Embattled IRD sheds more staff as part of reorg

International Relief and Development is shedding more employees in the wake of allegations from the U.S. Agency for International Development that it mismanaged taxpayer money. The once largest nonprofit partner of the USAID in Iraq and Afghanistan laid off 21 staff members Friday from its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The layoffs come a day after IRD dismissed its board of directors, and two weeks after the resignation of several senior executives. These shake-ups have been widely interpreted as steps by Roger Ervin, IRD’s new president and CEO, to get back into USAID’s good graces. Through a spokesman, Ervin was careful to note that the layoffs are unrelated to the USAID suspension but that the suspension had added to the sense of urgency associated with IRD’s reorganization plans. “It's important to point out that the dissolving of the board and a reduction of headquarters staff are part of our reorganization toward a more efficient and high impact model,” Ervin said. “The key is to sharpen our focus on what we do best — delivering to beneficiaries in vulnerable communities in some of the most challenging environments in the world." Ervin joined IRD a month before its suspension, as federal investigations into the NGO’s conduct were heating up. On Jan. 25, USAID suspended IRD from receiving new work. IRD will submit its response to the allegations ahead of the Feb. 25 deadline set by USAID. As part of the dissolution of the board of directors on Thursday, Ervin and recently appointed board member Jeffrey Oak plan to name three new members — totaling five new board members — by March 12. How can IRD recover from suspension by its key donor in today’s development climate? Leave your thoughts below. Stay tuned to Devex for more news and analysis of U.S. aid, and subscribe to The Development Newswire to receive the latest from the world’s leading donors and decision-makers — emailed to you FREE every business day.