Global Fund Investigation Report
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Investigation Report
Global Fund grant in Papua
New Guinea
Non-compliant expenditures in malaria grant
GF-OIG-18-011
10 July 2018
Geneva, Switzerland -
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What is the Office of the Inspector General?
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) safeguards the assets, investments, reputation and
sustainability of the Global Fund by ensuring that it takes the right action to end the epidemics of
AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Through audits, investigations and advisory work, it promotes good
practice, reduces risk and reports fully and transparently on abuse.Established in 2005, the OIG is an independent yet integral part of the Global Fund. It is accountable
to the Board through its Audit and Finance Committee and serves the interests of all Global Fund
stakeholders. Its work conforms to the International Standards for the Professional Practice of
Internal Auditing and the Uniform Guidelines for Investigations of the Conference of International
Investigators.Contact us
The Global Fund believes that every dollar counts and has zero tolerance for fraud, corruption and
waste that prevent resources from reaching the people who need them. If you suspect irregularities
or wrongdoing in the programs financed by the Global Fund, you should report to the OIG using the
contact details below. The following are some examples of wrongdoing that you should report:
stealing money or medicine, using Global Fund money or other assets for personal use, fake
invoicing, staging of fake training events, counterfeiting drugs, irregularities in tender processes,
bribery and kickbacks, conflicts of interest, human rights violations…Online Form > Free Telephone Reporting Service:
Available in English, French, Russian and +1 704 541 6918
Spanish. Service available in English, French, Spanish,
Russian, Chinese and Arabic
Letter:
Office of the Inspector General Telephone Message – 24-hour secure voicemail:
Global Fund +41 22 341 5258
Chemin du Pommier 40, CH-1218
Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland Fax – Dedicated secure fax line:
+41 22 341 5257
Email
[email protected] More information: www.theglobalfund.org/oigAudit Report Advisory Report Investigations Report
OIG audits look at systems and processes, both OIG advisory reports aim to further the Global OIG investigations examine either allegations
at the Global Fund and in country, to identify the Fund’s mission and objectives through value- received of actual wrongdoing or follow up on
risks that could compromise the organization’s added engagements, using the professional skills intelligence of fraud or abuse that could
mission to end the three epidemics. The OIG of the OIG’s auditors and investigators. The compromise the Global Fund’s mission to end
generally audits three main areas: risk Global Fund Board, committees or Secretariat the three epidemics. The OIG conducts
management, governance and oversight. may request a specific OIG advisory administrative, not criminal, investigations. Its
Overall, the objective of the audit is to improve engagement at any time. The report can be findings are based on facts and related analysis,
the effectiveness of the Global Fund to ensure published at the discretion of the Inspector which may include drawing reasonable
that it has the greatest impact using the funds General in consultation with the stakeholder who inferences based upon established facts.
with which it is entrusted. made the request.
10 July 2018
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Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
1.1. Summary paragraph ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
1.2. Main OIG Findings ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
1.3. Actions Already Taken…………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
1.4. Summary of Agreed Management Actions……………………………………………………………….. 4
2. Context …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
2.1. Country Context …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
2.2. Differentiation Category for Country Investigations …………………………………………………. 5
2.3. Global Fund Grants in the Country …………………………………………………………………………. 5
2.4. The Three Diseases ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
3. The Investigation at a Glance………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
3.1. Genesis and Scope of the Investigation ……………………………………………………………………. 7
3.2. Type of Wrongdoing Identified ………………………………………………………………………………. 7
3.3. Non-Compliant Expenditure ………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
3.4. Proposed Recoverable Amount ………………………………………………………………………………. 7
3.5. Progress on Previously Identified Issues …………………………………………………………………. 8
4. Findings …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
4.1. Historical controls weaknesses in PSI PNG facilitated the fraud ………………………………… 9
4.2. Process weaknesses reduced PSI’s ability to detect the fraud and continue to constrain its
