USAID OIG Afghanistan and Pakistan Oversight Report, April-June ...

USAID OIG Afghanistan and Pakistan Oversight Report, April-June ... USAID OIG Afghanistan and Pakistan Oversight Report, April-June ...

oig.usaid.gov
from oig.usaid.gov More from this publisher
12.07.2015 Views

In addition to the above, OIG plans to conduct a financial audit of USAID/Pakistan’s financialstatements as part of its overall USAID financial statement audit for FY 2012.InvestigationsAs of June 30, 2012, USAID OIG had 25 ongoing investigations pertaining to Pakistan. During thereporting period, OIG investigators opened one case in Pakistan and closed two others. SinceFY 2003, OIG has initiated 85 investigationsrelated to Pakistan. These investigations have Investigative Outcomesbeen associated with a range of different types ofallegations. In most cases, underlying allegationshave pertained to program fraud (32 percent) orbribery and kickbacks (32 percent).During the April 1 through June 30, 2012,reporting period, an OIG investigation resulted inthe termination of a USAID contract and theproposed debarment of a USAID implementingpartner:Since FY 2003, OIG investigations in Pakistanhave resulted in:6 referrals for civil or criminal prosecution1 civil judgment37 administrative actions (e.g., contract andemployee terminations)$102 million in savings and recoveriesUSAID Ends $20 Million Pakistan Children’s Television Project. In late 2011, OIG initiatedan investigation into the Pakistan Children’s Television Project implemented by the Rafi PeerTheater Workshop, after receiving numerous complaints regarding the project through theAnti-Fraud Hotline. To date, the OIG investigation has revealed significant violations of USAIDprocurement policies and standards. In May 2012, OIG referred its initial findings to the USAIDmission in Pakistan. Later that month, USAID agreed with the Rafi Peer Theater Workshop toend their $20 million cooperative agreement. OIG’s investigation is ongoing.USAID Proposes Sindh Rural Support Organization for Debarment. In February 2012, OIGreferred the Sindh Rural Support Organization to USAID for debarment based on a year-longinvestigation of alleged mismanagement, theft, and corruption associated with its participationin several USAID-funded projects. To date, the investigation has resulted in the termination of23 of the organization’s personnel. Two individuals were terminated in April 2012 after theOIG investigation revealed that they had harassed a group of villagers who had filed complaintswith the Anti-Fraud Hotline and ultimately had the villagers sign falsified documentationindicating that they had received payment under a USAID project when they had not. Theinvestigation revealed that the organization’s CEO sent the employees to the village and thatthe falsified documents were submitted as an official response to the ongoing OIGinvestigation. USAID proposed the Sindh Rural Support Organization for debarment in earlyMay 2012. Based on the findings of a related forensic audit conducted by the World FoodProgramme (WFP) in conjunction with USAID OIG, WFP permanently suspended theorganization from participation in future projects in late March 2012.USAID OIG Afghanistan and Pakistan Oversight Report 25

OIG Investigation Results in Employee Termination and Referral for Debarment. An OIGinvestigation related to the $50 million Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programimplemented by the National Rural Support Programme revealed that an NRSP employeeconspired with a program grantee to falsify project-related financial documentation. Theinvestigation revealed that the grantee, the Peshawar-based Khushal Welfare Organization(KWO) fabricated documentation indicating that workers had been paid as part of an $86,000agricultural rehabilitation grant when, in fact, they had not. The falsified documentation wassubmitted to substantiate claims that KWO met its cost-sharing requirements under the grant.During the OIG investigation, an NRSP employee admitted to knowingly certifying the falsifieddocumentation. NRSP terminated the employee involved in the misconduct in March 2012.USAID OIG has referred the NRSP employee and KWO to USAID for possible suspension ordebarment.Outreach and CoordinationUSAID OIG collaborates with the OIGs for the Departments of State and Defense to prepare aquarterly report on the progress and oversight of the U.S. Government’s civilian assistanceprogram in Pakistan. Now in its tenth edition, this report provides information on developmentsrelated to the full scope of U.S. civilian assistance programs and activities in Pakistan. The reportinforms stakeholders about progress achieved to date, problems encountered during programimplementation, and actions taken to address them.With the aim of increasing reporting on fraud, waste,and abuse in assistance programs, OIG andUSAID/Pakistan collaborated to establish an antifraudhotline in Pakistan. The Anti-Fraud Hotline becamefully operational in February 2011. This 5-year projectis funded by a cooperative agreement betweenUSAID/Pakistan and Transparency International-Pakistan in partnership with OIG.Accessing the HotlineThe Anti-Fraud Hotline operates 24 hoursa day and accepts allegations in English,Urdu, Pashto, Baloch, and Punjabi.Complaints may be made to the hotline viaa toll-free number (0800-84700), online(www.anti-fraudhotline.com), by mail orfax, or in person.OIG is solely responsible for handling complaints received through the hotline. During thereporting period, USAID OIG also continued to work closely with the hotline to vet and investigateincoming complaints. This quarter, the hotline received 591 complaints.As in the previous three quarters, most hotline complaints originated from Sindh Province insoutheastern Pakistan, the seat of Pakistan’s largest city and site of flooding last fall. During thisquarter, total complaints by province were as follows: Sindh 454 (77 percent), Punjab 55(9 percent), Balochistan 32 (5 percent), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 18 (3 percent). Other provincesand administrative areas in Pakistan combined to account for 5 percent of complaints.26 USAID OIG Afghanistan and Pakistan Oversight Report

