The US is committed to improving the quality of its aid. USAID places high priority on working with local actors, and responding to complexity, aiming to balance risk and reward. However, it continues to work mainly through US contractors and grantees, rather than through partner country systems. The programming cycle has improved effectiveness, but budget predictability and project procedures remain key constraints. The US could take inspiration from what the Millennium Challenge Corporation and President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, with more permissive legislation, have been able to achieve in terms of predictability.