For the inclusion of the RUTEC project in the audit of our office, mr. Stan asked us to prepare an informative note about the antecedents and major problems related to the RUTEC project.
When could you give this note to Stan???
On the bases of your note Mr Stan will prepare the justification for the inclusion of RUTEC in our audit plan.
Thanks Francisco.
A letter, dated 27 December 2000, that Zoraida Mesa had sent to James Curry, Director of the Office for Audit and Performance Appraisal, UNDP, New York:
This letter is being sent in request of an audit for UNDP Angola. You will find attached justification, from both Programs and Operations, for this audit.
As you will note in the justification for the RUTEC contract Programs has stated that the key issue to be addressed is the lack of information to justify the 1.65 million US dollars recorded by UNOPS as total expenditure for activities related to the NEX project no ANG/96/B01. Clarity is sought on this issue through the audit to enable the preparation of the report of the CO being prepared for the government and donors and in order that recommendations are developed for UNDP and UNOPS to regularise the situation. . .
Amongst the recommendations she concluded:
Only a formal audit could conceivably raise these questions with UNOPS, RUTEC and any other interested parties in a manner that would help clarify them within the framework of the report that the CO needs to prepare for the government and donors on the CRP Trust Fund. The audit would have to elucidate these issues in a way that enables them to make recommendations to UNDP and UNOPS on how to regularise the situation.
Memorandum from James W. Currie, Director, Office of Audit and Performance Review to Bisrat Aklilu, Deputy Executive Director, UNOPS, 14 January 2001
Subject: Project “Capacity Building for the Community Rehabilitation and National Reconciliation Programme” (ANG 96/B01)
This communication relates to issues which the UNDP Resident Representative in Angola has raised with me concerning the UNOPS implementation relating to The Contract UNOPS signed with a South African company by the name of RUTEC under the above mentioned project. The main issues he raises is the general lack of information to justify the use of the funds under The Contract. Specifically, he alleges that:
· It appears that the decision that led to the award of the contract to RUTEC was made by UNOPS, as the implementing agent for this activity, only, without any involvement of the government (the Ministry of Planning), as the executing agent;
· There is lack of information as to the results that may have been achieved or the manner in which the funds under the contract have so far been spent;
· There is no record of a monitoring visit by UNOPS;
· On-site monitoring by RUTEC seems to have been limited to a one-day mission undertaken in 2000, with no substantitive technical support provided for ongoing activities and no mission report on follow-up;
· Apart from the Contract document itself, there is no detailed description of the activity to be undertaken by RUTEC; therefore, there are no specific goals to determine payment of the different instalments of the agreed fees, and;
· There is no final report indicating results achieved and lessons learned.
I would appreciate it if you could look into the above and inform me as to the facts of this matter, with any supporting material as you may deem appropriate.
Response of Bisrat Aklilu (UNOPS) to James W. Currie (OAPR), 13 February 2001
Subject: Project “Capacity Building for the Community Rehabilitation and National Reconciliation Programme” (ANG 96/B01)
This is in response to your Memorandum of 14 January 2001 pertaining to queries and concerns raised on the above mentioned subject by the UNDP Resident Representative in Angola. We believe that before addressing the allegations, a short presentation of the project and the relevant background would help to understand our role in this project.
In September 1996, UNDP submitted to UNOPS a draft Project Document ANG 96/005 “Establishment of a Pilot Community Production Centre in Huambo” with a request to provide implementation services.
The project was to be funded through a UNDP Trust Fund and private sector funding as well (Coca-Cola, Equator Bank). For lack of interest from some Donors, the project never materialised.
In November 1996, UNDP submitted a different Project Document ANG 96/003 “Establishment of a Pilot Community Centre in Huambo” The minutes of the Local Project Appraisal Committee as well as a letter from the Provincial Government of Angola formalising concession of land premises for the Centre in Huambo was also provided. Officials of the Government of Angola were fully involved. UNOPS was requested to act as Executing Agency for the project.
