Recommendation Dashboard

USAID/Egypt identify gender-sensitive indicators that contribute to the eight objectives of the New Scholarship Program and require Institute of International Education to track and include data on them in its progress reports.

USAID/Egypt determine the allowability of $62,503 in questioned costs ($19,335 ineligible and $43,168 unsupported) and recover any amounts determined to be unallowable from the Institute of International Education.

USAID/Egypt conduct a review of the Institute of International Education's internal controls for meeting and reporting its cost-sharing contribution requirements to consider if actions need to be taken to strengthen IIE's accounting and reporting of cost sharing.

USAID/Egypt work with the Institute of International Education to implement written procedures for measuring the effectiveness of program training.

USAID/Egypt work with the Institute of International Education to establish a procedure for documenting the final selection of scholarship recipients and study-abroad participants.

USAID/Egypt provide the Institute of International Education with guidance on the definitions of performance indicators for the program, on collecting and reporting data on the indicators, and on maintaining documentation of reported results.

USAID/Egypt implement a plan to periodically verify that the Institute of International Education is complying with its approved monitoring and evaluation plan.

USAID/Egypt define what training information it intends to report for the New Scholarship Program and enter that information into the Training Results and Information Network.

USAID/Ukraine assess whether the project's goal is achievable in the current operating environment, and if not, take corrective actions to address the deficiency, and document in writing the assessment and any corrective actions taken.

USAID/Ukraine determine and document lessons learned from activities under Objective 4 and, to the extent possible, apply them to the 1-year extension activities and to any successor project.

USAID/Ukraine implement a plan requiring responsible mission staff to periodically verify data reported by its implementing partners, including for this project, and to document verification activities and results.

The Chief Financial Officer modify the PhoenixViewer "1311 Analysis - Unliquidated Obligations" report to either include the trust funds' obligation, disbursement, and unliquidated amounts in foreign currency or exclude them from the report and document the determination.

The Chief Financial Officer identify and document the financial transactions that caused the negative unliquidated obligation balances in Phoenix and take the appropriate actions to correct them.

USAID/Ethiopia determine, in writing, whether International Relief and Development must reimburse USAID for its costs caused by the delayed completion of the first five health centers constructed under the Ethiopia Health Infrastructure Program.

USAID/Ethiopia determine, in writing, whether to include electricity and water connections in the scope of work for constructing new health centers.

USAID/Ethiopia determine whether the fixed fee in the task order with Tetra Tech under the Ethiopia Health Infrastructure Program can be reduced because the scope of work will not be completed as planned, document this determination, and recover the excess amount from Tetra Tech.

USAID/Ethiopia meet with the Ethiopian Government's Federal Ministry of Health, determine which type of construction activity is most needed, and document this determination.

USAID/Ethiopia reassess decisions about the type of new health centers to construct, the dollar value of renovations, and the budget allocation between renovations and new health centers, and revise the plan for future construction and renovation activities to best address current needs in Ethiopia.

USAID/Ethiopia determine, in writing, whether health center prototype activities that Tetra Tech conducted were within its scope of work, and, if not, take necessary corrective action.

USAID/Ethiopia determine the allowability of costs incurred to design the prototype health center, and recover from Tetra Tech the amount determined to be unallowable.

USAID/Ethiopia implement written procedures to document technical direction provided by contracting officer's representatives, and communicate these directions to contracting officers.

USAID/Ethiopia implement policies and procedures to confirm that health facilities that manage USAID-funded commodities maintain and periodically reconcile their inventory records.

USAID/Ethiopia require Save the Children to include documented reviews of storage conditions and recordkeeping in its periodic site visits.

USAID/Ethiopia ask Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Health to issue explicit guidance about the proper, safe storage of all commodities (especially food and medicines) to all health facilities that manage USAID-funded commodities.

USAID/Ethiopia determine the allowability of $66,663 of ineligible questioned costs related to the reimbursement of value-added tax to Tetra Tech in contravention to the terms of the contract, and recover from Tetra Tech any amount determined to be unallowable.

USAID/Ethiopia contract with an independent accounting firm to conduct an agreed-upon procedures engagement to determine the full amount of value-added tax claimed by Tetra Tech under Task Order AID-663-TO-11-00001.

