Alleged kickback demands in UNDP's Funding Facility for Stabilization reconstruction projects (reported January 2024)
In January 2024 The Guardian reported that UNDP staff in Iraq demanded bribes of up to 15% of contract value to help contractors win reconstruction contracts in the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS), a scheme launched in 2015 and backed by about $1.5bn from 30 donors, and that Iraqi officials overseeing projects extorted payments to sign off completed work. UNDP said it has zero tolerance for fraud and was urgently looking into the allegations. The US Treasury had noted in 2019 that UNDP suspended projects in Nineveh in 2017 after allegations the governor siphoned UN funds.
- Period
- From 2015 to January 2024
- Sector
- Local government and reconstructionDonor-funded post-ISIS reconstruction
- Kind of case
- Media investigation
- Jurisdiction
- More than one jurisdiction
How the money moved, according to the sources
Kickbacks as a percentage of contract value paid to UN project staff and local officials for award and acceptance of works.
What happened
أعلن برنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي إجراء مراجعة، ولم يُتح الاطلاع على نتائجها.
Open questions
- Outcome of UNDP's internal investigation (OAI).
People and companies
This case does not name any person or company. It rests on figures and institutions.
Sources
- Independent Arabia (summarising The Guardian)22 January 2024Press reportTier D
تحقيق لـ"الغارديان" يكشف تورط موظفين في الأمم المتحدة في العراق بحالات فساد
Originalموظفين عاملين لدى الأمم المتحدة في العراق يطالبون برشاوى
- Iraq Business News (incl. UNDP statement)24 January 2024Press reportTier D
UN Responds to Iraq Bribery Allegations
OriginalWe take any allegations very seriously and are urgently looking into them.