Summary: GAO reviewed the Agency for International Development's (AID) administration of the disaster reconstruction assistance projects to help Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru after the floods and droughts resulting from the weather phenomenon called El Nino in 1982 and 1983, focusing on steps AID could take to improve the future delivery of time-critical disaster reconstruction assistance.
In response to the disaster, AID obtained specific funds to: (1) deliver medicine and agricultural necessities such as fertilizers and pesticides; (2) reconstruct potable water, sewer, and irrigation systems; and (3) rebuild essential portions of a major highway and its bridge. GAO found that: (1) AID had difficulty in effectively planning, programming, and promptly delivering many time-sensitive reconstruction projects; (2) in two of the countries, reconstruction projects were started 7 to 9 months after the disaster; and (3) in some cases, U.S. aid took more than 1 year to reach the disaster victims because AID used procedures and methods established for long-term economic assistance development projects. GAO also found that delivery of assistance was delayed because AID: (1) did not fully use alternatives available for flexible funding and programming to respond to disaster emergencies; (2) applied standard development assistance programming and implementing procedures to deliver time-critical assistance; (3) did not request waivers of competitive bidding and other standard procurement requirements to expedite delivery of needed commodities; and (4) did not establish high priorities for time-critical components, which slowed the flow of required documentation.
