Operating Units can use this guidance to further understand what foreign assistance data USAID publishes, and how to protect information prior to publication when data meets exceptions outlined in ADS 303maz and ADS 302mbj and foreign assistance reporting mandates outlined in ADS 579maa.

This document connects U.S. Government data reporting outlined in ADS 303maz and ADS 302mbj with the foreign assistance reporting mandates (and accompanying principled exceptions) outlined in ADS 579maa. This document will be helpful for all Operating Units that report on data covered by the principled exceptions, including USAID staff reporting on data concerning ‘politically sensitive’ Operating Units as described in ADS 201may, as those Operating Units may generate data covered by the principled exceptions.

Where possible, Operating Units should be mindful to not include information that falls into the principled exception categories in descriptive fields in corporate systems which USAID will make public. When that is not possible, following this guidance will allow USAID to leverage an automated process to reduce the administrative burden of redacting data across multiple sites, and safeguard sensitive qualitative information.