The Project Document identified RUTEC as a pre-selected contractor, which was fully endorsed by the Government. It is UNOPS understanding that RUTEC was pre-selected in accordance with the applicable UNDP procurement rules and procedures.
In December 1996, UNOPS presented this project ANG/96/003 to its Project Acceptance Committee (PAC) which was fully endorsed for execution by UNOPS. The minute of the PAC is attaché herewith.
Due to security reasons and funding issues, activities of the project were initiated only in February 1998. A contract was issued to RUTEC as pre-selected entity, following PRAC recommendations and CPO approval early April 1998.
In March 1998, we received an official communication from the UNDP Country Office stating “please note that RUTEC, though conceived initially as a stand alone project, was made an integral part of the ANG/96/100-Community Rehabilitation Project. It is a subcontract to be financed from the output budget: ANG/96/B01 budget line 2101- Trust Fund for the CRP.”
Due to budgetary constraints, UNDP asked UNOPS to charge the RUTEC contract to this project.
Later on, at UNDP request, RUTEC’s contract was charged against 2 project budgets, ANG/96/B01 and ANG/96/100.
It is UNOPS understanding that all project documents received from UNDP Luanda have followed UNDP’s internal procedures including adequate consultation with the host government and hence we believe that the Government of Angola, and the Ministry of Planning in particular, has endorsed them. It is difficult to conceive that UNOPS would have taken a unilateral decision pertaining to the award of the RUTEC’s contract or any other major project action unless it is in full conformity with the provisions and arrangements specified in the project document which has been signed by both UNDP and the Government.
With respect to project results and achievements of the RUTEC contract, these are documented in the quarterly reports from RUTEC as well as recent expressions of interest from the Government to raise additional funds for this centre.
With regards to the manner in which UNOPS as executing agency, has spent the funds, all financial records have been maintained according to the applicable procedures and are available for verification. An overall audit of Angola Programme was conducted in February 2000.
‘Monitoring visits were made by UNOPS project staff in Angola and can be verified. All invoices from RUTEC were certified by our then Co-ordinator and Programme Manager, Mr Lawrence Doczy and Mr. José Saléma who have visited the Centre regularly. Mr. Dimitri Samaras, the SPMO and myself on mission from New York, visited the site in March 1998 and 1999.’
Contrary to what is alleged by the new UNDP Resident Representative, on site monitoring by RUTEC was not limited to a one-day mission undertaken in 2000. Mr. Dommett, the RUTEC Programme Manager in South Africa visited Angola many times and met with UNOPS staff, UNDP Country Office and Government Representatives. He and his staff in Huambo have met on many occasions to assess project progress. Periodic reports, from which results can be seen, were submitted to UNDP by RUTEC itself. A final report is being prepared by RUTEC.
The statement of work which was to be undertaken by RUTEC is attached to the contract signed with RUTEC and appropriate specific goals and milestones are fully described in the project document as well as the contract.
We are at your disposal to further review this case, if you deem it necessary.
(Note: None of the attachments mentioned in the letter were in fact attached.)
Note Prepared by Leon Kukkuk and distributed to UNDP, UNOPS and Bereket Sletzion, UNDP auditor:
Project: ‘Capacity Building for the Community Rehabilitation and National Reconstruction Programme’
(ANG/96/B01 –BL 2101)
Notes as general background information:
Documents can refer to several project codes:
ANG 96/003
ANG 96/ 003/ 01/31
ANG 96/001
ANG 96/100
ANG 96/005
ANG 96/B01
These all refer to the same project, which was by all appearances implemented without finalising the codes, project documents and clarifying the roles of the partners.
This project is also generally referred to at UNDP as the ‘RUTEC Project’, at UNOPS and RUTEC as ‘The Huambo Community Production Centre’ and in Huambo as ‘Microform’ (This is a local initiative to bypass the problems created by the vague arrangements between UNDP, UNOPS and RUTEC).