USAID/Ethiopia implement procedures to prevent or detect ineligible costs related to the reimbursement of value-added tax.

USAID/Ethiopia implement a monitoring plan for its HIV activities that includes documented periodic site visits.

USAID/Ethiopia require Save the Children to correct its reporting system to provide reliable data about the number of patients assessed for malnutrition, counseled, and provided with therapeutic food, and document the resolution.

USAID/Madagascar implement a plan to increase its involvement and participation on the National Coordinating Committee and coordinate efforts with other donors on the committee to improve the quality and timeliness of population census results.

USAID/Madagascar undertake appropriate disciplinary action regarding the chronic failure of the mission's PMI adviser to attend meetings of the National Coordinating Committee.[Redactions in this section of the report represent information that could identify an individual USAID employee. Personally identifiable information is subject to protection under the Privacy Act and other laws. The disclosure of the identity of this individual employee would not advance the public's right to know and understand the operation of the program that is the subject of this audit].

USAID/Madagascar implement a plan to distribute unused nets from prior distribution campaigns.

USAID/Madagascar implement a plan to improve monitoring and oversight of net distribution activities, including visits to warehouses storing nets, to promote consistent, effective practices among all distributors.

USAID/Madagascar determine the allowability of $75,838 in questioned cost-share contributions made by Population Services International and disallow any amounts determined to be unallowable.

USAID/Madagascar instruct Population Services International to remove similar amounts not sampled from its reported cost-share contributions, and verify that these amounts are reflected properly in Population Services International's Standard Form 425 reports.

USAID/Madagascar implement a plan to include periodic review of the composition of implementers' cost-share contributions as part of its normal financial oversight procedures.

USAID/Madagascar implement a plan, including surprise site visits, to verify that net bags from future President's Malaria Initiative distribution campaigns are disposed of properly.

USAID/Madagascar rewrite its branding and marking policy to clarify branding expectations given current restrictions on working directly with the Malagasy Government, and give the updated policy to its implementers.

USAID/Madagascar instruct Population Services International to implement an action plan to correct contraceptive storage conditions within 90 days.

USAID/Madagascar quantify excessive salaries paid to Population Services International employees, determine the allowability of any excessive amounts, and recover from Population Services International any amount determined to be unallowable.

USAID/Madagascar remind its agreement officer's representatives and contracting officer's representatives in writing of the importance of complying with Mission Order 203-004 when conducting site visits, and specify appropriate sanctions for repeated failure to do so.

USAID/Guatemala implement a monitoring and evaluation plan for the follow-on award that includes clearly defined performance indicators designed to measure the project's expected results.

USAID/Guatemala revise the performance indicators identified in the audit as poorly defined and recalculate the project's results for these indicators so they are reported accurately and document the results.

USAID/Guatemala implement a plan to review the supporting documentation for leveraged funds submitted by RTI International and confirm in writing that reporting on leverage is accurate and meets USAID standards, require RTI International to reduce the leveraged resources reported by $3.4 million, and require it to follow the agreement rules regarding leverage.

USAID/Guatemala implement a plan to monitor and verify compliance with leverage requirements in any follow-on project.

USAID/Guatemala instruct RTI International in writing to align the project's remaining annual and final reports to the corresponding annual and project strategic plans at the activity level, and verify that final reports disaggregate indicator data by gender, ethnicity, and age.

USAID/Guatemala implement a plan to collect baseline data for each performance indicator before the follow-on project starts.

USAID/Guatemala instruct RTI International in writing to include a comparison of actual expenditures with budget estimates, accompanying analysis, and explanations for any cost overruns or high unit costs in the project's remaining annual and final reports.

USAID/Guatemala, when drafting the follow-on award, include the Mandatory Standard Provision entitled "Trafficking in Persons (October 2010)."

USAID/Guatemala conduct and document counter-trafficking in persons training with all its implementers, subimplementers, and recipients.

USAID/Guatemala implement uniform guidance on how to calculate and report scholarship data in the Training Results and Information Network, and verify and document that all data entered into the system by the project is accurate per the Automated Directive System specifications.

USAID//Guatemala incorporate into its follow-on activities the requirement that the implementing partner submit a security plan and budget for security-related personnel and equipment to USAID for review.

