A new investigation by the Guardian into the $1.5 billion construction program is being started because of claims of corruption. Because of the claims, the UN Development Program is looking into the construction. Based on a private document. Achim Steiner, who runs the UNDP, has ordered a study of management and an evaluation of the construction project.
One claim is that the staff got paid extra to help certain business people get big construction jobs. The UNDP paper said that its Office of Audit and Investigations had been asked to look into 136 cases related to the reconstruction program. The UNDP said in the brief that it was “committed to fostering a work culture and environment where all UNDP personnel can report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation.”
Since the report came out, a lot of other UNDP workers have come forward with claims that there was a “culture of fear.” They said that managers at the UNDP had built stronger ties with the government to avoid being held accountable while also taking advantage of other employees.
Someone had said that hundreds of thousands of dollars were going to a government group that was run by a government figure. When they went to tell their bosses what they had found, though, they were told that they “ought not to get involved.” A lot of people spoke up about times when they tried to speak out but were attacked or shut down right away.
There was a statement from the UNDP saying that these claims are “completely at odds with UNDP’s commitment to accountability, integrity and openness to scrutiny.” There was a lot of talk about how the UNDP has spent a lot of time teaching its staff about every kind of strife. Also, they said that the checks were done “without UNDP management or any outside party and in line with UNDP’s policies on whistleblowing and retaliation.”
As more information comes to light, investigations are still going on as they try to figure out the real goals of this construction company and the problems going on inside the UNDP.
