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Newsletter
October 2022
In this issue:
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USAID OIG’s top priority is providing comprehensive, independent oversight of USAID’s support to Ukraine and its people, in response to the devastating effects caused by Russia’s invasion.
The overall goal of our Ukraine oversight plan is to conduct work that meets the moment and is timely, impactful, relevant, and informative.
In issuing our initial Ukraine oversight products, we drew from lessons learned from past audits and investigations of aid administered in conflict zones and crisis areas such as Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, and in the Venezuela regional response. We will build on this institutional knowledge to oversee anticipated challenges in providing aid to Ukraine.
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Coordinated Approach to Ukraine Oversight
The substantial U.S. government funding for Ukraine requires collaborative oversight amongst relevant stakeholders. We are focused on coordinating the deployment of the combined resources of USAID, DoD and State OIGs to achieve timely results. To view completed and planned work on Ukraine oversight from the 3 OIGs, visit:
Assessing the Crisis on the Ground
In late July, Acting Deputy IG Angarella along with leadership from the Department of State’s OIG led a delegation to visit Poland and the Ukraine border for meetings with key stakeholders involved in the Ukraine response.
The team met with representatives from U.S. Embassy Kyiv and U.S. Embassy Warsaw, and other State, USAID, and Department of Defense personnel. Meetings also were held with officials from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, U.N. World Food Programme, and leadership from aid organizations implementing USAID programming in Ukraine.
These high-level meetings allowed the IG officials to observe first-hand the challenges in administering assistance, and identify key areas where programming is at risk.
For more information, read our joint press release with the Department of State OIG.
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Advisory Notice: Key Considerations to Inform USAID’s Ukraine Response
In late July, we published an advisory highlighting lessons learned from our oversight of past complex emergencies, which are relevant to USAID’s ongoing response in Ukraine.
Some of the key challenges and risks affecting the U.S. government’s humanitarian and development aid to Ukraine, include:
- Procurement fraud;
- Fraud and exploitation in cash assistance programs;
- Sexual exploitation and abuse/Human trafficking;
- Lack of monitoring/oversight over programs on-the-ground; and
- Ability for effective oversight of direct budgetary support administered through World Bank trust funds.
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Ukraine Investigations Dashboard
In September, our Office of Investigations released a dashboard that includes the number of disclosures and allegations received related to USAID programming for Ukraine.
Updates will be published every other month.
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Fraud Schemes Alert
We published a fraud schemes alert (in English and Ukrainian) to identify and help mitigate potential criminal activity that could compromise the U.S. response in Ukraine.
We encouraged widespread sharing of this alert document across the aid sector. The alert included information on mandatory reporting and whistleblower protections.
OIG will vigorously pursue investigations into possible criminal activity involving USAID’s programs in Ukraine.
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Expanding Relationships with World Bank and U.N. Oversight Bodies Receiving U.S. Funding for Ukraine Aid
On October 13, Acting Deputy IG Nicole Angarella spoke at The World Bank on the need for coordination and collaboration in the oversight of foreign assistance programming, particularly aid to Ukraine. The World Bank event featured leaders from oversight bodies of U.N., Multilateral Development Banks, and the European Union.
In September, USAID OIG executed an MOU with the Group Internal Audit Vice Presidency of The World Bank Group that will assist our ongoing oversight of USAID funding administered through The World Bank.
Click below to read Ms. Angarella’s World Bank remarks, including plans for USAID OIG oversight of aid to Ukraine.
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USAID OIG selected Toayoa Aldridge as its new Assistant Inspector General for Audit (AIG/A).
AIG/A Aldridge brings years of experience and leadership to her new role heading the Office of Audit that conducts oversight from offices in DC and across Asia, Africa, Central America, and Europe.
AIG/A Aldridge, who previously served as the Deputy AIG/A, is a collaborative leader who enjoys mentoring and developing employees. As the co-executive sponsor for our diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility program, she is committed to ensuring USAID OIG is a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming place to work.
Congratulations, AIG/A Aldridge!
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Evaluation of USAID's Staffing for Disaster and Stabilization Responses
The workforce that makes up USAID’s disaster and stabilization response in places like Ukraine is mostly comprised of contractors. These types of emergencies are becoming more drawn out around the world and short-term contractor positions are hard to fill.
In this evaluation, we found that:
- Flexible funding allows USAID to hire contractors and meet the need for short-term surge staff;
- The exclusion of contractors from certain benefits affects the ability to recruit and retain contractors;
- Short-term hiring puts more burden on direct hires who take on more work; and
- Better data collection would help USAID address challenges and build a comprehensive workforce plan.
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Other Recently Published Audits and Evaluations
Planned Oversight Work
Featured Ongoing Work
- We are evaluating USAID’s role in the evacuation of aid workers from Afghanistan.
- We are auditing USAID’s plan to address risks associated with the resumption of funding and significant operations in the West Bank and Gaza.
- We are auditing USAID's efforts to mitigate risks of fraud, waste, and abuse in the Northern Triangle.
- We are auditing USAID’s New Partnerships Initiative and its ability to increase the number of new and underutilized partners.
Recently Announced
- Audit of USAID’s modification of existing programs in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- Audit of the Millennium Challenge Corporation's data quality process for compacts and threshold programs
- Audit of USAID’s malaria efforts in select countries in Africa
Fraud Awareness Briefings
Recently our special agents and attorneys presented fraud awareness briefings to aid organizations implementing programs in Ukraine, Colombia, and Moldova, among other locations.
These briefings remind NGOs and contractors of their obligation to provide OIG with timely and transparent reports of allegations of misconduct compromising USAID’s programming.
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