financial assurance of Global Fund grants ……………………………………………………………….. 9
4.3. The OIG found further non-compliant expenditures totaling US$175,818 in the grant
affected by the fraud …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11
5. Table of Agreed Actions ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
Annex A: Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
Annex B: Summary of OIG identified non-compliant expenditures …………………………………………. 1510 July 2018
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1. Executive Summary
1.1. Summary paragraph
A Principal Recipient in Papua New Guinea, Population Services International (PSI), identified
fraudulent and non-compliant expenditures in a malaria grant totalling US$551,608. The fraud was
facilitated by weak local financial controls, which PSI later strengthened. A subsequent OIG
investigation found that weaknesses in PSI’s accounting processes had reduced PSI’s ability to detect
the fraud and that the same weaknesses continue to constrain financial assurance of its grants. The
investigation also found additional non-compliant expenditures in the same grant of US$175,818
from previously unreviewed expenditures of US$4.2 million. PSI has since refunded the full amount
identified by the OIG. The Secretariat is now working with PSI to enhance its financial oversight of
all its Global Fund grants.1.2. Main OIG Findings
In July 2015, PSI identified that its National Finance Manager in PNG had commited a fraud
affecting its Round 8 malaria grant. PSI’s initial investigation in 2015 identified fraudulent
expenditures totalling US$195,447. In 2016, PSI conducted an additional review of the same grant
that identified a further US$356,161 of unsupported and non-compliant expenditures. Based on its
findings, PSI did not charge these amounts to the Global Fund, which did not incur any direct losses
because of the fraud.PSI identified that weak financial controls at its PNG office had facilitated the fraud, including a lack
of segregation of duties and poor management. Following the issuing of a disclaimer of opinion by
PSI’s external auditor in January 2017, the OIG reviewed a further US$ 4.2 million of expenditures
charged by PSI to the Round 8 Malaria grant. PSI and the external auditor had not previously
reviewed most of this amount.The investigation found that weaknesses in PSI’s accounting processes had prevented earlier
identification of the fraud, and that they continue to constrain financial assurance across all PSI’s
Global Fund grants. It also found further non-compliant expenditures totaling US$175,818 in the
Round 8 grant that PSI has since refunded to the Global Fund.1.3. Actions Already Taken
In addition to reimbursing the full non-compliant amount identified by the investigation and
dismissing the Finance Officer, PSI implemented measures to improve internal controls in its PNG
office. These included clearly defining roles and segregated responsibilities and enhancing oversight,
monitoring and verification of grant expenditure.1.4. Summary of Agreed Management Actions
Based on the investigation’s findings, the Secretariat is working with PSI to improve its financial
assurance processes globally, on all Global Fund-financed portfolios. This includes implementing
revised internal control procedures at PSI’s headquarters and country level, optimizing the flow of
accounting data between its headquarter’s and country level systems, and agreeing how the revised
control procedures will be harmonized across all Global Fund grants managed by PSI.10 July 2018
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2. Context
2.1. Country Context
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the largest Pacific Island nation. Its economy is highly reliant on
commodity exports, which has driven rapid economic growth. Papua New Guinea’s wealth is
enevenly distributed with the majority of the population practising subsistence-based agriculture.
Faith based organisations play a critical role in PNG’s health system, delivering more than half of all
services. Civil society and private sector groups are also critical to reaching more than 850 language
groups, separated by rugged terrain and plagued by inter-tribal and gender based violence.PNG has reduced the number of malaria cases and deaths through wide scale bed net distribution
campaigns. Its HIV burden is concentrated and while anti-retroviral coverage is high, prevention of
mother to child transmission is low. HIV testing is also low among men who have sex with men and
female sex workers. PNG ranks 2nd in the Western Pacific Region for estimated tuberculosis
prevalence, incidence and mortality. Its TB burden has not improved since the early 1990s.2.2. Differentiation Category for Country Investigations
The Global Fund has classified the countries in which it finances programs into three overall portfolio
categories: focused, core and high impact. These categories are primarily defined by size of allocation
amount, disease burden and impact on the Global Fund’s mission to end the three epidemics.
