USAID OIG Conference Expenses - Fiscal Year 2023

Conference Expenses

During this reporting cycle, OIG had two training conferences with expenses exceeding $100,000. OIG has a policy in place, which states, “OIG-planned conferenced with anticipated expenses exceeding $100,000, including travel expenses, must be approved by the Deputy Inspector General.” In addition, all other OIG-planned conferences must be approved by the Assistant Inspector General for Management. To reduce conference spending, OIG has continued using teleconferencing and video conferencing in lieu of face-to-face meetings whenever practical.

The following information is provided for these training conferences:

OIG Audit Non-Federal Audit (NFA) Conference

  1. Total expenses incurred by the agency for the conference: $127,836.70
  2. The location of the conference: Washington, D.C.
  3. The date of the conference: March 6-10, 2023
  4. A brief explanation of how the conference advanced the mission of the agency:    

    Under IG Act authorities, the Code of Federal Regulations, and the Single Audit Act, USAID is responsible for the overall management of financial audits of USAID-funded recipients by independent public accounting firms, known as the non-Federal audit (NFA) program. USAID OIG is responsible for ensuring the quality of these audits, including reviewing the audits to ensure they meet applicable reporting requirements and performing quality control reviews. This NFA conference brought together OIG staff from around the world to improve OIG’s impact and oversight of this unique portfolio. Core topics included harmonizing processes for desk reviews and quality control reviews, improving use of data and coordination with Investigations, and elevating impact through new work products. In-person participation was necessary to achieve desired engagement and outcomes, including rebuilding relationships and community in a post-COVID environment. 
     
  5. The total number of individuals whose travel expenses or other conference expenses were paid by the agency: 39.

OIG Leadership Conference

  1. Total expenses incurred by the agency for the conference: $192,773.30
  2. The location of the conference: Arlington, VA.
  3. The date of the conference: September 11-14, 2023
  4. A brief explanation of how the conference advanced the mission of the agency:  

    Federal Regulations (5 CFR § 412) mandates that agencies provide training to develop supervisors and managers as part of a comprehensive management success program. Additionally, under 5 CFR § 412, agencies must establish programs for continued development of its senior executives. The OIG Leadership Conference brought together OIG leaders from each of its operating units—Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations; Investigations; Management; and the Front Office—in person, for the first time in 4 years. The Conference included sessions on strategic planning, examining internal and external impacts on decision making—including mitigation against negative impacts, digital transformation, and planning for OIG’s response to any future global crises. In-person participation was necessary to achieve desired engagement and outcomes, including rebuilding relationships and community in a post-COVID environment. 
     
  5. The total number of individuals whose travel expenses or other conference expenses were paid by the agency: 64.

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