Counter-Trafficking in Persons: Improved Guidance and Training Can Strengthen USAID’s C-TIP Efforts in Asia

Audit Report
Report Number
5-000-23-001-P

Why We Did This Audit

  • Trafficking in persons is the second largest criminal industry worldwide and affects at least 25 million victims, with the largest number in Asia.
  • From FY 2001-2020, USAID initiated counter-trafficking in persons (C-TIP) programs and obligated roughly 50 percent of its funding to Asia.
  • We conducted this audit to assess the extent that selected USAID missions in Asia (1) adhered to C-TIP programming objectives, (2) followed guidance to designate and use C-TIP coordinators, and (3) monitored and enforced implementer (USAID award recipient) compliance with TIP requirements.

What We Found

The missions we reviewed:

  • Followed programming objectives for learning, consultation, and coordination but did not fully adhere to aspects of program design.
  • Did not fully adhere to Agency guidance on designating and using C‑TIP coordinators. Further, C-TIP coordinators were uncertain about their roles and responsibilities.
  • Did not consistently monitor and enforce implementer compliance with trafficking in persons prevention and detection requirements for selected awards.

Why It Matters

  • In response to the pervasiveness of human trafficking, Congress has enacted legislation and appropriations to help USAID combat trafficking in persons worldwide.
  • USAID’s resources and expertise position the Agency to play a key role in combating trafficking in persons across Asia.
  • The Agency agreed with all five of our recommendations to strengthen USAID’s adherence to C-TIP Policy programming objectives, including the designation and use of C-TIP coordinators and use of controls to monitor and enforce implementer compliance.

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Recommendations

Recommendation
1

Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming coordinate with regional bureaus and the Center for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance to develop and implement an action plan to improve guidance and training for missions on implementing C-TIP Policy programming objectives and using C-TIP Coordinators. This plan should include incorporating current C-TIP Policy programming objectives into the C-TIP Field Guide, developing training for mission C-TIP Coordinators, improving availability and awareness of survivor engagement training for missions, and assessing opportunities to strengthen C-TIP standard indicators in coordination with missions and the State Department.

Questioned Cost
0
Funds for Better Use
0
Close Date
Recommendation
2

Deputy Administrator for Management and Resources coordinate with the Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning and the Office of Acquisition and Assistance to develop and implement an action plan to clarify guidance and improve training for Contracting and Agreement Officers and Contracting and Agreement Officer Representatives on their roles and responsibilities for monitoring and enforcing implementer compliance with trafficking in persons requirements in acquisition and assistance awards.

Questioned Cost
0
Funds for Better Use
0
Close Date
Recommendation
3

Bureau for Asia coordinate with USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia, USAID/Central Asia Regional, and USAID/Philippines, Pacific Islands, and Mongolia to review and revise each mission's procedures to incorporate guidance on integrating C-TIP during strategy, project, and activity design.

Questioned Cost
0
Funds for Better Use
0
Recommendation
4

Bureau for Asia coordinate with USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia, USAID/Central Asia Regional, and USAID/Philippines, Pacific Islands, and Mongolia to review and revise each mission's mission orders to incorporate guidance on designating C-TIP Coordinators, assigning responsibilities, and using C-TIP Coordinators. As part of this review, each mission should (1) designate C-TIP Coordinator(s) in its mission orders and (2) insert C-TIP Coordinator responsibilities into the position descriptions and annual work objectives for designated C-TIP Coordinators.

Questioned Cost
0
Funds for Better Use
0
Recommendation
5

Bureau for Asia coordinate with USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia, USAID/Central Asia Regional, and USAID/Philippines, Pacific Islands, and Mongolia to develop and implement an action plan to bring each mission's monitoring and enforcement practices for acquisition and assistance awards into compliance with trafficking in persons regulations, policies, and procedures.

Questioned Cost
0
Funds for Better Use
0