ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT FOR GLOBAL FUND ACTIVITIES

UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000735

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
ACCRA FOR USAID/WA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PGOV SOCI TBIO MR
SUBJECT: ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT FOR GLOBAL FUND ACTIVITIES
IN MAURITANIA

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 00000577


1. (SBU) Summary. Following the announcement of
Mauritania's suspension from the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS
grants, a recent internal United Nations Development Program
audit of the Mauritanian Global Fund grants for tuberculosis
and malaria indicates that these funds have also been
improperly dispersed. The Global Fund has immediately
suspended Mauritania from the Global Fund malaria and
tuberculosis programs and commenced an internal audit of
these funds. Mauritania is now in suspended status for all
three of the Global Fund grant programs.


2. (SBU) In September 2009, Mauritania was suspended from
the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS due to evidence of financial
mismanagement by the Executive Secretariat of Mauritania's
National AIDS Committee (REFTEL A). Following this
announcement, the Mauritanian office of the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP),the primary recipient of Global
Fund grants for malaria and tuberculosis in Mauritania
commenced their own internal audit of Global Fund expenses.
The UNDP audit uncovered many severe financial irregularities
concerning Global Fund disbursements in Mauritania.


3. (SBU) Effective immediately, the two remaining Global
Fund grant programs in Mauritania (tuberculosis and malaria)
have been suspended by the Global Fund Board of Directors
until a complete Global Fund audit can be completed. The
financial irregularities cover a five-year span of funding
and indicate that many of the subcontractors of UNDP
falsified expenditure documentation. This is the first time
that a single country has had all three Global Fund programs
(HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) suspended simultaneously.


4. (SBU) There has been no estimate of lost funds, but the
Global Fund's Office of the Inspector General is in the
process of opening a complete investigation and the UNDP has
ceased all current and future cash disbursements for
tuberculosis and malaria grants. Provisions are in place to
allow for the continuation of life-saving medications and
treatments during the investigation.


5. (SBU) This announcement has not yet been made public,
but is certain to cause embarrassment and challenges for the
Mauritanian government, NGOs and the local population alike.
The Global Fund grants for the fight against HIV/AIDS in
Mauritania were mostly in place to prevent Mauritania's
relatively manageable HIV/AIDS problem from growing. However,
tuberculosis and malaria are serious threats to current
public health in Mauritania. The grants currently suspended
for tuberculosis and malaria provided significant funding for
public health and prevention campaigns. The grant suspension
will be immediately felt by those NGOs and governmental
offices working in this domain. As a respected international
organization, it is particularly worrisome that the UNDP
grants have been tainted by these serious charges of
financial irregularity.


6. (SBU) It should be noted that the GIRM had a swift and
thorough reaction to the corruption charges levied against
the Executive Secretariat of Mauritania's National AIDS
Committee. While the newest charges span a five-year period
and multiple administrations, it will be interesting to watch
the GIRM's response. The newest charges have been uncovered
just weeks after the GIRM announced its new, and quite
ambitious plan outlining a national strategy to combat
corruption in Mauritania. The GIRM's level of cooperation
into the investigation of these charges may provide an
indication of the government's determination, and more
importantly, its ability to fight corruption.
BOULWARE