Audit of USAID/Afghanistan's Support to The Electoral Process (STEP) and Support for Increased Electoral Participation In Afghanistan (IEP) Programs

USAID/Afghanistan undertake a technical evaluation of the effectiveness of voter education and civic education efforts it has supported.

USAID/Afghanistan prepare a more formal project design document for the follow-on program after the Support to the Electoral Process Program ends in June 2011 that explicitly identifies the critical assumptions underlying the program design.

USAID/Afghanistan develop detailed plans for addressing the legal reforms, financial and constitutional arrangements for elections, and voter registration issues discussed in this finding in conjunction with the Government of Afghanistan, other local stakeholders, and international donors.

USAID/Afghanistan complete all required contractor performance reviews under the Support to the Electoral Process contract in accordance with Federal Acquisitions Regulation and Agency for International Development Acquisitions Regulation requirements.

USAID/Afghanistan prepare an implementation plan for use of the $1.4 million rural radio supplemental funding consistent with the goals of the program, or reprogram these funds for other mission programs.

USAID/Afghanistan determine the allowability of the $6,350,319 incurred by the International Republican Institute for security expenses, and recover any costs determined to be unreasonable.

USAID/Afghanistan establish procedures and criteria for determining the reasonableness of security costs charged by implementing partners.

USAID/Afghanistan's follow-on program require members of the Consortium for Election and Political Process Strengthening to consolidate functions and facilities to the extent possible to reduce expenses.

USAID/Afghanistan require the International Republican Institute, as the lead partner in the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, to submit a Consortium marking and branding plan and verify that the plan has been implemented.