---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 10605"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "10605"
heading: "Safeguards and accountability"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/10605"
units:
  - "Chapter 113 — United States Foundation for International Conservation"
---

# §10605. Safeguards and accountability

- (a) **Safeguards—** The [Foundation](/usc/22/10601.md?p=6) shall develop, and incorporate into any agreement for [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) provided by the [Foundation](/usc/22/10601.md?p=6), appropriate safeguards, policies, and guidelines, consistent with United States law and best practices and standards for environmental and social safeguards.
- (b) **Independent accountability mechanism—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/10601.md?p=7), or the [Secretary](/usc/22/10601.md?p=7)’s designee, shall establish a transparent and independent accountability mechanism, consistent with best practices, which shall provide—
    - (A) a compliance review function that assesses whether [Foundation](/usc/22/10601.md?p=6)-supported projects adhere to the requirements developed pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a);
    - (B) a dispute resolution function for resolving and remedying concerns between complainants and project implementers regarding the impacts of specific [Foundation](/usc/22/10601.md?p=6)-supported projects with respect to such standards; and
    - (C) an advisory function that reports to the [Board](/usc/22/10601.md?p=2) on projects, policies, and practices.
  - (2) **Duties—** The accountability mechanism shall—
    - (A) report annually to the [Board](/usc/22/10601.md?p=2) and the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/22/10601.md?p=1) regarding the [Foundation](/usc/22/10601.md?p=6)’s compliance with best practices and standards in accordance with [paragraph (1)(A)](#b-1-A) and the nature and resolution of any complaint;
    - (B)
      - (i) have permanent staff, led by an independent accountability official, to conduct compliance reviews and dispute resolutions and perform advisory functions; and
      - (ii) maintain a roster of experts to serve such roles, to the extent needed; and
    - (C) hold a public comment period lasting not fewer than 60 days regarding the initial design of the accountability mechanism.
- (c) **Internal accountability—** The [Foundation](/usc/22/10601.md?p=6) shall establish an ombudsman position at a senior level of executive staff as a confidential, neutral source of information and assistance to anyone affected by the activities of the [Foundation](/usc/22/10601.md?p=6).
- (d) **Annual review—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/10601.md?p=7) shall, periodically, but not less frequent than annually, review assistance provided by the [Foundation](/usc/22/10601.md?p=6) for the purpose of implementing [section 10602(b) of this title](/usc/22/10602.md?p=b) to ensure consistency with the provisions under [section 2378d of this title](/usc/22/2378d.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–159, div. E, title LI, § 5105, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2417.)