Lead Inspector General Quarterly Progress Report on U.S. Government Activities International Ebola Response and Preparedness

Response efforts, including those by the U.S. Government, contributed to a reduction in the incidence of the disease, with no active cases reported at the end of the reporting period. The U.S. Government applied a whole-of-government approach to respond to the outbreak, involving several Federal departments and agencies. These efforts initially focused on controlling the outbreak and now include activities intended to address its second-order effects, build coherent leadership and operations, and strengthen global health security. During the quarter, these activities took place against a backdrop of declining Ebola incidence, enabling agencies to shift their focus from response to recovery and the longer-term sustainability of health and economic programs. The U.S. Government has reported approximately $2.468 billion in obligations toward international Ebola response, recovery, and preparedness efforts. The Offices of Inspector General (OIGs) for the Department of Defense (DoD), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of State (DOS) have worked together to ensure independent and comprehensive oversight of related U.S. Government funds, activities, and programs. The OIGs for DoD, DOS, and USAID formed a collaborative partnership under the auspices of a lead inspector general designated from among the three OIGs to provide oversight of designated overseas contingency operations. This arrangement offers a comprehensive and synchronized oversight and reporting framework. As part of its contribution as Associate Inspector General, USAID OIG has assumed primary responsibility for developing this report and its content, which reflects input from all three OIGs mentioned above, as well as from the OIG for HHS. The U.S. Government's strategy for addressing the outbreak includes activities such as Operation United Assistance (OUA), the DoD mission to help combat Ebola virus disease in West Africa. The report provides background on the Ebola virus and the progression of the West Africa outbreak during this period, as well as its secondary effects on the three countries primarily affected – Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It also describes oversight, coordination, and planning work undertaken by the respective OIGs. The report covers the period from July 1, 2015, to September 30, 2015, and meets quarterly reporting requirements to Congress established under Section 8L of the Inspector General (IG) Act of 1978, as amended. Section 8L authorities and requirements under the IG Act relating to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa concluded at the end of fiscal year 2015, making this the last Lead IG quarterly report on the Ebola outbreak.