<strong>OIG</strong> Investigation Results in Employee Termination <strong>and</strong> Referral for Debarment. An <strong>OIG</strong>investigation related to the $50 million Small Grants <strong>and</strong> Ambassador’s Fund Programimplemented by the National Rural Support Programme revealed that an NRSP employeeconspired with a program grantee to falsify project-related financial documentation. Theinvestigation revealed that the grantee, the Peshawar-based Khushal Welfare Organization(KWO) fabricated documentation indicating that workers had been paid as part of an $86,000agricultural rehabilitation grant when, in fact, they had not. The falsified documentation wassubmitted to substantiate claims that KWO met its cost-sharing requirements under the grant.During the <strong>OIG</strong> investigation, an NRSP employee admitted to knowingly certifying the falsifieddocumentation. NRSP terminated the employee involved in the misconduct in March 2012.<strong>USAID</strong> <strong>OIG</strong> has referred the NRSP employee <strong>and</strong> KWO to <strong>USAID</strong> for possible suspension ordebarment.Outreach <strong>and</strong> Coordination<strong>USAID</strong> <strong>OIG</strong> collaborates with the <strong>OIG</strong>s for the Departments of State <strong>and</strong> Defense to prepare aquarterly report on the progress <strong>and</strong> oversight of the U.S. Government’s civilian assistanceprogram in <strong>Pakistan</strong>. Now in its tenth edition, this report provides information on developmentsrelated to the full scope of U.S. civilian assistance programs <strong>and</strong> activities in <strong>Pakistan</strong>. The reportinforms stakeholders about progress achieved to date, problems encountered during programimplementation, <strong>and</strong> actions taken to address them.With the aim of increasing reporting on fraud, waste,<strong>and</strong> abuse in assistance programs, <strong>OIG</strong> <strong>and</strong><strong>USAID</strong>/<strong>Pakistan</strong> collaborated to establish an antifraudhotline in <strong>Pakistan</strong>. The Anti-Fraud Hotline becamefully operational in February 2011. This 5-year projectis funded by a cooperative agreement between<strong>USAID</strong>/<strong>Pakistan</strong> <strong>and</strong> Transparency International-<strong>Pakistan</strong> in partnership with <strong>OIG</strong>.Accessing the HotlineThe Anti-Fraud Hotline operates 24 hoursa day <strong>and</strong> accepts allegations in English,Urdu, Pashto, Baloch, <strong>and</strong> Punjabi.Complaints may be made to the hotline viaa toll-free number (0800-84700), online(www.anti-fraudhotline.com), by mail orfax, or in person.<strong>OIG</strong> is solely responsible for h<strong>and</strong>ling complaints received through the hotline. During thereporting period, <strong>USAID</strong> <strong>OIG</strong> also continued to work closely with the hotline to vet <strong>and</strong> investigateincoming complaints. This quarter, the hotline received 591 complaints.As in the previous three quarters, most hotline complaints originated from Sindh Province insoutheastern <strong>Pakistan</strong>, the seat of <strong>Pakistan</strong>’s largest city <strong>and</strong> site of flooding last fall. During thisquarter, total complaints by province were as follows: Sindh 454 (77 percent), Punjab 55(9 percent), Balochistan 32 (5 percent), <strong>and</strong> Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 18 (3 percent). Other provinces<strong>and</strong> administrative areas in <strong>Pakistan</strong> combined to account for 5 percent of complaints.26 <strong>USAID</strong> <strong>OIG</strong> <strong>Afghanistan</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Pakistan</strong> <strong>Oversight</strong> <strong>Report</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!