USAID. OFC. OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. REGIONAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR AUDIT. BONN
Audit of the Department of Labor"s technical assistance activities in Poland
Audits $6 million in TA provided through the Department of Labor (DOL), mostly by contractors and grantees, to help Poland to solve its growing unemployment problems, including $2.3 million provided to the AFL-CIO to establish construction crafts skills training centers in Warsaw and Gydnia; $270,000 to the American Polish Labor Center for operational expenses; and $600,000 to the Solidarity Economic Foundation and Ohio State University for a self-employment and entrepreneurial training program.
1993
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Abstract
The audit covers the period 1990-6/93. Key targets have been achieved. The AFL-CIO has established the Praga Construction Crafts Skills Training Center in a Warsaw suburb. All of the Center"s approximately 350 graduates have found employment and some have established their own businesses. In addition, the Solidarity Economic Foundation and Ohio State University have implemented the Self-Employment and Entrepreneurial Skills Training Program, and 570 of 4,000 graduates have started their own businesses. Finally, new employment services concepts have been introduced at two model employment service offices in Gdansk and Szczecin, and some of these concepts are being applied in other employment offices throughout Poland. Despite these achievements, DOL efforts could be improved, particularly in the area of sustainability. The Construction Skills Training Centers have yet to develop financial plans that would ensure their survival after DOL funding is terminated. The Self-employment and Entrepreneurial Skills Training Program did not offer its graduates follow-up TA or start-up business financing. The area of employment services lacked specific objectives or progress indicators, making it difficult to measure results. The role of the American Polish Labor Center was not well-defined, and it is difficult to determine whether or not the Center warrants further funding. Finally, the AID/Representative"s oversight role was limited due to the extensive involvement of the Embassy"s Labor Attache, who did, however, keep the Representative informed of the DOL"s activities. The DOL"s Office of Foreign Relations found the findings of the audit to be overly negative in tone. The Office felt that its efforts were among the most successful of U.S. efforts in Poland to date, particularly since they were implemented with minimal funding and A.I.D. oversight, under hostile conditions and four different Labor Ministers, and during bureaucratic infighting and turf battles in the D.C. and Warsaw A.I.D. offices. Nonetheless, the DOL Office generally concurred with audit findings and is taking actions to address audit recommendations.
