Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Maputo.
What OIG Found
- The Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission exemplified the Department of State’s leadership and management principles under difficult circumstances, fostering an open and collaborative work environment that motivated staff.
- The embassy did not hold required joint evaluations of Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs-funded programming with the government of Mozambique.
- The embassy did not have funding for the locally employed staff defined benefit retirement plan and relied on the Bureau of African Affairs to make expected benefit payments, creating possible unfunded liability and litigation concerns.
- The embassy’s warehouse did not have the fire protection features required for a newly constructed building, creating safety issues for its staff.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 21 recommendations to Embassy Maputo. In its comments on the draft report, the embassy concurred with 20 recommendations and disagreed with 1 recommendation. OIG considers 20 recommendations resolved and one recommendation 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 response is reprinted in its entirety in Appendix B.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Maputo should bring its public diplomacy grant files into compliance with Department standards for monitoring, evaluation, and closeout of federal assistance awards.
Embassy Maputo should bring unannounced cash counts for consular cashiers into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should comply with the requirements of the 2001 Letter of Agreement between the United States and Mozambique on foreign assistance projects funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Embassy Maputo should bring its contracting officer’s representative program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should close out procurement files in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should manage its property in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should manage its motor vehicle program in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should manage its bulk fuel operations in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should correctly classify the warehouse and adhere to the relevant Department fire protection standards.
Embassy Maputo should perform hazard inspections of its high-risk workplaces in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should perform routine safety inspections and testing of its elevators in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo, in coordination with the Bureau of African Affairs, should determine a sustainable mechanism to fund the embassy’s defined benefit retirement plan for locally employed staff.
Embassy Maputo, in coordination with the Bureau of Personnel and Training, should align the embassy’s mandatory retirement age for locally employed staff with local law, in accordance with Department requirements.
Embassy Maputo should update the locally employed staff handbook in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should update its special immigrant visa policy in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should review and validate unliquidated obligations in accordance with Department standards, so that funds of up to $3.4 million can be put to better use.
Embassy Maputo should dispose of obsolete and excess computers in accordance with Department guidance.
Embassy Maputo should test the Emergency Action Committee radio encryption feature monthly, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should complete the antenna installation and test its high frequency radio equipment at the alternate command center in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.
Embassy Maputo should comply with Department standards and identify a suitable location for inactive records storage.