There are no signed Project Documents, although there are various related versions of such. Requests over a period of two years to obtain these were unsuccessful. Apparently the Project Document for this project is the CRP programme document.
The project went through a planning phase from late 1995 – beginning 1998.
(The impression that is gained from the correspondence in the files is that implementation was hampered by a lack of funding and by a lack of clarity regarding what RUTEC can provide. Although much of the correspondence does not appear to be available, it seems as though a decision was taken late in 1997 to implement the project before these issues were finalised and that the original contract was signed with RUTEC, without resolving its weaknesses.)
In February 1998 UNOPS signed The Contract with RUTEC.
RUTEC started setting up the project in Huambo in the beginning of June 1998.
Contract amendment 1 brought the original termination date of 31 May 2000 forward to 31 January 2000 based on a starting date of September 1998.
After several delays and a suspension of activities for two months the centre started functioning at the end of January 2000.
Considering that The Contract allows for an 18-month pilot phase, the termination should have been 31 July 2000. This was never contractually or otherwise confirmed.
The Provincial Government requested an extension of the project on the argument that it can perform a key function in the reconstruction of the province.
UNOPS had no presence in Angola since the end of January 2000. Several meetings held with UNDP and CRP suggested that the future of the project shall be decided during a tripartite review. This was originally planned for May 2000, then July 2000. The only review that was eventually held was as part of the Country Co-operation assessment on 21/22 October 2000.
The SDRR (P) visited Huambo on 04 November 2000 where the issues were presented to him. To date no feedback has been received.
On 10 November 2000 the Project Manager received a copy of a letter from UNOPS to RUTEC, dated 01 November 2000, instructing the centre to be closed down and the transfer of custody to UNDP of all assets. This was forwarded to UNDP asking for instructions regarding the action that need to be taken. To date no instructions in this regard had been received.
Due to lack of action on the part of UNOPS and RUTEC, and indecision by UNDP, in defining a specific course of action for the project, the staff in Huambo was faced with three options after July 2000:
Abandon the project along with all ongoing activities, a considerable investment in equipment, vehicles and goodwill.
Place everything in storage pending a solution.
Continue as is best possible pending a solution.
The first option was considered too extreme and the second not practically possible due to local expectations and the absence of sufficient funds. The last option was decided upon after consultation with the staff, CRP (Huambo) and local Government officials.
Local authorities advised that only the Minister of Planning is authorised to close projects of this type. Correspondence between the CRP and the Provincial Government suggested that an extension of the project shall be sought with additional funding as well as replicating the project in another province by December 2000. This is reflected in the CRP Phase II Project Document.
This situation was explained in some detail to the CR team and UNDP representatives on 21 October 2000. The Provincial Governor also specifically requested the CR team to find support for the project.
Due to further lack of action it became practically impossible to continue with the project and, again after due consultation with the staff, CRP (Huambo) and local Government officials, as well as informing UNDP, the centre was closed down on 31 January 2001 amidst substantial chaos and ill feeling.
Immediate consequences for me were the fact that I was confined to my house for two days by the Governor who also wrote a very strongly worded letter to the Ministry of Planning and UNDP. After discussions with him it was decided that I should come to Luanda for one week to resolve the problems of the project.
Action that need to be taken:
UNDP need to take responsibility for the project, which now rests with a private individual, which has neither the resources nor the mandate to solve any of the outstanding issues.
These issues include:
Resolution of expectations of staff, beneficiaries and Angolan Government.
Legal and satisfactory closure of the project.
Unless these issues can be resolved and unless UNDP can regain credibility, all talk of a follow up project is pointless.
