Southern manpower development project : was strengthening the human resource base in agriculture in Southern Sudan

Audit report covers the period 8/78-8/82 and is based on document review, site visits, and discussions with Government of Sudan (GOS) and USAID/S officials and personnel of the contractor, Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI). While the majority of project outputs are being achieved, DAI has not fulfilled its responsibilities in a number of areas. In violation of A.I.D. procurement regulations, DAI purchased laboratory and agricultural equipment and chemicals valued at $84,000 from unauthorized countries without obtaining a source and origin waiver. DAI also imprudently allowed a GOS employee to purchase spare parts for his automobile, duty free, through the project. DAI did not submit progress reports semiannually as required, and the reports submitted did not compare actual to planned outputs, making it impossible for specific accomplishments to be determined. Correspondingly, USAID/S did not fulfill its project monitoring responsibilities by requiring progress reports from DAI. Control by DAI of $2.5 million of A.I.D. commodities was inadequate; fuel distribution records were not periodically reconciled to fuel authorizations and regular commodity inventories were not conducted. One result of poor commodity control was the loss to theft or vandalism of 73 bicycles valued at $10,052. USAID/S did not document contributions to the project and thus was unable to determine whether or not the GOS has fulfilled its commitment to contribute 25% of project costs. Finally, an agreement was reached with the GOS to allow staff from other A.I.D. projects to occupy housing constructed for but not used by project personnel. Five recommendations address the above-noted problems.