Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction: Quarterly Report to the United States Congress
Abstract
I am pleased to submit to Congress, and the Secretaries of State and Defense, SIGAR's 30thquarterly report on the status of the U.S. reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. This quarterly report focuses on the Afghan economy, but as the essay in Section 1, "Growing an Economy in Stony Ground," concludes, developing Afghanistan's economy may depend more on improving security, the business climate, and the educational system than on implementing specific economic programs. However, in this reporting period, Afghanistan proved even more dangerous than it was a year ago. The Taliban now controls more territory than at any time since 2001. Vicious and repeated attacks in Kabul this quarter shook confidence in the national-unity government. A year after the Coalition handed responsibility for Afghan security to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), American and British forces were compelled on several occasions to support ANDSF troops in combat against the Taliban. The lack of security has made it almost impossible for many U.S. and even some Afghan officials to get out to manage and inspect U.S.-funded reconstruction projects. This quarter the dangers of absent oversight were exposed when a task force appointed by President Ashraf Ghani reportedly found that millions of dollars were being embezzled while Afghanistan pays for numerous nonexistent "ghost" schools, "ghost" teachers, and "ghost" students. Notwithstanding these obstacles, SIGAR, the largest U.S. oversight organization in Afghanistan, has managed to continue its work of overseeing U.S. programs and projects, partly through the creative use of local Afghan national staff. This quarter, SIGAR issued 11 audits, inspections, alert letters, and other products. SIGAR work to date has saved over $2 billion for the U.S. taxpayer. A SIGAR performance audit examined the United States $488 million effort to develop Afghanistans oil, mineral, and gas industries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 30, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1140096
Entities
People
- John Sopko
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction