International Development and Programs (Development Work) - International Development and Programs (Development Work)

ADS Chapter 204 describes roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authorities regarding USAID’s environmental procedures. ADS 204.3.5 states that it is the mission environmental officer’s role to assist and advise activity managers and their implementing partners in preparing environmental documents and monitoring environmental compliance on ongoing activities.

ADS 204.3.5 tasks the regional environmental advisor with providing supplementary professional support, training, and regional coordination on environmental matters to Mission Directors, mission staff, and mission environmental officers. Per ADS 204.2.e, bureau environmental officers are responsible for overseeing the effective implementation of environmental procedures throughout all missions and operating units in their bureau. The Agency environmental coordinator oversees Agencywide implementation of environmental procedures to ensure that intended results are achieved.

ADS 204 also requires mission environmental officers and regional environmental advisors to liaise with the bureau environmental officer on issues affecting their operating units and missions. Mission environmental officers and regional environmental advisors are responsible for advising mission staff on how to obtain additional environmental expertise to assist in their environmental responsibilities. In addition, ADS 204.2.a states that allocating adequate staffing and financial resources to fulfill Agency environmental policy is the responsibility of the bureau. The mission is responsible for providing the staff and financial resources to its management units to implement the approved strategies consistent with the Agency’s environmental procedures.

Implementation of USAID’s environmental procedures should be coordinated and enforced by the network of individuals outlined in ADS 204 and, when necessary, supplemented by additional resources available to missions.

Additionally, ADS 204 states that mission environmental officers and regional environmental advisors are responsible for advising mission staff on how to obtain additional environmental expertise to assist in their environmental responsibilities, and that allocating adequate staffing and financial resources to fulfill USAID environmental policy is the responsibility of the bureau.

Indefinite quantity contracts for specialists in sectors with complex environmental concerns such as agriculture, infrastructure, and industry are available to missions.

Source: AUDIT REPORT NO. 9-000-10-004-P MARCH 9, 2010

This information is derived from audit reports of the Office of the Inspector General. The source refers to the audit report, which is available on this site as part of the Audit Database Project: an educational tool for compliance with USAID regulations.  Please see the disclaimer of this site before using this information.