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noirexpat.bsky.social
@noirexpat.bsky.social
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noirexpat.bsky.social
What is wrong with you!!!
March 14, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Reposted
nycsouthpaw.bsky.social
Just gonna put a copy here in case it doesn’t stay up long
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL U.S. Agency for International Development Oversight of USAID-Funded Humanitarian Assistance Programming Impacted by Staffing Reductions and Pause on Foreign Assistance February 10, 2025 [cover photo of usaid boxes on netted pallets] Introduction The United States Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG), through its investigations and audits, conducts independent oversight of USAID's programs and personnel. Our oversight work includes reviews of the Agency's controls over its humanitarian assistance funding. For example, in July 2024, we published a report identifying shortcomings and vulnerabilities in USAID's oversight mechanisms to prevent diversion of aid to U.S.-designated terrorist organizations in Gaza. Similarly, in late January 2025, we issued a memorandum highlighting challenges and potential "fixes" to ensure enhanced accountability of foreign assistance funding, including humanitarian assistance programs funded by USAID but implemented by United Nations agencies. In this alert, we identify risks and challenges to the safeguarding and distribution of USAID's $8.2 billion in obligated but undisbursed humanitarian assistance funds following (I) the Department of State's pause on foreign assistance programs and (2) subsequent personnel actions by USAID that have substantially reduced the operational capacity of its Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). Background On January 24, 2025, the Secretary of State ordered a pause in all new obligations of foreign assistance funding pending an 85-day review of United States foreign assistance programs.' The Secretary additionally ordered contracting and grant officers to issue stop-work orders for all existing foreign assistance awards.? As such, all USAID programs were suspended, including those with funds already obligated and disbursed. The Secretary's January 24 order contained an initial waiver for "emergency food assistance." Four days later, the Secretary issued a waiver for disbursements under existing "lifesaving humanitarian assistance" programs, defined as "life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as… Personnel Actions Reduce the Operational Capacity of USAID Staff Responsible for Humanitarian Assistance Programs USAID employs approximately 10,000 staff, with approximately two-thirds posted at the Agency's more than 60 missions overseas. BHA is the Agency bureau responsible for providing humanitarian assistance-including food, water, shelter, emergency healthcare, sanitation and hygiene, and critical nutrition services. According to BHA, prior to the personnel actions over the past 2 weeks, the bureau employed approximately 1,089 staff: 741 U.S. Direct Hires and Personal Services Contractors (197 posted overseas with the remaining 544 posted in Washington, DC), and 348 Institutional Support Contractors who, while employed by private contractors, essentially function like regular staff. On February 4, 2025, USAID notified its entire workforce that they would be placed on paid administrative leave beginning February 8 with limited exceptions. At the same time, BHA staff began reporting sudden loss of access to USAID email and information technology (IT) systems. On February 7, based on disabled user account information, BHA leadership identified approximately 535 Direct Hires and Personal Service Contractors who had been placed on administrative leave but expected the number of sidelined staff to increase to just over 600 later that day. Hundreds of BHA's Institutional Support Contractors were furloughed the week before by their private employer. Collectively, executed and planned personnel actions would remove, temporarily or permanently, approximately 90 percent of BHA's worldwide workforce. Existing waivers issued by the Department of State account for lifesaving humanitarian assistance programming should allow the flow of what BHA identifies as $8.2 billion in undisbursed obligations. However, BHA staff reductions, together with a lack of clarity about the scope of the humanitarian assistance waivers and the extent of permissible communications between BHA staf… Disruptions to the Delivery of Humanitarian Aid Place U.S.-Funded Commodities at Risk of Diversion and Spoilage While initial guidance following the pause in foreign assistance funding provided a waiver for emergency food assistance, shipments of in-kind food assistance have been delayed around the world. USAID-funded implementers face conflicting instructions, and USAID staff express concerns about potentially circumventing the restrictions on external communications by providing clarifying guidance. According to USAID staff, this uncertainty put more than $489 million of food assistance at ports, in transit, and in warehouses at risk of spoilage, unanticipated storage needs, and diversion. As a routine matter, USAID pre-positions emergency food aid in BHA warehouses around the world, including approximately 29,000 metric tons in Houston, Texas, valued at nearly $39 million, more than 40,000 metric tons in a warehouse in Djibouti in East Africa valued at $40 million, and over 10,000 metric tons in a South African warehouse valued at $10 million. All BHA warehouses have pre-positioned emergency food aid commodities supplied by U.S. manufacturers and American farmers, as required by law. Moreover, USAID staff identified over 500,000 additional metric tons of food currently at sea or ready to be shipped. The food is sourced from American farmers pursuant to Title Il Food for Peace (the longest standing permanent program for international in-kind food aid, administered by USAID) and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding. Because this funding source was not included under the Secretary's emergency food assistance waiver,? these commodities were held in limbo, subjecting them to spoilage, unanticipated storage needs, and potential diversion. Recent Directives Have Curtailed USAID's Ability to Vet Humanitarian Assistance Awards for Potential Terrorist Ties and Monitor Aid Deliveries in High-Risk Environments The pause in funding and reductions in staff, including ove…
February 10, 2025 at 9:18 PM
noirexpat.bsky.social
I've also heard mixed reviews. However, given the dramatic changes occurring in the US, I am extremely interested in the US Black exodus to other countries. The countries I see the most often coming up are Mexico, Canada, Panama, and Portugal.
November 25, 2024 at 10:08 AM