Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, program and policy implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Yaoundé. The inspection included Embassy Branch Office Douala.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 13 recommendations: 12 to Embassy Yaoundé and 1 to the Bureau of Global Talent Management.
In its comments on the draft report, the Department concurred with all 13 recommendations. OIG considers all 13 recommendations resolved. The Department’s response to each recommendation, and OIG’s reply, can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The Department’s formal written responses are reprinted in their entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
- The Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission led Embassy Yaoundé in a professional and collaborative manner. However, the Deputy Chief of Mission did not efficiently manage and prioritize items coming to her for review and approval, which created delays in the approval process.
- The embassy did not develop a plan to integrate Embassy Branch Office Douala with embassy operations, as called for in the Integrated Country Strategy.
- Prior to the end of the FY 2019 Diversity Visa program, the Consular Section issued 13 visas to applicants who were ineligible because their medical results were incomplete.
- The embassy’s residential housing program did not fully comply with Department of State safety and fire standards.
- Embassy Yaoundé did not have a functioning high frequency emergency radio network, leaving it unable to communicate with posts assigned to its regional network control station.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Yaoundé should complete a plan to integrate Embassy Branch Office Douala into embassy operations in accordance with the embassy’s Integrated Country Strategy and as recommended by Department guidance.
Embassy Yaoundé, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should provide protection from the elements for consular applicants, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Yaoundé should install a closed-circuit television monitoring system or other means to enable consular managers to visually observe the activities within the Consular Section cashier booth.
Embassy Yaoundé should bring its safety, health, and environmental management program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Yaoundé should bring its residential fire protection program into compliance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Global Talent Management, in coordination with Embassy Yaoundé, should determine whether the embassy’s pending local compensation plan requests should be incorporated into the local compensation plan.
Embassy Yaoundé should comply with Department standards for documenting nonexpendable property transfers.
Embassy Yaoundé should close procurement files in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Yaoundé should require potential contracting officers’ representatives to apply for certification in the Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer’s Representatives system in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Yaoundé should implement documented operational procedures for recording and tracking helpdesk requests for the unclassified and classified networks, in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Yaoundé should require the Information Systems Security Officer to perform information systems security duties in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Yaoundé, in coordination with Regional Information Management Center Johannesburg and the Bureau of Information Resource Management, should repair or replace the embassy's emergency high frequency radio equipment in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Yaoundé should conduct records retirement in accordance with Department records management standards.