Over the past decade, USAID has led global health efforts, investing $85 billion to combat infectious diseases, control HIV/AIDS, and prevent child and maternal deaths. As the largest international donor, USAID played a critical role in responding to the 2014 Ebola outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people. The Agency has led the President’s Malaria Initiative, which is the U.S. government's largest malaria control program. In addition, USAID has been a key Agency involved in implementing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has been central to U.S. global health policy. Beyond disease-specific efforts, USAID has provided healthcare commodities and technical assistance, working to improve supply chain reliability and ensuring an uninterrupted flow of quality health products and services worldwide. As diseases previously eliminated in the United States reemerge, outbreaks in remote regions of the world can spread quickly. In the past years, measles surged, mpox triggered a public health emergency, and dengue cases doubled, underscoring the urgent need for sustained global health interventions.
Through our independent oversight of U.S. foreign assistance, OIG has identified numerous findings and made dozens of recommendations to strengthen global health programs. Based on our reporting over the past 10 years, we have identified five key lessons. Applying these lessons to future U.S. foreign assistance is essential for continued success in delivering impactful, sustainable, and accountable global health programs.