IFRC: MONITORING AND EVALUATION ASSESSMENT

UNCLAS AMMAN 000410

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/ANE, GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF EAID UNHCR IZ JO
SUBJECT: IFRC: MONITORING AND EVALUATION ASSESSMENT
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT SPRMCO08VC048


1. (SBU) RefCoord met with Ahmed Gizo, Regional Director
for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Organizations (IFRC) in Amman on January 26, 2009 to
discuss IFRC's work, under PRM-funded agreement, with the
Jordanian Red Crescent (JRC) primary health clinics in
Jordan. IFRC implements its health care programs through JRC
and was working to improve management controls, and
facilities within the organization. Gizo said that JRC
showed weakness in financial management, as well as in
control and monitoring of projects and resources. According
to Gizo, the professional JRC staff had insufficient control
of the activities of volunteers and professionals, such as
private doctors who worked in cooperation with the JRC. IFRC
was working with JRC to correct these shortcomings, but JRC
was not yet prepared to monitor and control projects without
IFRC intervention.


2. (SBU) Gizo explained that JRC professional staff was not
sufficiently rigorous in their management controls to allow
them to implement refugee assistance projects without IFRC
guidance. Accountants and program managers were hired by JRC
and trained/supervised by IFRC to monitor the progress of the
projects and to report irregularities to JRC leadership. At
every level of project management, IFRC worked in cooperation
with JRC, taking a supervisory role when appropriate. For
example, invoices for medical supplies were collected by JRC
staff and double checked by IFRC before IFRC comptrollers
reimbursed JRC field operations.


3. (SBU) Although Gizo found no evidence of wrongdoing in
JRC's operations, he said that the lack of effective
management controls opened the door to possible abuse or
mistakes. IFRC took steps to ensure that donor funds were
properly managed and accounted for by monitoring all JRC
operations. IFRC information technology staff was working
with JRC to create accounting procedures and to include JRC
medical service statistics in the beneficiary information
system (BIS),which is the UNHCR database used to track
treatment and medication given Iraqi patients. IFRC was also
working to integrate JRC data into the Jordanian national
health information system. Gizo hoped that use of these two
databases would allow JRC to more consistently monitor
resources and services. Gizo said that JRC leadership
appeared to be willing to accept IFRC assistance, but that
the process required IFRC to provide close supervision of JRC
staff.


4. (SBU) In his assessment of JRC work, Gizo said the branch
offices throughout Jordan were strong, with good, well-
trained employees. Gizo saw considerable advantage in
working with JRC's local network of volunteers and in calling
on the local knowledge of the heads of offices outside of
Amman. Gizo gave local JRC offices high grades when
administering core Red Crescent activities such as first-aid
training, emergency response, and distribution of short-term
material assistance. He said that offices outside Amman were
most effective when responding autonomously to local
emergencies. Gizo said that Iraqi patients reported
satisfaction with JRC medical staff and clinics.


5. (SBU) Comment: In subsequent conversations with the
French and German Red Cross offices in Jordan (to be reported
septel),RefCoord learned that IFRC was looking into serious
allegations of fraudulent billing and other misconduct by JRC
staff. The European Union Humanitarian Organization, ECHO
took these allegations seriously and planned to end its
relationship with JRC after 2008-2009 projects are completed.
Gizo made no mention of these allegations. Although none of
the allegations against JRC have become formal
investigations, RefCoord can not recommend that PRM partners
seek sub-agreements with JRC that put USG resources or
funding into the JRC management system. In future evaluation
of IFRC-Jordan health care programs, RefCoord will closely
examine management and financial control systems. End
comment.

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