PUBLISHED: AUGUST 27, 2007

USAID has proposed a new “Partner Vetting System” to vet directors, officers, and other employees of NGOs seeking USAID funding. Under the proposal, USAID would collect a variety of personal information, including an individual’s name, address, date and place of birth, citizenship, Social Security and passport numbers, sex, telephone and email contacts, and profession “or other employment data.”

The ostensible goal is “to ensure that USAID funds and USAID-funded activities are not purposefully or inadvertently used to provide support to entities or individuals deemed to be a risk to national security.” ICNL and a number of other NGOs have submitted comments raising concerns with the Partner Vetting System and requesting that USAID not implement the system on August 27, as originally contemplated.