More than 60 years since USAID launched, the world’s biggest provider of foreign assistance still grapples with securing measurable outcomes from development funding. Scaling a results-based financing approach in its grant-giving approach is a proven and urgent proposition.
At the end of 2023, a groundbreaking investigative report by Devex and The Bureau for Investigative Journalism exposed the shortcomings of USAID’s largest-ever foreign aid contract, the staggering $9.5 billion global health supply chain award. The report unveiled a startling lack of independent evidence supporting the project’s success, with one evaluation bluntly declaring it “unlikely to have any transformative or sustainable effect.”
This revelation mirrors a recurring critique of USAID and the broader U.S. government — a perceived prioritization of financial compliance over performance and results. Reports from USAID’s Office of Inspector General and the White House highlight suboptimal results in over 40% of awards and significant time spent on administrative activities. Against this backdrop, a United Nations report reveals that about 80% of our Sustainable Development Goal targets face challenges in progress, highlighting the urgency in shifting approaches.
About the author
Celeste Brubaker
Celeste Brubaker, chief of impact and innovative financing at Village Enterprise, leads social outcomes contracting initiatives and excellence in impact measurement programming. With 15 years in international development, she specializes in monitoring, evaluation, research, and innovation to drive transformative change. Celeste holds a master’s degree in development economics from American University.