Countries can also be classed into two cross-cutting categories: Challenging Operating Environments
and those under the Additional Safeguard Policy. Challenging Operating Environments are countries
or regions characterized by weak governance, poor access to health services, and manmade or natural
crises. The Additional Safeguard Policy is a set of extra measures that the Global Fund can put in
place to strengthen fiscal and oversight controls in a particularly risky environment.Papua New Guinea is:
Focused: (Smaller portfolios, lower disease burden, lower mission risk)
x Core: (Larger portfolios, higher disease burden, higher risk)
High Impact: (Very large portfolio, mission critical disease burden)Challenging Operating Environment
x Additional Safeguard Policy2.3. Global Fund Grants in the Country
The Global Fund has two active grants in PNG with a total commitment of US$36.3 million, of which
US$20.6 million has been disbursed. In total, the Global Fund has committed US$245.3 million to
PNG, of which US$227.9 million has been disbursed. The malaria program grant concerned by this
investigation (PNG-809-G05) ended on 31 March 2015 and is in financial closure. The Global Fund,
however, continues to invest in and implement malaria programs in PNG through another
implementer.The Global Fund is among the largest donors for prevention among key populations in HIV and the
only donor for malaria case management and vector control. The Global Fund has helped to attract
funding from Against Malaria Foundation, which will procure LLINs for PNG in 2018-2020. In
addition, the Global Fund is closely coordinating its investments with other partners in PNG,
including the World Bank, Gavi, DFAT and the Asia Development Bank.10 July 2018
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2.4. The Three Diseases1
HIV/AIDS: PNG is experiencing a ‘mixed’ HIV epidemic. 0.89% national average HIV
Whilst prevalence is significantly higher amongst key prevalence
populations, there are many people at risk who are not
8.5-14.9% HIV prevalence
members of these populations. HIV prevalence is also
amongst key populations
higher than the national average in a number of
provinces, indicating a focal generalized epidemic. 24,000 people currently on
Sexual transmission is by far the leading transmission antiretroviral therapy
route. HIV mortality has reduced significantly in recent
years, but remains high. Levels of resistance to a major
class of anti-retroviral therapies (ARTs) are the highest
globally.Malaria: PNG has one the highest burdens of malaria 816,414 Insecticide-treated nets
outside of Africa. An estimated 94% of the country’s (LLINs) distributed in 2016
population live in areas that are endemic for malaria,
499,929 suspected malaria
with women and children under five years of age at
cases tested in 2016
particular risk. The number of reported malaria cases
and deaths has fallen significantly in all regions in PNG 349,139 confirmed cases treated
since 2007, in some areas by more than 70%. The in 2016
reduction is attributed to high coverage with Long
Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs), improved access to
early diagnosis using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and
highly effective treatment with artemisinin-based
combination therapies (ACTs).Tuberculosis: TB remains a major public health threat 432 per 100,000 TB incidence
in PNG with a very high incidence rate and a rapid rise rate
of multi-drug and rifampicin resistant (MDR/RR-TB) TB.
MDR prevalence 23%
There is ongoing transmission of TB within communities
as shown by the high occurrence of TB amongst children 13,900 new smear-positive TB
(19-23% of total TB cases annually). DOTS expansion, cases detected and treated
especially through Global Fund funding, has significantly
increased case notification rates. However, the high rate
of cases, which are not bacteriologically confirmed
(69%), indicates that many TB patients have not been
treated in line with national standards. Treatment
success rates also remain low.1Information drawn from: Global Fund PNG grants external webpage; the Global Fund PNG Country Team; a CCM PNG HIV/TB Funding
Request dated 15 December 2016; and a Secretariat Briefing Note for malaria grant program continuation into 2018-2020 (undated).10 July 2018
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3. The Investigation at a Glance
3.1. Genesis and Scope of the Investigation
January 2014: Start of wrongdoing In July 2015, the Global Fund Secretariat reported to the
OIG a fraud in a Papua New Guinea (PNG) Round 8
July 2015: OIG initially alerted to malaria grant implemented by Population Services
wrongdoing International (PSI). PSI PNG had found that its
National Finance Manager had misappropriated grant
Source of the alert: funds including duplicate supplier payments and
unused travel advances.