USAID/Peru implement a performance management plan for its second development objective.

USAID/Peru work with Management Sciences for Health to implement a revised monitoring and evaluation plan.

USAID/Peru work with Abt Associates Inc. to implement a revised monitoring and evaluation plan.

USAID/Peru implement a performance indicator that measures whether the Health Policy activity is making progress in strengthening public health institutions at the national level.

USAID/Peru require Abt Associates Inc. to identify in its progress reports the Health Policy activity's specific contribution to the Peruvian strategic health indicators.

USAID/Peru implement a sustainability strategy to make sure the Healthy Communities and Municipalities II methodology continues after the activity ends.

USAID/Peru have its Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance modify the agreement with Management Sciences for Health, including the budget support table for the three components and the activity description, to clarify the shift in emphasis.

USAID/Central Asian Republics finalize and approve a project monitoring and evaluation plan that contains suitable indicators attributable to the project's activities and meets the requirements of Automated Directives System Chapter 203.

USAID/Central Asian Republics implement a plan to require technical staff to design future programs in accordance with Automated Directives System Chapter 200.

USAID/Central Asian Republics issue guidance requiring work plan approval by the beginning of the implementing period.

USAID/Central Asian Republics conduct and document training to equip contracting officer's representatives, activity managers, and contracting officers to manage development projects effectively as required by Automated Directives System 202.3.4.5.

USAID/Central Asian Republics issue guidance requiring contractor performance reviews to be completed in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 42 and USAID Acquisition Regulation 742.15.

USAID/Haiti complete its staffing plan by hiring the appropriate number of technical and contracting staff with engineering and construction expertise to manage the mission's infrastructure program properly.

USAID/Haiti consolidate the infrastructure activities under the Office of Infrastructure, Engineering, and Energy.

USAID/Haiti issue a mission order to provide specific guidance on mission policy and procedures for the design, procurement, implementation, and oversight of all infrastructure projects with engineering and construction activities.

USAID/Haiti, in collaboration with the Haitian Government, develop sustainability plans for each of the infrastructure projects that include mechanisms to confirm that the Haitian Government formally commits funds in its official budget that cover the projected costs (both financial and human resources) to maintain and use the project, and include targets that the Haitian Government must meet to indicate progress toward meeting its commitment to fund, maintain, and use the projects.

USAID/Haiti develop a monitoring plan to assess regularly the Haitian Government's progress in meeting the targets in the sustainability plan and a plan of action should targets not be met.

USAID/Haiti update the project implementation letters and Foreign Assistance Act, Section 611 (e) certifications as necessary based on the revised projected operations and maintenance costs and completion of the sustainability plans for each project.

USAID/Haiti develop a mission order that requires the development of detailed sustainability plans for all significant infrastructure projects that include mechanisms to confirm that the Haitian Government formally commits funds in its official budget that cover the projected costs (both financial and human resources) to maintain and use the project, include targets that the Haitian Government must meet that indicate progress toward meeting its commitment to maintain and use the project, and requires the completion of monitoring plans to track the Haitian Government's progress in meeting its targets in the sustainability plans and a plan of action should targets not be met.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement written risk assessment procedures documenting roles and responsibilities of mission staff, and periodic review for the Geo-Management Information System in accordance with National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/West Banks and Gaza document a risk assessment of the Geo-Management Information System in accordance with federal information processing standard 199 and National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-30, and categorize the system as low-, moderate-, or high-risk.

USAID/Office of Security implement procedures to conduct and document periodic risk assessments for the Partner Vetting System Nongovernmental Organization Portal to comply with the guidance of National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza prepare a written security assessment of the Geo-Management Information System in accordance with National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

Based on the results of the security assessment, we recommend that USAID/West Bank and Gaza document its plan of action and milestones for the Geo-Management Information System in accordance with National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/Office of Security update the Partner
Vetting System Nongovernmental Portal plan of action and milestones to include estimated completion dates for its established milestones.