Response To Issues Raised By Angola CO In Relation To Project ANG 96/B01 BL 2101 On 27 December 2000 And Memorandum To Mr James W. Currie From Mr Bisrat Aklilu Dated 13 February 2001 (Prepared by Leon Kukkuk on behalf of UNDP)
Issue:
The activity undertaken under this contract was an integral part of the CRP (NEX) project, but was never included in the project evaluation that took place in 1999, or in related NEX audits, thus leaving everyone in the dark regarding its operational performance.
The government executing agency of the CRP, namely, the Ministry of Planning, has verbally stated that it never had any hand in the decisions that led to the award of The Contract and is not aware of any results that may have been achieved or the manner in which the 1.65 million dollars have so far been spent.
UNOPS Response: The copy of the minutes of the PAC is attached. (It is not attached)
UNDP Response: There are no signed copies of Project Document, PAC, PRAC recommendations or CPO approval in UNDP files. Would it be possible for UNOPS to provide such items?
There are no reports from UNOPS or RUTEC itemising expenditure of the amount under the contract.
Issue:
Despite the importance of the amount of money involved, there is no record of any monitoring visit by UNOPS, and on-site monitoring by RUTEC seems to have been limited to a one-day mission undertaken in 2000, with no substantive technical support provided for ongoing activities, and no mission report on follow-up.
UNOPS Response: ‘Monitoring visits were made by UNOPS project staff in Angola and can be verified. All invoices from RUTEC were certified by our then Co-ordinator and Programme Manager, Mr Lawrence Doczy and Mr. José Saléma who have visited the Centre regularly. Mr. Dimitri Samaras, the SPMO and myself on mission from New York, visited the site in March 1998 and 1999.
UNDP Response: (Refer to chronology of project)
Mr Doczy never met any of the project staff from Huambo, neither in Huambo itself nor in Luanda. Attempts to meet with him in 1998 were frustrated by his illness. By October 1998 he was no longer in Angola.
The Project Manager met frequently with Mr José Saléma in Luanda. Mr. Saléma was never in Huambo during the duration of the project. Consistent requests by Claudio Lopes from UNOPS during 1999 to visit the project were turned down. The UNOPS administrator, Ms Filomena Oliveira actively discouraged any assistance by any UNOPS staff member to the project. UNOPS consistently maintained that this is not a UNOPS project but an UNDP one.
In March 1998 there was not yet any project. To date no confirmation of a UNOPS visit in March 1999 can be obtained from WFP flight manifests or from the security unit. Mr Balima visited on 30 March 1999, whilst the Project Manager was in Luanda. Whether or not UNOPS staff accompanied him on this visit remains unclear. There are no UNOPS mission reports in the files.
UNOPS Response: ‘Contrary to what is alleged by the new UNDP Resident Representative, on site monitoring by RUTEC was not limited to a one-day mission undertaken in 2000. Mr. Dommett, the RUTEC Programme Manager in South Africa visited Angola many times and met with UNOPS staff, UNDP Country Office and Government Representatives. He and his staff in Huambo have met on many occasions to assess project progress. Periodic reports, from which results can be seen, were submitted to UNDP by RUTEC itself.’
UNDP Response: In 1998 Mr John Dommett from RUTEC visited Huambo in May and then again in August, both times for two days. The Project Manager met with him in Johannesburg on two occasions. The Centre was not yet established. At no time has he ever met with any government official. (Mr. Dommett had done this in January 1996 and never again subsequently) According to Mr Dommett at the time co-operation with the government is yet undefined and need to be finalised during the course of the project.
In 1999 he met with the Project Manager in Luanda in March then in April in Johannesburg, both times for one afternoon. On 13 October 1999 he met again in Johannesburg with the Project Manager for a morning whilst the latter was in transit to Angola. The Project Manager was told that under no circumstances should he provide any financial information to UNDP as per Teresa Felix’s request. Since then there has been no contact. Project progress was never discussed. Meetings have generally been acrimonious discussions regarding lack of assistance and lack of funds. This can be supported by abundant correspondence. Correspondence also exists to demonstrate that TA (Technical Assistance) passed from Huambo to RUTEC and not the other way around. RUTEC themselves are unaware of John Dommett’s whereabouts since late 1999.