x Secretariat
x Principal Recipient PSI’s Global Internal Audit (GIA) investigated the fraud
in July-August 2015 and it initially identified fraudulent
Sub-Recipient
expenditures totalling US$195,447 in the Round 8
Local Fund Agent grant. GIA conducted an additional review in early
Anonymous whistle-blower 2016. GIA did not report the results of this review to the
OIG at the time. It informed the OIG in April 2017 that
Audit referral
the review had identified further unsupported/non-
Other compliant expenditures totaling US$356,161 in the
Round 8 grant.In January 2017, the Secretariat provided to the OIG an external audit report of the PNG Round 8
Malaria grant. It contained a Disclaimer of Opinion, as the auditor was unable to obtain sufficient
evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion for direct expenses of approximately US$4.3 million.Based on the external audit findings, in January 2017, the OIG opened its own investigation. Its scope
comprised 4,098 transactions totalling US$4,187,987 charged to the Round 8 malaria grant between
1 January 2014 and 31 March 2015. PSI and the external auditor had not reviewed the majority of
these transactions. The purpose of the investigation was to establish if any of these transactions were
also non-compliant, and if so, establish the root causes. The OIG conducted a mission to PNG in
August 2017.3.2. Type of Wrongdoing Identified
Coercion
Collusion
Corruption
Fraud
x Non-Compliance with Grant Agreement
Product Issues3.3. Non-Compliant Expenditure
OIG identified: US$175,818: The investigation found 457 unsupported, inadequately supported
and other non-compliant expenditures totalling US$175,818 (refer to Finding 4.3).3.4. Proposed Recoverable Amount
PSI has reimbursed the full amount identified by the investigation.10 July 2018
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3.5. Progress on Previously Identified Issues
In 2013 and 2014 the OIG published reports of investigations
in PNG. Previous relevant OIG workThe investigation of Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) in 2013 GF-OIG-14-002 – Investigation
found that RAM steered a contract to a HR company linked to of Global Fund Grants to Papua
its senior executive. RAM’s decision to appoint a particular HR New Guinea – National
service provider resulted in additional costs of US$359,543 to the Department of Health
grant. The OIG recommended that the Secretariat seek
recoveries, that the PR re-tender its HR service provider
contract, and conduct an annual LFA review of HR fees. GF-OIG-13-022 – Investigation
of Global Fund Grants to Papua
The investigation of the National Department of Health (NDoH) New Guinea – Rotarians against
found irregular procurement practices and improper Malaria
management of cash advances by its employees. NDoH’s
failure to follow procurement and cash advance requirements
resulted in additional costs of US$1,352,696 to the grant.The OIG recommended that: the Secretariat seek recoveries; the PR procure all core health products
through the Pooled Procurement Mechanism (PPM); and cash advances be subject to strict approval
limits. The Secretariat implemented all the recommendations arising from the two investigations.10 July 2018
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4. Findings
4.1. Historical controls weaknesses in PSI PNG facilitated the fraud
When PSI identified the fraud in 2015, its PNG office had weak financial controls. To rectify this, PSI
implemented a number of measures to improve them. However, at the time of the OIG’s mission in
August 2017, PSI PNG was still unable to monitor and track actual expenditures to budgeted
expenditures. The controls weaknesses at PSI PNG that facilitated the fraud included:Weak financial and accounting management, limited internal controls and poor oversight of
staff in positions of trust. This resulted in trust-based rather than controls-based procedures.The former Finance Manager used his personal bank account to facilitate control of program
funds at PSI’s remote Vanimo office.The former Finance Manager had access to the ‘administrator’ password for PSI PNG’s
‘QuickBooks’ accounting system and payment processing system. This allowed him to create and
initiate duplicate supplier payments to his personal bank account.The former Finance Manager was able to manipulate QuickBooks records due to the lack of
segregation of duties and controls over access to PSI PNG’s financial accounting records.PSI identified 13 areas for improvements to PSI PNG’s control environment. These included:
Introducing clear segregation of duties and creating and updating office guidelines, policies and
procedures.Establishing a dedicated bank account for the Vanimo office and eliminating the use of personal
bank accounts for business-related transactions.Replacing the former trust-based management with improved internal oversight and clear
financial approvals process, to achieve greater accountability.Issuing all finance staff with their own secure access login for the financial and accounting
systems and providing greater oversight of expenditures from PSI headquarters.The Global Fund country team regularly followed up with PSI on the implementation of remedial
actions. This included sending a Performance Letter to PSI PNG making recommendations for
additional controls improvements. By August 2017, PSI PNG had implemented 12 of the 13 identified
action points. The remaining outstanding issue related to PSI’s inability to monitor and track actual
expenditure to Global Fund budgeted expenditure, is described under Finding 4.2, below.4.2. Process weaknesses reduced PSI’s ability to detect the fraud and
continue to constrain its financial assurance of Global Fund grants
PSI’s current financial assurance processes reduced its ability to detect the fraud. This includes its
practice of performing quarterly instead of monthly reconciliations, and cost category level rather
than activity level monitoring of grant expenditure. PSI’s use of different accounting systems at
headquarters and local country level also allowed the fraud in PNG to initially go undetected and
continues to constrain PSI’s financial assurance of its Global Fund grants.Prior to identifying the fraud, PSI PNG reported a shortfall in its Round 8 malaria grant budget. The
Secretariat asked PSI PNG to provide a full reconciliation, as the shortfall was inconsistent with its
own analysis. When PSI PNG provided the reconciliation, the Secretariat queried further
inconsistencies. The Secretariat attributed PSI’s difficulties in reconciling its Round 8 malaria grant10 July 2018
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budget to its practice of reconciling and reporting balances to the Global Fund on a quarterly basis,
rather than performing monthly reconciliations.At the time of the fraud, PSI PNG did not conduct monitoring of actual expenditure against plan or
budget, which reduced its ability to monitor the performance of its operations and to detect fraud.
