Evaluation of Peace Corps / North Macedonia

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Date Issued

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Submitting OIG

Peace Corps OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Peace Corps

Report Number

IG - 26 - 01 - E

Report Description

The OIG conducted a program evaluation of Peace Corps/North Macedonia from December 2024 through June 2025. Our objectives were to determine the post's effectiveness and compliance in the areas of Volunteer health and safety, project activities, training and support, and leadership. We found that the post met its project objectives and effectively supported Volunteers, with programming aligned to host country needs and substantial compliance with site management standards. However, we found issues with underdeveloped Volunteer assignments at some sites, lack of a sustainable backup coverage for safety and security staff, inefficient healthcare support processes, and gaps in cross-unit communication. The report contains 10 recommendations focused on strengthening partner engagement, improving safety and security coverage, enhancing medication procurement, assessing and supporting health unit capacity, and improving staff morale.

Report Type

Inspection / Evaluation

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Report updated under NDAA 5274

Open Recommendations

This report has 10 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	Yes	$0	$0
The Director of Programming and Training ensures that Community and Economic Development programming staff increase engagement and consultation with ministry and Non-Governmental Organization partners during site development, whereby the role of the Volunteer is made clear.
2	Yes	$0	$0
The Country Director ensures a second backup Safety and Security Manager completes all mandatory training and begins recurrent on-call phone rotations with the Safety and Security Manager.
3	Yes	$0	$0
The Office of Management assesses the effectiveness and long-term viability of the three actions Post Logistics and Support Division has taken to address procurement inefficiencies and use the results to improve or implement alternative actions, if necessary.
4	Yes	$0	$0
The Post Logistics and Support Division ensures that the refund action for receipt of short - dated medications is clearly documented.
5	Yes	$0	$0
The Peace Corps Director establishes a procedural framework and implementation process for posts managing health unit operations in other posts or countries that includes: 1) risk assessment and corresponding mitigation strategies for high-risk areas; 2) substantial oversight; and 3) periodic reassessments, in consultation with the Office of Health Services.
6	Yes	$0	$0
The Office of Health Services and the Office of Global Operations collect and analyze medical resource accommodation data across Peace Corps, and report biannually to the Deputy Director, to help inform health unit capacity and determine where health units may require additional support.
7	Yes	$0	$0
The Office of Health Services, in collaboration with the Country Director and Peace Corps Medical Officers, assesses the workload impact of medical resource accommodations and how many can be reasonably supported in Peace Corps/North Macedonia with existing resources.
8	Yes	$0	$0
The Director of Management and Operations, in consultation with the Country Director, establishes and executes a plan to reinstate awards with clearly defined criteria and transparent communication protocols that ensure shared understanding of the reason for recognition.
9	Yes	$0	$0
The Office of Health Servies reviews the efforts of the health unit in North Macedonia to determine any appropriate recognition.
10	Yes	$0	$0
The Country Director re-engages health unit staff through regular check-ins, a visible leadership presence, and creates structured opportunities for staff feedback and collaboration.