Our report contains 13 recommendations directed to the post and headquarters. We recommend that the post improve controls related to Volunteer bank account closure, billing and collection, and imprest funds. Additionally, we recommend that headquarters strengthen internal controls related to the administration of financial-system user roles and issue medical guidelines to comply with host country laws.

Following the death of a Peace Corps/Ghana Volunteer, we conducted a review to assess the sufficiency of Volunteer training and Volunteer housing procedures to mitigate the risk of future accidents involving gas tanks used for cooking. Our report contains 4 recommendations to improve the agency's actions regarding gas cooking safety.

OIG conducted the audit of Peace Corps/Ghana from July 15, 2019 to August 2, 2019. Our overall objective in auditing overseas posts is to determine whether the financial and administrative operations are functioning effectively and in compliance with Peace Corps policies and Federal regulations. The post’s financial and administrative operations required improvement to comply with agency policies and applicable Federal laws and regulations. Our report contains 52 recommendations directed to both the post and headquarters. Our recommendations included strengthening controls over managing imprest funds, Volunteer payments, property accountability, grants management, security certifications, financial management system access, and bill of collections; ensuring that contracts are adequately executed, and purchases are adequately authorized.

Our report contains 13 recommendations directed to the post and headquarters. We recommend that the post improve controls related to Volunteer health information, billing and collection, and imprest fund. Additionally, we recommend that headquarters revise policies and procedures related to the distribution of medical supplies to Volunteers, as well as administration of financial-system user roles.

The Office of Inspector General conducted a program evaluation of Peace Corps/Eastern Caribbean from December 2 through December 20, 2019. Our report contains 14 recommendations, which, if implemented, should strengthen post operations and correct the deficiencies detailed in the accompanying report.

This semiannual report informs Congress of the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General's work for October 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020.

The Office of Inspector General's annual plan revision outlines changes to our FY 2020 Annual Plan due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objectives of this audit were to assess whether the Peace Corps complied with the IPERA reporting requirements and provided adequate disclosure within the annual AFR and accompanying materials. In addition, we also evaluated the accuracy and completeness of the agency’s reporting.

This evaluation issued 22 recommendations to address findings in the areas of leadership, collaboration, staffing, site management, Volunteer safety and security support, and Volunteer administrative support. We did not have any findings in the areas of programming, training, or Volunteer health support.

The purpose of this report is to bring to your attention needed improvements that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) identified while reviewing the implementation of Peace Corps PEPFAR Financial Guidance. For this review, we assessed how overseas posts followed the Peace Corps’ guidance when using the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding for payments. Our review found that the Peace Corps does not have adequate policy, procedures, and guidance to ensure that PEPFAR funds received by the Peace Corps are appropriately managed. Further, we found that the Peace Corps is not adequately complying with the limited PEPFAR guidance it has promulgated.

This evaluation assessed Peace Corps/Panama operations in the following areas: programming, training, site management, Volunteer health, Volunteer safety, administration, communication and collaboration, and staffing. The report made 14 recommendations, which, if implemented, should strengthen post operations and correct the deficiencies detailed in the report.

This semiannual report informs Congress of the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General's work for April 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019.

The objectives of this performance audit were to assess the completeness, timeliness, quality, and accuracy of Fiscal Year 2019, First Quarter financial and award data submitted for publication on USAspending.gov in accordance with the DATA Act and to assess the Peace Corps’ compliance with use of the Government-wide financial data standards established by the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of the Treasury. While the Peace Corps’ FY 2019, Q1 DATA Act submission was of high quality, the agency lacks a comprehensive data quality plan outlining the risks and what mitigating controls it has in place to demonstrate that data submitted is of high quality.

These challenges illustrate the most significant areas the Office of Inspector General (OIG) believes need improvement for the Peace Corps to effectively manage its resources and minimize the potential for fraud, waste, and abuse occurring in its operations. Addressing the issues related to these challenge areas will enable the agency to increase operational efficiencies and improve mission effectiveness.