Justification Memo for Emergency Processing

April 22, 2020
MEMORANDUM
TO:

Michael McManus, USAID Desk Officer
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

FROM:

Dr. Kenneth Staley
Director, COVID-19 Task Force at the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID)

SUBJECT:

Justification for Emergency Processing

USAID’s Implementing Partners (IPs) play a vital role in delivering development
assistance and humanitarian aid around the world. Their role in implementing
USAID programs has been impacted by COVID-19 to varying degrees, depending
on the country context and sector of their work. The health and safety of our
global workforce—including our IPs—remains the Agency’s highest priority as we
continue our life-saving mission across the world and support partner countries in
their response to COVID-19.
The Agency must communicate clearly and consistently with its IPs and on how it
will continue its life-saving Mission in the current operating environment. Since
every country is different, we propose sending a survey to IPs ​to identify areas of
USAID support for partners implementing existing USAID funded activities in the
COVID-19 operating environment.
The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 requires that agencies obtain OMB
approval before requesting most types of information from the public
(“information collections” include forms, interviews, and record keeping). USAID
seeks emergency approval of information collection associated with administering
this survey. USAID cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance

procedures under the PRA because complying would delay the Agency’s efforts to
provide guidance to IPs who are currently working on the ground in response to the
pandemic. Our request meets the standard for emergency processing as the
COVID-19 pandemic is an unanticipated event. This survey is critical to USAID’s
COVID-19 response efforts as we need to communicate clearly and consistently
with our IPs. As such, we request expedited approval of this information
collection.
Signed by:
__________________________________

_______________

Kenneth Staley, Director
USAID COVID-19 Task Force

Date