Civilian uplift key to U.S. transition strategy in Afghanistan
Arlington, Va. - The U.S. civilian uplift in Afghanistan has cost taxpayers nearly $2 billion since 2009 and faces significant challenges going forward, including budget uncertainty and an absence of details on the expected size of the civilian presence in future years, according to a joint audit released today by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction and the State Department's Office of Inspector General.
Auditors specifically found that it costs taxpayers $410,000 to $570,000 to deploy one civilian employee to Afghanistan for one year, and that the number of civilians deployed to Afghanistan has nearly tripled since 2009, to 1,040 as of June. The audit also concluded that the State Department has not taken sufficient steps to ensure that funds transferred to other agencies for civilian uplift are used for their intended purposes.
"This joint audit marks the first time any U.S. agencies have determined the costs of this important effort," said Steven J. Trent, Acting Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. "The recommendations we make will help strengthen the program and better protect the investment of American taxpayers."
Background:
A key element of U.S. strategy for Afghanistan is an expanded civilian-led effort to build Afghan governing capacity at all levels, improve the rule of law and support sustainable economic growth. Since early 2009, U.S. agencies have nearly tripled the number of civilians deployed to Afghanistan, from 320 in early 2009 to 1,040 by June 2011.
SIGAR and the State Department's OIG jointly conducted an audit to: determine the number of personnel and associated costs of the civilian uplift; evaluate the State Department's mechanisms to transfer funds to other agencies to support civilian uplift personnel; and assess the costs of sustaining and supporting the civilian presence in Afghanistan and the State Department's plans to address these costs.
Key findings:
- Civilian uplift has cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $2 billion since 2009.
- The State Department has not developed formal agreements to transfer and oversee civilian uplift funds provided to other agencies.
- The cost of supporting and sustaining the civilian presence in Afghanistan will likely increase; the State Department faces a number of related planning challenges.
The report makes two recommendations to the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs: To ensure that uplift funds are used for their intended purpose, and to recover $3.5 million in unused funds from the Department of Transportation. The audit (SIGAR Audit 11-17, State OIG AUD/SI-11-45) may be found on the SIGAR website at https://www.sigar.mil/.