Semiannual Reports

We conducted an audit of Peace Corps operations in Uganda (hereafter referred to as “the post”) from February through August 2024. Our objective in auditing the Uganda post was to determine whether its financial and administrative operations were functioning effectively and in compliance with Peace Corps policies and Federal regulations.

The Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2025 - 2027 outlines how OIG will enhance oversight in support of the Peace Corps goals.

This semiannual report informs Congress of the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General's work from April 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024.

I am pleased to submit to you the Peace Corps’ Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Statements audit report.1 Williams Adley & Company, LLP, an independent certified public accounting firm was contracted by the Office of Inspector General to audit2 the Peace Corps’ financial statements for the fiscal years ending on September 30, 2024, and September 30, 2023. This year, the audit concluded that the Peace Corps’ financial statements were fairly presented, in all material respects, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and noted three significant deficiencies in the agency’s internal control over financial reporting as well as one instance of reportable noncompliance related to provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements. The Peace Corps’ agency leaders have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to financial management, as evidenced by more than 15 consecutive years of clean financial statement audit opinions. However, we note that two significant deficiencies reported in this year’s audit are repeat findings from prior years that have been highlighted for the agency’s attention and action but have yet to be fully realized. Specifically, the repeat finding for improper internal controls over Property, Plant, and Equipment (PP&E) contains new and concerning factors that present notable risk to the agency if the finding is not addressed in a timely manner. As described in this audit report, the Peace Corps decommissioned its existing Property Management System in June 2024, without having an operational replacement system. Instead, the agency relied on manual reporting mechanisms that resulted in a variety of challenges, including untimely, inconsistent, and incomplete PP&E data. At the time of this report, the Peace Corps still does not have an operational Property Management System replacement or a projected date for when one will be completed and functional. Generating timely, reliable, and useful PP&E data is essential to ensuring sound agency financial management. However, the current issues with the Property Management System, among the others identified in this audit report, will require focused senior leadership attention to ensure corrective actions are prioritized, potential risks are mitigated, and effective systems are in place.

The Office of Inspector General's annual plan outlines the work planned for the year ahead, including agency wide audits or evaluations, mandated reviews, and which posts may receive audits or evaluations.

In accordance with the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000, the Office of Inspector General OIG identified and reported the following as the Peace Corps’ most significant challenges based on the results and findings of its audit, evaluation, and investigation work, as well as the information uncovered from OIG’s oversight responsibilities:• Volunteer Delivery System;• Volunteer Healthcare and Safety;• Human Capital Management; and• Information Technology Security Management

The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) provides a comprehensive framework for establishing and ensuring the effectiveness of managerial, operational, and technical controls over information technology (IT) that supports Federal operations and assets and provides a mechanism for improved oversight of Federal agency information security programs. FISMA requires the head of each agency to implement policies and procedures to cost-effectively reduce IT security risks to an acceptable level. FISMA requires agency program officials, Chief Information Officers (CIO)s, Chief Information Security Officers (CISO)s, senior agency officials for privacy, and inspectors general to conduct annual reviews of the agency’s information security program.

The Peace Corps Office of Inspector General (OIG) evaluated the Peace Corps Office of Health Services’ (OHS) policies and procedures for updating its TechnicalGuidelines (TG). The purpose of our evaluation was to determine whether OHS efficiently and adequately updates the TGs and assesses any challenges to theirimplementation. This evaluation also sought to determine to what extent the Peace Corps Medical Officers (PCMO) use TGs in their administrative and clinical practices.

Our audit determined that while the Peace Corps does have an established framework to oversee and monitor domestic awarded contracts, it can improve its management of the following: • Contract oversight including contract modifications, documentation, and guidance for Contract Officer Representatives and Technical Points of Contact; and • Contract completion, including performance assessments and closeout.