Auditors have warned that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) continues to provide money to Afghan government ministries -- even though the Afghan ministries usually can’t manage or account for the funding.
The U.S. Congress has voted to provide more than $1 billion to Afghanistan this year.
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, which oversees aid to Afghanistan for the U.S. Congress, published the report on January 30.
It says that “USAID contractors assessed 16 Afghan ministries and found they are unable to manage and account for funds.”
The report also said USAID “waived its own requirements” for direct assistance without insisting Afghan ministries fix problems before the disbursement of U.S. funds.
But the U.S. State Department says it disagrees with “the impression left” by the audit.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said direct aid to Kabul was sent “through rigorous accountable mechanisms that maintain U.S. government control of funds throughout the process."
The Afghan government has for years been plagued by accusations of corruption.
The U.S. Congress has voted to provide more than $1 billion to Afghanistan this year.
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, which oversees aid to Afghanistan for the U.S. Congress, published the report on January 30.
It says that “USAID contractors assessed 16 Afghan ministries and found they are unable to manage and account for funds.”
The report also said USAID “waived its own requirements” for direct assistance without insisting Afghan ministries fix problems before the disbursement of U.S. funds.
But the U.S. State Department says it disagrees with “the impression left” by the audit.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said direct aid to Kabul was sent “through rigorous accountable mechanisms that maintain U.S. government control of funds throughout the process."
The Afghan government has for years been plagued by accusations of corruption.