Rohingya Crisis: Ongoing Challenges Limit USAID's Ability to Move From Humanitarian to Development Assistance

Submitting OIG:

U.S. Agency for International Development OIG

Date Issued:

Friday, January 19, 2024

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

U.S. Agency for International Development

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

5-000-24-001-P

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
5-000-24-001-P.pdf	2.2 MB

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation	Additional Details
1	Open
We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions:_x000D_ 1. In line with USAID’s Policy Framework, USAID/Bangladesh, in coordination with the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, design and implement a plan to increase collaboration with other development organizations and donors to improve the long-term living conditions of the Rohingya and address protracted development challenges.
2	Open
We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions: _x000D_ 2. USAID/Bangladesh implement the May 2022 internal assessment recommendation to develop a plan to improve livelihood opportunities for host communities.
3	Open
We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions: _x000D_ 3. USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance identify and implement options for providing long-term funding arrangements for humanitarian assistance activities in Bangladesh.
4	Open
We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions:_x000D_ 4. USAID/Bureau for Asia, as the geographic bureau responsible for the missions in Bangladesh and Burma, coordinate with USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and assess the need to develop and communicate an overall Agency strategy for the Rohingya crisis response with clearly defined end goals, specific and measurable outcomes, clear roles and responsibilities, and a roadmap for achieving those goals.
5	Open
We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions:_x000D_ 5. USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, and USAID/Burma assess their ability to engage directly with more local nongovernmental organizations in Bangladesh and Burma, to include what may be needed to build their organizational capacity to responsibly manage USAID funds.
6	Open
We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions:_x000D_ 6. USAID/Bangladesh and USAID/Burma develop and implement a plan that identifies sustainable, alternative options for sufficient mission staffing.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions:_x000D_ 1. In line with USAID’s Policy Framework, USAID/Bangladesh, in coordination with the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, design and implement a plan to increase collaboration with other development organizations and donors to improve the long-term living conditions of the Rohingya and address protracted development challenges.

Open

We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions: _x000D_ 2. USAID/Bangladesh implement the May 2022 internal assessment recommendation to develop a plan to improve livelihood opportunities for host communities.

Open

We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions: _x000D_ 3. USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance identify and implement options for providing long-term funding arrangements for humanitarian assistance activities in Bangladesh.

Open

We recommend that the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and USAID Bureau for Asia take the following actions:_x000D_ 4. USAID/Bureau for Asia, as the geographic bureau responsible for the missions in Bangladesh and Burma, coordinate with USAID/Bangladesh, USAID/Burma, and the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and assess the need to develop and communicate an overall Agency strategy for the Rohingya crisis response with clearly defined end goals, specific and measurable outcomes, clear roles and responsibilities, and a roadmap for achieving those goals.