In November 2016, some 17 months after the fraud, the LFA found that PSI PNG had made no
progress with implementing activity-level expenditure monitoring.During its mission in October 2017, the OIG found that PSI PNG was still not tracking expenditures
at the activity level. The OIG also could not match supporting documents to budgeted expenditure,
as PSI PNG does not record activity reference numbers on supporting documents. The PNG LFA said
this also prevents it from effectively verifying whether grant expenditures incurred by PSI PNG are
within budget.In response to these findings, PSI said that its grant agreement with the Global Fund only requires
it to report expenditures at the cost category level, not the activity level. It said these limitations are
therefore driven by PSI’s focus on the agreed reporting requirements. PSI said its headquarters is
reviewing the use of tools to facilitate easier tracking of expenditures at the activity level.In response to the finding that PSI PNG did not monitor actual expenditures against plan or budget,
PSI said it performed ‘activity status’ reviews of PSI PNG expenditures at headquarters level.
However, PSI uses two accounting systems; ‘QuickBooks’ in its country offices and ‘Lawson’ at its
headquarters level. PSI headquarters reviews grant expenditures after their transferral into Lawson.
As a result, it was unable to identify the manipulation of records in PSI PNG’s QuickBooks system.
PSI said this initially allowed the fraud to go undetected.Additionally, when PSI transfers records from QuickBooks to Lawson, it does not capture all the data
from QuickBooks. This includes transaction number, journal voucher number and full transaction
description. When the LFA undertakes assurance work on PSI grants, PSI provides data from
Lawson. The PNG LFA told the OIG that it has experienced delays when verifying locally-incurred
expenditures with data from Lawson. It said that this is due to the time consuming manual process
of locating supporting documents without the local transaction references from QuickBooks.Based on the investigation’s findings, the Secretariat is working with PSI to enhance its internal
financial control and assurance processes across all its Global Fund grants.Agreed Management Action 1
To address the financial assurance weaknesses identified in this report, the Secretariat is working
with PSI to:Implement revised internal control procedures at headquarters and country level, in form and
substance acceptable to the Global Fund;Optimize the flow of accounting data between its headquarter and country level systems to
facilitate timely assurance of grant expenditures; andPropose how the agreed revised internal control procedures will be harmonized across all Global
Fund grants managed by PSI.The Secretariat will conduct sample testing of the revised internal control procedures by the AMA
target date.Owner: Head of FISA
Due date: 30 June 2020
Category: Governance, Oversight and Management Risks
10 July 2018
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4.3. The OIG found further non-compliant expenditures totaling US$175,818
in the grant affected by the fraud
In addition to the amounts identified by PSI’s own investigations, the OIG found that PSI had
charged further non-compliant expenditures totalling US$ 175,818 to the Round 8 malaria grant.
