IPNews-Monrovia:The government of Liberia has come under sharpe criticism for its failure to account properly for funding provided by UN agencies for various projects implimentation across government line ministries.
According to a communication dated April 25,2019, addressed to Nathaniel McGill, Minister of State, UN Resident Coordinator, to Liberia, Yacoub El warned that the continued failure by government ministries and agencies to provide timely and accurate financial expenditure reports on funds received for various projects implimentation is greatly undermining various UN Agencies to source funding for additional projects.
According to the UN Envoy El, the continued delays has greatly disrupted the UN operations, causing unwarranted delays in the financing and implementation of essential services, including advisory services to Liberia.
“This continued delay in timely reporting on project funds would lead to the withholding of much needed fund for UN programmes in Liberia over a long-term period.
“However, the UN remains committed to ensuring continued provision of technical and financial support, especially advice on let policy issues and development assistance as enshrined in the ‘Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.” The UN Envoy stated.
The UN Envoy communication further emphasized that the United Nations adheres strictly to ‘impartial financial standards to safeguard UN funds against misuse and integrity risks’. However, the UN systems operations seek to promote national ownership and accountability for development results, moving away from ‘Direct Implementation Modality to National Implementation Modality which allows member countries or partnering agencies/ministries of government to independently manage projects under the ‘Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) framework’.
This system according to UN Envoy El allows cash transferrs to national implementing parties to carry out developmental activities as provided for in the various annual work plan.
He noted that for the purpose of receiving cash advance payment u see the framework, implementing partners must be micro assessed to ensure they have good financial management capacity, including proper accounting, procurement, reporting, internal controls, with key emphasis on recording annual transactions and appropriate financial documentation.
UN El: “In the extreme where cash advance modality is not being used correctly by implimenting partners, the UN Agencies, Fund and Programmes may discontinue and revert to the ‘Direct Implementation Modality system’, to avoid risk of delay in programme implementation.”
The UN warning comes as nearly all of the None governmental Organisations are nearing closure due to lack of funding from its major partners who remain hesitant given Liberia transition from emergency to a more stable society since the transfer of power from one democratic rule to another in January 2018.
