Justification Memo for Emergency Processing

March 8, 2021
MEMORANDUM
TO:

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

FROM:

Colleen Allen
Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Management 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 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 Implementing
Partners (IPs) as they implement USAID programs worldwide 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 survey questions focusing on COVID-19 follows up on the survey that USAID
conducted in April and May of 2020, to gain further understanding of COVID-19’s
operational impact on USAID-funded activities following the end of the
Department of State Global Authorized Departure on December 9, 2020. As

background, this is a voluntary and anonymous survey. There is no requirement or
obligation by USAID partners to complete the survey. Emails of organizations
submitting responses will not be collected.
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:
signed by Colleen R.
Colleen R. Allen, Digitally
Allen, A-AA/M
Date: 2021.03.08 22:03:48 -05'00'
A-AA/M
__________________________________

Colleen Allen, Acting Assistant Administrator
USAID Bureau for Management

_03/08/2021______
Date