Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, program and policy implementation, and resource management operations of Embassy Dakar.
What OIG Recommended
OIG made 19 recommendations to improve embassy operations and internal controls, including 4 recommendations to correct general services and facilities management issues and 10 recommendations to address information technology management issues.
In its comments on the draft report, Embassy Dakar concurred with 16 recommendations and disagreed with 3. OIG considers 17 recommendations resolved and 2 unresolved. The embassy’s response to each recommendation, and OIG’s reply, can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The embassy’s formal written responses are reprinted in their entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
- The Ambassador set a positive and professional tone for Embassy Dakar, clearly communicating mission priorities and strategic goals to embassy staff.
- The Ambassador promoted the strategic goal of assisting Senegal’s political and economic development in order to make the country a more effective partner for the United States.
- Expanding engagement in Guinea-Bissau promoted U.S. interests but also posed challenges to the embassy’s capacity for oversight and coordination.
- Internal controls for some general services and facility management functions did not comply with Department of State standards and procedures.
- Public diplomacy programs were integrated through physical and virtual platforms to promote a better public understanding of U.S. policy and to build relationships with Senegalese leaders, particularly among youth.
- The embassy continued to improve its management of foreign assistance and public diplomacy grants through deployment of the State Award Management System.
- Information systems security and telephone programs did not comply with Department requirements.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Dakar should formalize a reporting and oversight relationship between the Embassy’s Public Affairs Officer and the Public Diplomacy Assistant at the Bissau Liaison Office.
Embassy Dakar should implement a training plan for newly arrived American staff in the Consular Section, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dakar should conduct nonimmigrant visa adjudication reviews in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dakar should comply with Department standards for responses to congressional inquiries.
Embassy Dakar should eliminate the direct-hire Residence Manager position.
Embassy Dakar should implement an annual acquisition plan.
Embassy Dakar should conduct oversight of residential fuel operations in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Dakar should implement a corrective action plan to bring all professional and incidental drivers into compliance with the Department’s Overseas Motor Vehicle Safety Management Program.
Embassy Dakar should require that all official vehicles be garaged and parked in compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Dakar should require that Information Systems Security Officers perform information systems security officer duties, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dakar should implement a standard operating procedure to manage its Active Directory groups for its classified and unclassified networks in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dakar should establish its local Information Technology Configuration Control Board in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dakar should inventory, baseline, and approve the information technology hardware and software operating on its dedicated internet networks.
Embassy Dakar should implement standard operating procedures for supporting and maintaining dedicated internet networks.
Embassy Dakar should develop a service level agreement between the Information Management Section staff and dedicated internet network customers that defines the services provided and the roles and responsibilities of the user.
Embassy Dakar should implement procedures to accurately bill embassy sections and employees for monthly telephone services.
Embassy Dakar should implement knowledge management procedures for capturing, sharing, transferring, and retaining information related to its Information Management programs.
Embassy Dakar should test the information technology contingency plans for unclassified and classified networks in accordance with Department guidance.
Embassy Dakar should implement a plan for conducting initial and annual refresher information technology contingency training for employees with information technology contingency planning responsibilities.