Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) response to information that DOD, USAID, and the State Department supplied in response to SIGAR’s request for their 10 most- and least- successful programs and projects in Afghanistan. The letter noted difficulties in each agency’s responsiveness. SIGAR addresses DOD, DOS, and USAID:
Dear Secretary Kerry, Secretary Hagel, and Administrator Shah: On March 25, 2013, I wrote to you asking that your agencies provide SIGAR with information on what each of you considers to be the 10 most successful and 10 least successful projects or programs within your agency in the U.S. effort for reconstruction of Afghanistan, supplemented with explanations of selection and evaluation criteria for your choices. A copy of that letter is attached.
Comparing outcomes is, in addition to being good practice for managers and part of the job for inspectors general, the subject of formal guidance for Executive Branch departments and agencies. In May 2012, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum on “Use of Evidence and Evaluation in the 2014 Budget." That document said, in part:
Agencies are encouraged to include measurement of costs and costs per outcome as part of the routine reporting of funded programs to allow for useful comparison of costeffectiveness across programs. … Once evidence-based programs have been identified, such a [return-on-investment] analysis can improve agency resource allocation and inform public understanding. … OMB invites agencies to identify areas where research provides strong evidence regarding the comparative cost-effectiveness of agency investments. [Emphasis added.]
I recognize that applying cost-effectiveness and comparative analysis to programs and projects in a contingency-operation zone like Afghanistan, where benefits may include “soft” outcomes like public opinion, and where multiple programs support similar goals, can be difficult. But the importance of the mission and the billions of dollars supporting it demand that comparisons be made as best we can. That consideration—and the well-documented flaws and disappointments in many U.S.-funded initiatives—was the motive for my March 25 letter to you. I have the responses to that letter submitted by your designees. Mr. Daniel Feldman, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Mr. J. Alexander Thier, Assistant to the Administrator for Afghanistan and Pakistan, supplied a joint State/USAID response dated May 9, 2013. Mr. Mike Dumont, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs, submitted a response dated June 18, 2013.
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SIGAR also sent USAID an "Alert Letter" concerning a financial audit of Chemonics International, Inc. that identified significant concerns about the firm meeting its responsibilities under a federal contract. The financial audit identified more than $13.5 million in questionable costs ($6.7 million in ineligible costs and $6.7 million in unsupported costs).
In the Letter SIGAR states:
On June 6, 2013, I sent you the results of an audit of Chemonics International, Inc. (Chemonics), which identified significant concerns about the firm meeting its responsibilities under a federal contract.1 SIGAR contracted with the audit firm of Crowe Horwath to perform a financial audit of costs incurred by Chemonics under USAID’s contract supporting the Alternative Livelihoods Program–Southern Region. Crowe Horwath issued a disclaimer of opinion on the contract’s special purpose financial statement because of the following matters:
- Chemonics refused to provide support necessary to demonstrate that the indirect costs charged to the contract were accurate;
- Crowe Horwath observed instances of noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the contract and applicable regulations that have a direct and material effect on amounts presented in the special-purpose financial statement; and
- Chemonics management was unwilling to represent to certain financial and compliance matters that are required components of management’s responsibilities under generally accepted government auditing standards
I take such lack of cooperation with a federal audit and the findings reported by Crowe Horwath very seriously. I am consulting with my General Counsel and my Assistant Inspector General for Investigations about its implications as I plan additional audits and, potentially, investigations involving Chemonics. Similarly, I urge you to consider appropriate actions for USAID to take. Specifically, I suggest that you take special care in reviewing the $13,555,998 in questioned costs, the two material weaknesses, and six significant deficiencies reported; remind Chemonics about its responsibility to fully cooperate with federal audits as well as the criminal penalties for obstructing a federal audit,2 and consider the matters identified above in evaluating future awards and award modifications involving Chemonics
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Download Letter Sent to Chemonics International-pdf.→
The third report is an audit that reviewed the extent to which the Department of State (DOS) conducted financial audits. The report found State’s assistance awards for Afghanistan reconstruction activities are largely unaudited.
This report discusses the results of our review that examined the extent to which financial audits were conducted for State-funded grants and cooperative agreements, each valued at $1 million or more, for Afghanistan reconstruction from 2002 to 2011. We are making four recommendations to the Secretary of State to help strengthen the department’s accountability over such funds.In its written comments on a draft of the report, State generally agreed with our recommendations. Its comments are reprinted in appendix VI. We conducted this performance audit under the authority of Public Law No. 110-181, as amended, and the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
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History of Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR)
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) is the U.S. Government’s leading oversight authority on Afghanistan reconstruction. Congress created the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction to provide independent and objective oversight of the Afghanistan Reconstruction funds. Under the authority of Section 1229 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, SIGAR conducts audit, inspections, and investigations to promote efficiency and effectiveness of reconstruction programs, and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. SIGAR also has a hotline that allows individuals to report suspected fraud.
“It’s troubling that after 16 months, this program has not issued its first community grant,” Sopko said in a statement. “This looks like bad value for U.S. taxpayers and the Afghan people.”
Sarah Wines, who is USAID’s acting mission director for Afghanistan, said in a response to the report that the findings showed a “fundamental misunderstanding of SIKA’s purpose” and that the awarding of grants in and of itself is not the most important element of the program.