The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization’s suspicions are confirmed: Funds for its cash-based programs in Niger and Cameroon have indeed been misappropriated.
GAVI’s investigations revealed Cameroon mishandled funds amounting to $4.2 million. Niger’s, meanwhile, totaled $2.5 million.
“Also of concern are the other misused funds which were spent without sufficient documentation or used to pay for activities in the health sector but outside the scope of GAVI’s grant agreements,” the organization said.
The health ministries of both countries, according to GAVI, have confirmed their commitment to reimburse the misappropriated funds ― the same pledge Malian authorities made in May when the agency’s investigations found $563,000 of its funds for cash-based programs in Mali were misused.
GAVI suspended its cash-based programs in Cameroon and Niger in March last year to pave way for the investigations regarding the funds. The money was supposed to be spent on “health systems strengthening” in Cameroon and “immunization services support” in Niger.
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