De Beer notes that a large portion of USAID money goes to big for-profit companies which results in much of the money going back to the donor country through profits, consultant salaries, and procurement regulations under which materials are not necessarily purchased in Afghanistan.

NPR: Westerners Play Pivotal Role in Afghan Rebuilding

In addition, our responsibilities include oversight of agency budgetary matters, management issues, legislative proposals, regulations, procurement policies and other important matters.

WHITEHOUSE: Testimony of Director Portman

Look no further than the furore over the past week over the regulations governing procurement in the NHS for proof of how distracting change can be.

BBC: Why ministers are walking an NHS tightrope

In March, Health Minister Norman Lamb announced that the government had decided to amend the National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) Regulations.

BBC: Doctors and nurses

U.S. and other foreign firms that export technology hardware to India have raised strong objections to the draft regulations, especially the fact that they would apply not just to procurement by government agencies something that has precedent in the U.S. and elsewhere but also to private firms such as telecom operators and Internet service providers, which buy a far greater amount of technology.

WSJ: India: Tech Import Restrictions Are for Security

The sanctions ban the companies from securing procurement contracts from US government agencies or obtaining new licences for the export of items controlled by export regulations.

BBC: China media: North Korea nuclear test