PSI has since refunded the full amount. Due to the absence of supporting documents, the OIG was
unable to determine if any of the transactions were fraudulent.Unsupported and non-compliant expenditures
The investigation found 358 transactions totalling US$113,809 that PSI had charged to the Round 8
Global Fund malaria grant, did not have any supporting documents (refer to Annex B). Due to the
absence of supporting documents, the OIG was unable to determine if any of the transactions were
fraudulent.PSI PNG offered two possible explanations for the missing supporting documents: firstly, due to the
various historical reviews, audits and investigations of the Round 8 grant, PSI PNG may not have
effectively managed documents following each of the reviews; secondly, the former Finance
Manager, who committed the fraud, may have removed supporting documents from the office.The Code of Conduct for Recipients of Global Fund Resources requires implementers to maintain
complete, well organized, and comprehensive records for a minimum of seven years after the date of
last disbursement made under the Grant Agreement. With no supporting documents available for
the 358 transactions, PSI PNG breached the terms of the Code of Conduct for Recipients.PSI PNG management also agreed that another 68 transactions totalling US$43,645 did not have a
sufficient level of supporting documents. These included transactions with: missing receipts,
unsigned vouchers, no bank checks, bank checks made to ‘cash’ with no supporting documents, self-
completed or self-authorized forms, and pro-forma invoices only.PSI had charged a further 31 expenditures totalling US$18,364 to Round 8 Malaria grant which the
OIG found to be non-compliant. 73% of these were amounts charged to the Global Fund that were
applicable to other donors, or expenditures not related to malaria control. The remaining related to
tax exemption issues.10 July 2018
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5. Table of Agreed Actions
Agreed Management Action 1 Target date Owner Category
To address the financial assurance weaknesses 30 June 2020 Head of Governance,
identified in this report, the Secretariat is working with FISA Oversight and
PSI to: Management
Risks
Implement revised internal control procedures at
headquarters and country level, in form and
substance acceptable to the Global Fund;Optimize the flow of accounting data between its
headquarter and country level systems to facilitate
timely assurance of grant expenditures; andPropose how the agreed revised internal control
procedures will be harmonized across all Global
Fund grants managed by PSI.The Secretariat will conduct sample testing of the
revised internal control procedures by the AMA target
date.10 July 2018
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Annex A: Methodology
Why we investigate: Wrongdoing, in all its forms, is a threat to the Global Fund’s mission to end
the AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics. It corrodes public health systems and facilitates
human rights abuses, ultimately stunting the quality and quantity of interventions needed to save
lives. It diverts funds, medicines and other resources away from countries and communities in need,
limits impact and reduces the trust, which is essential to the Global Fund’s multi-stakeholder
partnership model.What we investigate: The OIG is mandated to investigate any use of Global Fund funds, whether
by the Secretariat of the Global Fund, by recipients of grants funds, or their respective suppliers. OIG
investigations identify instances of wrongdoing, such as fraud, corruption and other types of non-
compliance with the grant agreements. The Global Fund Policy to Combat Fraud and Corruption 2
generally outlines the prohibited practices, which will result in investigation findings.OIG investigations aim to:
(i) identify the specific nature and extent of wrongdoing affecting Global Fund grants;
(ii) identify the entities responsible for such wrongdoing;
(iii) determine the amount of grant funds that may have been compromised by wrongdoing;
and
(iv) place the Global Fund in the best position to recover funds, and take remedial and
preventative action, by identifying where and how the misused funds have been used.OIG conducts administrative, not criminal, investigations. It is the recipients’ responsibility to
demonstrate their compliance with the grant agreement in their use of grant funds. Its findings are
based on facts and related analysis, which may include drawing reasonable inferences. Findings are
established by a preponderance of evidence. All available information, inculpatory or exculpatory, is
considered by the OIG.3 As an administrative body, the OIG has no law enforcement powers. It
cannot issue subpoenas or initiate criminal prosecutions. As a result, its ability to obtain information
is limited to the access rights it has under the contracts the Global Fund and its recipients enter into,
and on the willingness of witnesses and other interested parties to voluntarily provide information.The OIG bases its investigations on the contractual commitments undertaken by recipients and
suppliers. Principal Recipients are contractually liable to the Global Fund for the use of all grant
funds, including those disbursed to Sub-recipients and paid to suppliers. The Global Fund’s Code of
Conduct for Suppliers4 and Code of Conduct for Recipients provide additional principles, which
recipients and suppliers must respect. Global Fund Guidelines for Budgeting generally define how
expenditures must be approved and evidenced to be recognized as compliant with the terms of the
grant agreements.Who we investigate: Principal Recipients and Sub-recipients, Country Coordinating Mechanisms
and Local Fund Agents, as well as suppliers and service providers. Secretariat activities linked to the2 (16.11.2017) Available at https://www.theglobalfund.org/media/6960/core_combatfraudcorruption_policy_en.pdf
3 These principles comply with the Uniform Guidelines for Investigations, Conference of International Investigators, 06.2009; available
at: http://www.conf-int-investigators.org/?page_id=13, accessed 1.12.2017.
