The current effort to reform US foreign assistance grew out of an understandable desire to better align US assistance with US interests and to improve the coordination, efficiency and transparency of that aid.

The process has been the subject of a great deal of writing and discussion in Washington, but views from the ground – from the in-country USAID officials and in-country implementing partners – have received less systematic attention.

This report, based on some 270 in-country interviews with field-based individuals in nine countries, is an effort to bring their important observations to Washington decision-makers considering what should be the next steps.