VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNK #0735 3201210
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADDA52A4 AMG6290-695)
R 161210Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8906
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0240
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 7249
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0905
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1266
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA

UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000735 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION 
ACCRA FOR USAID/WA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PGOV SOCI TBIO MR
SUBJECT: ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT FOR GLOBAL FUND ACTIVITIES 
IN MAURITANIA 
 
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 00000577 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Summary. Following the announcement of 
Mauritania's suspension from the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS 
grants, a recent internal United Nations Development Program 
audit of the Mauritanian Global Fund grants for tuberculosis 
and malaria indicates that these funds have also been 
improperly dispersed. The Global Fund has immediately 
suspended Mauritania from the  Global Fund malaria and 
tuberculosis programs and commenced an internal audit of 
these funds.  Mauritania is now in suspended status for all 
three of the Global Fund grant programs. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  In September 2009, Mauritania was suspended from 
the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS due to evidence of financial 
mismanagement by the Executive Secretariat of Mauritania's 
National AIDS Committee (REFTEL A).  Following this 
announcement, the Mauritanian office of the United Nations 
Development Program (UNDP), the primary recipient of Global 
Fund grants for malaria and tuberculosis in Mauritania 
commenced their own internal audit of Global Fund expenses. 
The UNDP audit uncovered many severe financial irregularities 
concerning Global Fund disbursements in Mauritania. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Effective immediately, the two remaining Global 
Fund grant programs in Mauritania (tuberculosis and malaria) 
have been suspended by the Global Fund Board of Directors 
until a complete Global Fund audit can be completed.  The 
financial irregularities cover a five-year span of funding 
and indicate that many of the subcontractors of UNDP 
falsified expenditure documentation. This is the first time 
that a single country has had all three Global Fund programs 
(HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) suspended simultaneously. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  There has been no estimate of lost funds, but the 
Global Fund's Office of the Inspector General is in the 
process of opening a complete investigation and the UNDP has 
ceased all current and future cash disbursements for 
tuberculosis and malaria grants.  Provisions are in place to 
allow for the continuation of life-saving medications and 
treatments during the investigation. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  This announcement has not yet been made public, 
but is certain to cause embarrassment and challenges for the 
Mauritanian government, NGOs and the local population alike. 
The Global Fund grants for the fight against HIV/AIDS in 
Mauritania were mostly in place to prevent Mauritania's 
relatively manageable HIV/AIDS problem from growing. However, 
tuberculosis and malaria are serious threats to current 
public health in Mauritania. The grants currently suspended 
for tuberculosis and malaria provided significant funding for 
public health and prevention campaigns. The grant suspension 
will be immediately felt by those NGOs and governmental 
offices working in this domain. As a respected international 
organization, it is particularly worrisome that the UNDP 
grants have been tainted by these serious charges of 
financial irregularity. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  It should be noted that the GIRM had a swift and 
thorough reaction to the corruption charges levied against 
the Executive Secretariat of Mauritania's National AIDS 
Committee.  While the newest charges span a five-year period 
and multiple administrations, it will be interesting to watch 
the GIRM's response. The newest charges have been uncovered 
just weeks after the GIRM announced its new, and quite 
ambitious plan outlining a national strategy to combat 
corruption in Mauritania. The GIRM's level of cooperation 
into  the investigation of these charges may provide an 
indication of the government's determination, and more 
importantly, its ability to fight corruption. 
BOULWARE