4 Global Fund Code of Conduct for Suppliers (15.12.2009), § 17-18, available at:https://www.theglobalfund.org/media/3275/corporate_codeofconductforsuppliers_policy_en.pdf, and the Code of Conduct for
Recipients of Global Fund Resources (16.07.2012), §1.1 and 2.3, available at:
https://www.theglobalfund.org/media/6011/corporate_codeofconductforrecipients_policy_en.pdf. Note: Grants are typically subject to
either the Global Fund’s Standard Terms and Conditions of the Program Grant Agreement, or to the Grant Regulations (2014), which
incorporate the Code of Conduct for Recipients and mandate use of the Code of Conduct for Suppliers. Terms may vary however in
certain grant agreements.10 July 2018
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use of funds are also within the scope of work of the OIG.5 While the OIG does not typically have a
direct relationship with the Secretariat’s or with recipient suppliers, its scope 6 encompasses their
activities regarding the provision of goods and services. To fulfill its mandate, the OIG needs the full
cooperation of these suppliers to access documents and officials.7Sanctions when prohibited practices are identified: When the investigation identifies
prohibited practices, the Global Fund has the right to seek the refund of grant funds compromised
by the related contractual breach. The OIG has a fact-finding role and does not determine how the
Global Fund will enforce its rights, nor does it make judicial decisions or issue sanctions. 8 The
Secretariat determines what management actions or contractual remedies to take, in response to the
investigation findings.However, the investigation will quantify the extent of any non-compliant expenditures, including
amounts the OIG proposes as recoverable. This proposed figure is based on:(i) amounts, for which there is no reasonable assurance about delivery of goods or services
(unsupported expenses, fraudulent expenses, or otherwise irregular expenses without
assurance of delivery);
(ii) amounts which constitute over pricing between the price paid and comparable market
price for such goods or services; or
(iii) amounts incurred outside of the scope of the grant, for good and services not included in
the approved work plans and budgets or expenditures over approved budgets.How the Global Fund prevents recurrence of fraud: Following an investigation, the OIG and
Secretariat agree on management actions that will mitigate the risks of prohibited practices to the
Global Fund and its recipients’ activities. The OIG may make referrals to national authorities for
criminal prosecutions or other violations of national laws, and supports such authorities as necessary
throughout the process, as appropriate.5 Charter of the Office of the Inspector General (19.03.2013), § 2, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7 and 9.9 available at:
https://www.theglobalfund.org/media/3026/oig_officeofinspectorgeneral_charter_en.pdf
6 Charter of the Office of the Inspector General § 2, and 17.7 Global Fund Code of Conduct for Suppliers, § 16-19
8 Charter of the Office of the Inspector General § 8.1
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Annex B: Summary of OIG identified non-compliant
expenditures
Unsupported expenditures charged to Round 8 malaria grantType of expenditure No. of Expenditures Value (US$)
Per Diem Local Staff 153 55,659.38
Local Transportation 51 23,428.81
Program Related Training 89 20,077.82
Housing Allowance 2 4,095.31
Shipping & Handling 2 2,666.94
Communication (tele, fax, internet) 2 2,025.72
Rent-Office 2 1,888.84
Bank Charges 10 1,076.34
Supplies, Communications, Other 26 853.29
Vehicle Costs 4 677.67
Utilities 4 326.37
Contract Services 1 322.77
Postage & Delivery 2 251.10
Other/Misc. 4 190.44
Office Supplies 1 129.93
Visa/Travel Fees/Baggage 2 94.74
Computer Accessories 2 41.98
Copying & Printing 1 1.71Sub-total 358 113,809.16
Inadequately supported and non-compliant expenditures charged to the R8 grant
(1 January 2014 to 31 March 2015)Type of non-compliance No. of Expenditures Value (US$)
Inadequate supporting documents 68 43,644.60
Incorrectly charged to the Global Fund 9 13,336.46
Excise Duty charged to the Global Fund 1 2,590.09
Goods and Services Tax charged to the Global Fund 19 2,300.14
Cancelled expenditures but not reversed in accounts 2 137.13
Sub-total 99 62,008.42
Total 457 175,817.5810 July 2018
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