Audit of USAID/Afghanistan's Support to the American University of Afghanistan

USAID/Afghanistan continue to withhold incremental funding until all required documents-Year 2 budget, Year 2 work plan, and performance management plan-are submitted by the American University of Afghanistan and approved by the mission.

USAID/Afghanistan work with the American University of Afghanistan to establish budgeting procedures for timely submission of budgets, to include approval of how USAID funding will be used
before the budget is submitted to the American University of Afghanistan's board of trustees, and to require that the budget provide direct linkages to the annual work plan.

USAID/Afghanistan work with the American University of Afghanistan to establish procedures for timely submission of the annually revised work plan and performance management plan.

USAID/Afghanistan decide how excess funds of $6.4 million from Year 1 and Year 2 are to be used, either within the agreement or for other mission programs.

USAID/Afghanistan require the American University of Afghanistan to obtain mission consent to subcontract before entering into the follow-on security contract or any other subcontract with
mission funds, until such time as the budget is submitted and approved by the mission.

USAID/Afghanistan prepare a sustainability plan-so that by the end of the agreement the American University of Afghanistan will no longer be dependent on mission funds-and incorporate this plan into the agreement, work plan, budget, and performance management plan.

USAID/Afghanistan work with the American University of Afghanistan to develop a construction implementation plan for its new campus and update the agreement, budget, and work plan in accordance with the plan.

USAID/Afghanistan develop an implementation plan with American University of Afghanistan to complete the 4-year curriculum for the three undergraduate degrees offered (bachelor of science in information technology and computer science, bachelor of business administration, and bachelor of arts in general studies) by spring 2011 and incorporate this implementation plan into the annual work plan, budget, and performance management plan.

USAID/Afghanistan require the American University of Afghanistan to develop a business plan for the
Professional Development Institute program and incorporate this plan into the American University of Afghanistan's annual budget, work plan, and performance management plan.

USAID/Afghanistan revise the list of key personnel to be approved by the agreement officer's technical representative in the cooperative agreement to include the position of business manager for the Professional Development Institute.

USAID/Afghanistan develop an implementation plan with the American University of Afghanistan for the Professional Development Institute to require quality standards that address issues such as attendance requirements. This implementation plan should be reflected in the annual work plan, budget, and performance management plan.

USAID/Afghanistan require that the action plan developed by the American University of Afghanistan to increase the proportion of women enrolled at the university be incorporated into its annual work plan, budget, and performance management plan.

USAID/Afghanistan develop an implementation plan with the American University of Afghanistan for the Foundation Studies Program to include completion of the curriculum by fall 2010, and development of quality standards to assess program graduates' ability to succeed in the undergraduate program. This implementation plan should be reflected in the annual work plan, budget, and performance management plan.

USAID/Afghanistan's Office of Acquisition and Assistance perform the semiannual review of the American University of Afghanistan's procurement system as required by the agreement until such time as it certifies their system.

USAID/Afghanistan review all construction procurement files before approving the subcontracts and verify that adequate competition existed during the bidding process.

USAID/Afghanistan evaluate the American University of Afghanistan's May 2010 revised branding and marking plan and make a determination as to the acceptability of the plan.

USAID/Afghanistan work with the American University of Afghanistan to establish procedures for the submission of the required environmental mitigation and monitoring plans for new construction.

USAID/Afghanistan obtain a written legal decision from its Regional Legal Advisor on how to proceed for completed and in-process projects in which environmental procedures were not followed.