Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Beirut.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 15 recommendations to Embassy Beirut. In its comments on the draft report, the embassy concurred with all 15 recommendations. OIG considers all 15 recommendations resolved. 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.
What OIG Found
- The Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission led Embassy Beirut in a professional and collaborative manner and engaged with Lebanon to advance foreign policy goals.
- Embassy Beirut generally managed grants in compliance with standards and addressed areas for improvement during the inspection.
- Embassy Beirut’s compound layout, consisting of multiple buildings of varying ages and construction spread over more than 19 acres, contributed to infrastructure problems and safety deficiencies.
- The embassy’s fire protection program did not comply with Department of State standards and the embassy did not address several issues identified in previous fire reviews.
- Embassy Beirut’s locally employed information management staff required additional training to complete their duties, and information systems security officers did not perform all required duties.
- Spotlight on Success: Embassy Beirut leveraged English language programs and alumni to reach marginalized communities.
- Spotlight on Success: The embassy’s Public Diplomacy Section used program evaluation and data analytics to inform its outreach to target audiences in Lebanon.
- Spotlight on Success: Embassy Beirut’s Foreign Assistance Working Group centralized oversight of new programming by involving all embassy sections and agencies handling assistance programming.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Beirut, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, should implement a plan to mitigate, to the maximum extent practicable, safety risks associated with the area outside the pedestrian gate used by consular customers, in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Beirut, in coordination with the Bureaus of Consular Affairs and Overseas Buildings Operations, should provide protection from the elements for consular applicants, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Beirut, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should bring its fire protection program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Beirut, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should report all unauthorized construction projects and rectify each project in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Beirut should obtain authorization from the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations to use shipping containers for permanent storage or dismantle and remove them in accordance with Department requirements.
Embassy Beirut should comply with all Department Overseas Motor Vehicle Safety Management Program requirements.
Embassy Beirut should bring its contracting officer’s representative program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Beirut should enforce driver duty limits for all embassy drivers in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Beirut should require the Beirut Recreation Association Board of Directors to comply with Department standards and its own by-laws regarding its oversight responsibilities.
Embassy Beirut should implement internal controls to ensure government resources are used in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Beirut should train locally employed information management staff in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Beirut should perform information systems security officers’ duties in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Beirut should comply with Department standards for managing its dedicated internet networks.
Embassy Beirut should implement a records management program in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Beirut, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should relocate stored items to climate-controlled storage outside the unclassified server room to conform to Department and Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.