Several allegations of mismanagement and waste of U.S. aid in Afghanistan have made headlines lately. What has received less attention is how these reports have further strained an already fickle relationship between U.S. auditors, aid officials and implementing partners.
A recent shift in the types of audits conducted by the leading U.S. oversight agency in Afghanistan, its aggressive media tactics and questions about who should have the power to suspend government contractors are among the issues that have created friction in recent months.
Devex spoke with government officials, oversight experts and aid implementers about these tensions and how to ensure aid money is spent wisely in Afghanistan. Some of these sources declined to go on the record to avoid jeopardizing sensitive business relationships.