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Newsletter
December 2022
In this issue:
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 Meetings With Ukrainian Ambassador and Deputy Minister of Infrastructure
On December 13, Acting Deputy IG Nicole Angarella met with Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington. She was joined by Department of Defense IG Robert Storch and State IG leader Diana Shaw. The three IG heads discussed their oversight priorities for U.S. government programming in Ukraine.
On December 9, Acting Deputy IG Angarella met with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Oleksandra Azarkhin to discuss the parties’ mutual interest in countering corruption that may compromise USAID’s Ukraine response.
USAID, Defense, and State Inspectors General visit Brussels and The Hague to Further Ukraine Oversight Work
In November, USAID Acting Deputy IG Angarella along with leaders from DoD and State OIGs visited Belgium and the Netherlands for meetings with key U.S., U.N., and bilateral counterparts in furtherance of the 3 IGs’ Ukraine oversight efforts.
USAID OIG hosted the Complex Emergencies Working Group in The Hague, attended by oversight and law enforcement officials across the U.N., World Bank, and European allies. This meeting was followed by a bilateral conference of donor oversight bodies hosted by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Belgium, the OIG leaders met with European Union and NATO officials, establishing key relationships to further their oversight of U.S. security and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
Stay tuned for updates on anticipated OIG travel into Ukraine and surrounding countries.
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3 IG Congressional Briefing on Ukraine Response Oversight
In November, Acting Deputy IG Angarella and the leaders of State and DoD OIG briefed bicameral, bipartisan delegations of congressional staff on coordinated oversight activities related to U.S. support for Ukraine.
In the briefings, the 3 IG leaders discussed their formal oversight relationship, shared insights from recent Ukraine-related forums in Belgium and the Netherlands, and provided an overview of planned and ongoing oversight work. The briefings concluded with question-and-answer sessions from congressional staff.
The press release below details the initial Hill briefing.
For additional information on the 3 IG coordinated response, read the 3 IG's Joint Statement on Commitment to Ukraine Response Oversight.
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Ongoing Ukraine-Related Oversight Projects
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USAID OIG published a list of ongoing, planned, and completed Ukraine related oversight projects including audits, evaluations, and inspections.
The list will be consistently updated on USAID OIG’s website.
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Announcement: Reviews of U.S. Direct Budgetary Support to Ukraine
The OIGs for USAID and State announced the initiation of separate reviews of the mechanisms for monitoring and oversight of $4.5 billion in direct budgetary support to the government of Ukraine, per the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023. This review will be completed and transmitted to congressional stakeholders in January.
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A contractor operating in Ukraine recently detected and reported to USAID OIG a bid-rigging scheme involving a USAID-funded subaward. This Fraud Advisory issued by OIG’s Office of Investigations highlights the scheme and includes mitigation steps to detect future schemes aimed at compromising USAID’s Ukraine response.
OIG encouraged the sharing of this document across the aid sector, particularly among organizations (NGOs, contractors, and UN agencies) operating in Ukraine.
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In December, our Office of Investigations released an updated dashboard that includes disclosures and allegations received related to USAID programming for Ukraine.
This dashboard includes information from February 2022 to December 13, 2022
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At a time of global turmoil, USAID is called upon more than ever to deliver critical support across the world on behalf of the American people.
Based on our oversight work, we identified the following four top management challenges confronting USAID in Fiscal Year 2023:
- Establishing optimal conditions for Agency staff and programs to succeed
- Mitigating risks in Agency operations
- Countering corruption, abuse, and malign influence
- Maximizing the impact of monitoring and quality data
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This SARC highlights USAID OIG’s work between April and September, 2022.
The challenges requiring the attention of the agencies we oversee continued to mount—from the dire effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to rising global hunger and food insecurity, to corruption and democratic backsliding in regions across the world.
The scale and complexity of these issues underscore the importance of our role and the critical need for independent and objective oversight.
Read the full report below.
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Completed Audit of Jordan Cash Transfer Program
USAID provided $845.1 million in Economic Support Funds under the cash transfer program for general budget support to the Government of Jordan, the largest amount of government-to-government (G2G) budget support given to any country as of April 2022.
What we found:
USAID followed the grant agreement and Agency policy in managing the Jordan cash transfer program with two exceptions:
- Not updating its risk assessment for the Central Bank of Jordan and Jordan’s Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation; and
- Not documenting its deviation from Agency guidance for approving the cash transfer program.
Why it matters:
USAID’s requirements for G2G programs to ensure the accountability, capacity, and governance of public financial management institutions when entrusting other governments with USAID funds. Our recommendations will strengthen USAID’s execution of such requirements.
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Featured Ongoing Work
- We are evaluating monitoring mechanisms and safeguards for USAID’s direct financial support to Ukraine
- We are auditing USAID's efforts to address climate change
- We are conducting an inspection of USAID South Sudan's Juba Mission
- We are auditing USAID's efforts to counter China's influence in Africa
- We are auditing USAID's counter-trafficking in persons efforts in Asia
- We are auditing USAID's oversight in responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis
Other Recent Reports
Stay tuned for our upcoming OIG Annual Oversight Plan.
Recently Announced Audit
- Audit of Selected USAID Iraq Economic Development Activities
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 USAID OIG's Acting General Counsel and Director of Congressional & Public Affairs, Adam Kaplan, moderated a panel at this year’s International Anti-Corruption Conference in Washington, DC, hosted by Department of State and Transparency International.
Mr. Kaplan presented alongside the Development Finance Corporation OIG, Export-Import Bank OIG, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation on channels for civil society activists domestically and abroad to confidentially report allegations of corruption and whistleblower reprisal.
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