ICTworks

When working with USAID donor funding, the purchase of ICT can be a little complicated. USAID would always ask for the source, origin and nationality of all equipment. That is where the equipment was manufactured, where it was purchased, and the nationality of the companies involved.

Old Way: Geographic Code 000

The expectation was that all three would be from a set of limited countries specified in the implementing agreement via a geographic code. Geographic code 000 was the most restrictive – United States only – and a huge headache for any implementer.

Instead of buying computers, printers, etc and other hardware from the local ICT company, USAID funded programs had to import all that equipment from the geographic code countries. Often even then asking for a waiver because as Apple demonstrates, S/O/N is a joke when it comes to modern computing technology.

Almost all technology is made outside the USA, from a global supplier base, sold by multinational companies with only the vaguest sense of nationality, and often available in-country at competitive prices. Or as USAID itself says:

Because of the end of the Cold War and the subsequent globalization of the economy, this approach has become increasingly difficult to administer and, in some respects, obsolete. The costs of compliance with the complex regulation, and of the self-imposed and unnecessary restrictions on procurement in recipient and developing countries means that the foreign assistance dollar does not go as far as it would with a more straightforward regulation that reflects the statutory authority to procure in the recipient country and other developing countries, in addition to the U.S.

What’s even more interesting, is that USAID didn’t have to follow this rule – it was a self-imposed relic of the Cold War never updated even though Congress gave it the authority to do so in 1993.

New Way: Geographic Code Code 935 and 937

Well, finally, USAID has re-written the S/O/N regulation, and we should all cheer. With this Final Rule determination, we are free of restrictive geographic codes come February 7. Just read the detail from USAID itself:

(a) USAID has established principal geographic codes which are used by USAID in implementing instruments. This regulation establishes a presumptive authorized principal geographic code, Code 937, for procurement of commodities and services unless otherwise specified in the implementing instrument. Code 937 is defined as the United States, the cooperating/recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, and excluding prohibited sources. USAID maintains a list of developing countries, advanced developing countries, and prohibited sources, which will be available in USAID’s Automated Directives System, ADS 310.

(b) For purposes of procurements under the authority of the Development Fund for Africa, 22 U.S.C. 2293 et seq.; for any waivers authorized under Subpart D of this regulation; and if otherwise designated in an implementing instrument, the authorized principal geographic code shall be Code 935, any area or country but excluding prohibited sources.

What does all that mean? By default, we are hereby free to buy from you and me, Africa or America, based on the qualities of the ICT4D technology, not where it was made or who sold it to us.