[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71731-71732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24491]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6030]


 Solicitation of Input and Participation in a Dialogue To Review 
the Standardized Program Structure for Foreign Assistance

    The Office of the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance (F) is 
commencing public consultations on the ``Standardized Program Structure 
for Foreign Assistance'' (Program Structure). The Program Structure was 
developed in 2006 through a deliberative interagency process as part of 
the Secretary's Foreign Assistance Reform. It serves as a lexicon for 
categorizing and tracking foreign assistance activities from a number 
of different foreign assistance appropriation accounts, collectively 
totaling in approximately $25 billion in U.S. Foreign Assistance.
    F will consider changes to the Program Structure through a three-
phase process:
     Phase I will engage public stakeholders (including Non-
Governmental Organizations--NGOs) in dialogue;
     Phase II will engage Federal interagency partners; and
     Phase III will occur when all external and internal 
stakeholder input is collected and analyzed, and then forwarded to the 
Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance for a decision regarding proposed 
adjustments to the Program Structure.
    This process is expected to take 4-6 months from the start date of 
the first stage, and will result in a refined Program Structure that 
will serve as the foundation for future planning and performance 
products. This notice pertains to Phase I.
    The purpose of the consultative process is to fulfill a commitment 
to engage with external stakeholders to obtain input to improve the 
Program Structure (for example, to clarify definitions, identify gaps, 
or remove duplication). Consultation with external stakeholders and 
analysis of their inputs are expected to last for a period of between 
8-12 weeks. F will use the administrative, technical, and logistical 
services of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) to 
facilitate consultations.
    Effective December 3, 2007, the Department of State will solicit 
the public for recommended changes at the ``program area'' level (e.g. 
Transnational Crime; Rule of Law and Human Rights; Health; 
Macroecomonic Foundation for Growth; Disaster Readiness) of the 
structure, and below (i.e. program element; program sub-element). The 
public is strongly encouraged to review the PROGRAM STRUCTURE by going 
to the following Internet site: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/93447.pdf. Written recommendations for changes will be 
accepted ONLY between December 3-14, 2007 (tentative timeframe), and 
must be made, by means of e-mail, to the following address: 
[email protected]. Recommendations must state 
clearly the recommended change, the rationale for the change, and the 
expected impact on other aspects of the Program Structure.
    Following the solicitation period, five (5) focus group meetings 
(addressing each of the program objectives) will be managed by the 
Department of State, and hosted and facilitated by NAPA at their 
location (900 7th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001). Focus group 
sessions are tentatively scheduled to take place the week of January 7, 
2008. Participation will be limited to a predetermined number of 
attendees (due to space limitations), but the Department of State and 
NAPA will make every effort to ensure representation of a broad cross-
section of stakeholders. The focus groups will review written comments, 
discuss any additional suggestions for changes and make recommendations 
about which changes should be further considered by the Department of 
State. Individuals and organizations interested in participating in 
focus group sessions should contact Lena Trudeau, Program Area 
Director, Strategic Initiatives, National Academy of Public 
Administration, (202) 315-5476 (Direct), [email protected].
    Following the focus groups, a plenary session will review 
recommendations made by each of the groups, before final 
recommendations are forwarded to the

[[Page 71732]]

Department of State for consideration by the Federal interagency. The 
plenary session will occur in the late January timeframe (specific date 
to be determined) at NAPA offices, and like the focus groups, be 
limited to a predetermined number of attendees due to space 
limitations. Attendance will be determined by the Department of State 
with the objective of ensuring balanced and broad representation from 
stakeholders.
    The Department of State is committed to engaging its critical 
stakeholders in an unprecedented opportunity to review its Program 
Structure, so as to improve its foreign assistance reform effort 
currently underway. General information related to U.S. Foreign 
Assistance may be found at the following Internet site: http://www.state.gov/f/.

    Dated: December 10, 2007.
 Paula R. Lynch,
 Acting Director Office of Global/Functional Affairs, Department of 
State.
 [FR Doc. E7-24491 Filed 12-17-07; 8:45 am]
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