Audit of The Gambia agricultural research and diversification project

Audit covers the period 6/85-9/89. The project has made only limited progress in institutionalizing an agricultural research management system in The Gambia, the major problem being the Government of The Gambia"s (GOTG) inability to assign counterpart personnel. In fact, ten professional positions within The Gambia"s agricultural research system are currently vacant, six of which are absolutely essential for an even marginally effective system. The GOTG has made extensive efforts to recruit personnel, but a shortage of qualified applicants combined with unattractive pay scales have kept the positions vacant. Moreover, the GOTG is under pressure from international lending agencies to prune its civil service. Other shortcomings with respect to the project"s progress toward its planned outputs include the following: inadequately equipped and maintained research facilities; failure to document the results of the project"s promotional campaigns; and lack of systematic communication between researchers and extensionists. In addition to the above, financial controls on the part of the contractor, the University of Wisconsin, are seriously deficient, allowing ineligible contractor billings, idle project equipment, and inaccurate and unreliable inventory records. Furthermore, instances of fraud were uncovered in the procurement area, including nonexistent vendors and fraudulent reimbursements of claims. These irregularities were confirmed by the Regional Inspector General for Investigations and criminal prosecution of a project employee is possible. Given these disturbing conditions, it is recommended that the project be redirected and modified to focus on activities and objectives that it can reasonably expect to accomplish during the remaining two years of the project.