OIG Report on Staffing Ukraine Response Recognizes Efforts and Human Aspects of Operating in a War Zone

USAID’s OIG conducted an audit of the agency’s staffing for its response to the war in Ukraine, noting that program funding increased  224% from February 2022 to April 2023 ($1.1 billion to $3.7 billion) while staffing shrunk 58% from pre-invasion levels. The report is almost laudatory in recognizing the challenges and measures taken. There were no recommendations. The report listed the following as key to USAID’s response:

• Implementation of workplace flexibilities, such as staff rotations and extended temporary duty status • Pursuit of alternative workspace
• Expansion of third-party monitoring of USAID programming
• Rapid deployment of the Disaster Assistance Response Team
• Surge and contractor staff support
• Priority bidding to fill Foreign Service Officer positions
• Strategic workforce planning that resulted in 50 new mission positions
• Transition seminar for outgoing and incoming mission staff.

Contractors played a key role in quickly mobilizing Mission support (e.g., technical advisors, procurement, and travel specialists), expanded DART team membership, and third-party monitoring in less permissive areas.

Read the OIG announcement and report here.