Investigative Summary
USAID’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation into child labor allegations with a company in Zahle, Lebanon that received a subaward of $89,798, from a USAID-funded grant, to support ecotourism and agrotourism in Lebanon. During the investigation, OIG found that the company employed children in various positions and also transported the children to the company’s location from what witnesses described as local Syrian refugee camps. Investigators interviewed the owner and manager who admitted to employing multiple minors.
USAID terminated the sub-grant and issued two-year debarments for the owner/manager and his company.