Global Fund uncovers 'financial wrongdoing' in some grants to Cambodia

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on Wednesday said an investigation by the group's Inspector General into grants in Cambodia "uncovered credible and substantive evidence of serious financial wrongdoing, on procurement and other issues," Agence France-Presse reports (11/15). In a statement, the organization said, "Immediate action has been taken to protect the health of people supported by Global Fund grants in Cambodia, by adopting safeguards in procurement, financing and management" and added it "is committed to maintaining its grants in Cambodia and to expanding safeguards to protect its investments." The statement adds, "An investigation report by the Office of the Inspector General is being finalized, and is expected to be publicly released once it is completed in the coming weeks" (11/14). According to AFP, "The mismanaged money amounts to under $1 million and was allocated to Cambodian officials to spend on anti-malaria programs, said a source with knowledge of the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity" (11/15).