USAID cuts funds to Egypt program
Family Planning World 1(2): 1 4
1991
PMID: 12284510 Document Number: 383996
Citing financial and administrative irregularities, USAID has decided to temporarily discontinue its monetary support of Egypt's Family of the Future (FOF), a development which could force the organization to shut down. Established in 1979, FOF experienced dramatic growth, quickly becoming one of the largest and most successful family planning projects. In 1988, FOF provided 40% of all contraceptives distributed in Egypt. Today, the organization is the 3rd largest contraceptive social marketing program in the world. But in recent years, FOF has suffered from administrative instability -- 5 executive directors in 6 years. And now, USAID has cancelled nearly $1.5 million in financial assistance, charging that the organization has misused some of its funds on non-family planning related expenditures. USAID, however, plans to continue providing technical assistance and contraceptive supplies. It has said that it will suspend funding until the contract runs out or until the organization returns to stability. According to former FOF executive director Galal Rashidi, the staff is disappointed, and some people have begun looking for other jobs. He adds that the organization may be weakening. However, FOF's current executive director, Kaled Abdel Aziz, says that the cut in financial assistance will not seriously affect program efficiency. In fact, he explains that this development will force FOF to move closer to its goal of self-sufficiency.