Once the estimated completion dates are in the Partner Vetting System Nongovernmental Portal's plan of action and milestones, we recommend that
USAID/Office of Security conduct periodic reviews and document updates of actions taken to address any security control weaknesses by the completion dates.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza obtain a certified authorization to operate the Geo-Management Information System from the Agency's Chief Information Security Officer in accordance with Automated Directives System 545.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement a security plan in accordance with National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publications 800-53 and 800-18 for the Geo-Management Information System.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement comprehensive contingency plan procedures in accordance with National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publications 800-53 and 800-34 for its information systems including the Geo-Management Information System.

Upon completion of the Geo-Management Information System contingency plan, we recommend that USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement procedures to test its plan annually and update the contingency plan as needed based on the results.

USAID/Office of Security review the Partner
Vetting System Nongovernmental Organization Portal contingency plan and make corrections as necessary in accordance with National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/Office of Security complete its annual testing of the Partner Vetting System and the Partner Vetting System Nongovernmental Organization Portal, and update the contingency plans based on the results.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza coordinate with USAID/Office of Security to identify an alternate processing site for the Partner Vetting System Nongovernmental Organization Portal and incorporate the site into its contingency plan.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza include recovery of the information systems once normal operations return in its Geo-Management Information System contingency plan.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza modify the Geo-Management Information System to include a transaction recovery system, such as transaction rollback or transaction journaling, to assist in the recovery of the database in the event of a failure, as required by National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza modify its Geo-Management Information System access control procedures and include the topics required by National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement procedures defining and requiring periodic review of user accounts and roles, and deactivating invalid user accounts within the Geo-Management Information System, Partner Vetting System, and Partner Vetting System Nongovernmental Organization
Portal as required by National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/Office of Security incorporate audit trails for creation of user accounts, last user log-ons, role modifications, and disabling of user accounts to the Partner Vetting System as required by National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53, and give USAID/West Bank and Gaza access to the audit trails.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza incorporate audit trails for creation of user accounts, last user log-ons, role modifications, and disabling of user accounts to the Geo-Management Information System as required by National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement procedures requiring written access requests for all authorized Partner Vetting System and Geo-Management Information System users.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza review and document the review results on roles assigned to Geo-Management Information System and Partner Vetting System administrators, and correct any separation of duties weaknesses noted, or document reasons for not correcting noted weaknesses.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza review and document the results of the review on users with system administrator rights and other privileged roles in the Partner Vetting System, and remove these roles as needed to enforce least privilege.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza document the acceptable number of user log-on attempts before a Geo-Management Information System user account is locked and incorporate this control into the Geo-Management Information System application.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza modify its Geo-Management Information System user notification to comply with National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza define and document its session lock criteria for the Geo-Management Information System in management-approved procedures.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza modify the Geo-Management Information System to prevent the display of data once the system locks the session.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza provide training to the system administrators of the Partner Vetting System, Partner Vetting System Nongovernmental Organization Portal and Geo-Management Information
System on information system security and security requirements for federal information
systems.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement a comprehensive identification and authentication policy and procedures for the Geo-Management Information System to comply with the guidance of National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

Following the implementation of the identification and authentication policy and procedures for the Geo-Management Information
System, we recommend that USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement procedures to conduct periodic reviews and document the review results to comply with the guidance of National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication
800-53.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza incorporate authenticator management controls in the Geo-Management Information System to enforce minimum password complexity, minimum number of changed characters when new passwords are created, encrypted representations of passwords for storage and transmission, password minimum and maximum lifetime restrictions, rules governing recycling of passwords, and the use of a temporary password for system log-ons with an
immediate change to a permanent password, in compliance with National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/Office of Security incorporate authenticator management control in the Partner Vetting System Nongovernmental Organization Portal to enforce minimum password lifetime
parameters for user accounts to comply with National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement controls in the Geo-Management Information System so the system does not retain user log-ons after it terminates a communication session.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza use a secure session for transmitting data from its implementing partners.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza, in coordination with USAID/Office of Security, implement necessary changes to the Partner Vetting System Nongovernmental Organization Portal to eliminate
restrictions on age limits in the birth date fields in the Partner Information Form and allowing changes made to be reflected in the form.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza review and document the frequency and level of certification required by the contracting officer's representatives and agreement officer's representatives in the Geo-
Management Information System.

USAID/West Bank and Gaza implement a policy to periodically validate contracting officer's representatives and agreement officer's representatives compliance with Geo-Management
Information System certification requirements.