Good information is key to ensuring that U.S. foreign assistance has maximum positive impact. If policymakers, taxpayers, and intended beneficiaries do not know how much is being spent, what it is being used for, who is getting the funds, and what the results are, how will they judge if it is money well spent? Moving towards a results-based system, where decisions are made on the basis of facts and evidence, requires that the United States and all other donors open up the books on their aid, and that partner countries publish their government budgets.
