Afghan First Initiative has Placed Work with Afghan Companies, but is Affected by Inconsistent Contract Solicitation and Vetting, and Employment Data is Limited
Abstract
The Afghan First Initiative (AFI) supports U.S. counterinsurgency objectives by supporting Afghan companies in order to increase Afghan employment. The Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the Department of Defense (DOD) to limit competition to Afghan products, services, and sources. In 2010, further guidance was issued to agencies which encourage local procurement contracting for the purpose of improving the Afghan economy by building Afghan leadership, participation, capacity, and sustainability. This report assesses (1) how agencies identified and documented that Afghan companies were eligible for AFI, (2) progress made on selected contracts with Afghan companies, and (3) how agencies were measuring progress towards AFIs overall goal of increasing employment. To accomplish these objectives, SIGAR met with contracting officials from DOD, the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Afghan contractors and manufacturers. SIGAR limited its review to the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund, the Economic Support Fund, and other reconstruction funds. SIGAR reviewed 29 AFI construction contracts and conducted 10 site inspections to determine compliance with contract terms. SIGAR conducted work from March 2011 to December 2011 in seven provinces in Afghanistan, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2012
- Accession Number
- AD1141095
Entities
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction