INTERIM AUDIT REPORT : FY 1971 PL-480 TITLE 2 EMERGENCY RELIEF, GRAIN STABILIZATION PROGRAMS : MALI, UPPER VOLTA, SENEGAL AND NIGER (MAY 24-JUNE 11, 1971)

EXAMINES EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION & DEGREE OF COMPLIANCE WITH AID POLICIES & REGULATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH PHYSICAL TRANSFER OF COMMODITIES TO FINAL RECIPIENTS,EXCLUDING SALES PROCEEDS. EXAMINATION INCLUDED REVIEW OF AVAILABLE RECORDS IN THE FIELD,SITE & COMMODITY INSPECTIONS,& INTERVIEWS WITH PERSONNEL IN THE HOST COUNTRIES & IVORY COAST (TRANSFER POINT TO UPPER VOLTA). EVALUATION DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS GENERAL COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE REGULATIONS,POLICIES & PROCEDURES. AMONG ACTUAL & POTENTIAL PROBLEMS NOTED BY EVALUATORWERE LACK OF FINAL SHIPMENT DATES IN COMMODITY TRANSFER AUTHORIZATIONS TO PREVENT ARRIVAL OF EMERGENCY FOOD SHIPMENTS AFTER AN EMERGENCY HAD ENDED; THERE WAS LACK OF AID POLICY GOVERNING ACCEPTABLE POINTS OF ENTRY INTO LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES,& LACK OF U.S. TECHNICIAN MONITORSHIP OF IN-COUNTRY DISTRIBUTIONS. THERE WERE VARIATIONS IN FUNDING ESTIMATES,SLOW RECEIPT OF COMMODITIES IN MALI & UPPER VOLTA,INSUFFICIENT FUNDS AUTHORIZED FOR TRASNPORT COSTS FOR UPPER VOLTA & DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN PALNNED & ACTUAL TIMING OF DELIVERIES, AMOUNTS TO BE SOLD & SALES PROCEEDS. EVALUATOR FOUND A DOUBTFUL NEED FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF IN NIGER. AN INAPPROPRIATE COMMODITY WAS FURNISHED (RED INSTEAD OF WHITE SORGHUM) & ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION WERE NOT EXPLORED. EVALUATOR RECOMMENDS CUT-OFF DATES FOR DROUGHT ASSISTANCE, A FORMAL POLICY FOR POINTS OF ENTRY INTO LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES & U.S.MONITORING OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN SENEGAL, MALI & UPPER VOLTA DURING JULY-SEPT.1971. REDUCTION IS RECOMMENDED IN GRAIN SHIPMENTS TO MALI & UPPER VOLTA TO A VOLUME LIKELY TO BE DISTRIBUTED BEFORE THE NEXT HARVEST. ALSO RECOMMENDED IS AN INCREASE IN FUNDS FOR INLAND TRANSPORTATION COSTS IN UPPER VOLTA.