Buzwe Yafele, as acting CEO of RUTEC, visited the project in Huambo on 31 March 2000 during his stay in Angola from 29 March – 03 April 2000. Soon after his return to South Africa he was dismissed from RUTEC. This was perhaps in part because he had failed to secure funding from the project to buy 10 tons of wheat flour and to arrange an extension of the contract with UNOPS. No mission report was produced by RUTEC.
No periodic reports submitted by RUTEC to UNDP exist in the files. (See Annex IV)
Issue:
Apart from The Contract document itself; there is no detailed description of the activity to be undertaken by RUTEC, and no specific goals to determine payment of the different instalments of the agreed fees.
UNOPS response: The statement of work which was to be undertaken by RUTEC is attached to the contract signed with RUTEC and appropriate specific goals and milestones are fully described in the project document as well as The Contract.
UNDP Response: There is no project document attached to the contract.
The problem with the contract is that the item ‘Management of Centre for Two Months’ is not clarified. Only $227 000.00 had been made available to the project by RUTEC over a period of two years. This included all costs for construction, set-up and 18 months running costs.
Of $1 505 000.00 that RUTEC had received from UNOPS there is no explanation of how $1 041 000.00 had been spent. (In contravention with points 2.4 and 2.5 and Article 12 of contract no C-971794.)
An exchange of letters between the current MD of RUTEC, Mr Boris Kamstra, from October 2000 and between Teresa Felix and same in February and March 2001 and myself shows that RUTEC is unable to justify any technical contribution to the project or how funds had been spent under the contract. Mr. Kamstra was for several months after his employment unaware that RUTEC had a UN contract to implement a project in Angola.
Abundant communication between RUTEC and myself exists regarding lack of financial support to the project. This was communicated to Mr Michel Balima at UNDP on 19 September 1998, 10 February 1999, 03 September 1999 and 12 November 1999.
In addition it is interesting to note the following:
Local staff was employed on 01 July 1998 and consistently received their salaries two to three months in arrears until November 1999. Salaries were then paid on time until January 2000. The Project Manager supported staff salaries in February and March 2000 before it fell into arrears again.
RUTEC had provided no insurance, employment or health benefits to any staff as was required by the contract. (Article 5 General Conditions for UNOPS Contracts for Professional Services.)
The Project Manager was employed on 28 May 1998 and received his first salary on 23 March 1999. A promise to provide him with cash allowance in Huambo was honoured once in September 1999. His salary is currently 16 months in arrears until July 2000. To date he has not received any payment in this regard in spite of continued requests. Add to this the fact that he has now spent an additional 9 months dealing with the problems of this project, without any contract or salary, which means that he has now been two years without an income.
By the end of 1999 he had personally invested $10 000.00 in the project.
Issue:
Although by all indications the activity is considered by UNOPS as having been satisfactorily completed (the last instalment of The Contract fee has been paid) there is not a final report indicating results achieved and lessons learned.
UNDP Response: RUTEC is unaware of what the project activities were and cannot justify any expenditure under the contract.
A draft final report will be prepared by Leon Kukkuk, as Consultant for CRP, following recommendations by the audit team.
Issue:
The Country review mission did not focus on this project. However, following a visit to the project site in Huambo, the mission separately raised many questions with the CO regarding the nature of the undertaking between UNOPS, UNDP and RUTEC.
UNDP Response: During the visit to Huambo on 21/22 October 2000 the following issues were raised:
With Leon Kukkuk, Project Manager:
The project was not monitored by UNOPS or UNDP. RUTEC made only $227 000.00 of the $1.65 million available to the project, provided no logistical support or technical assistance.
UNOPS in Luanda claimed that it was not their project.
Substantial correspondence to UNDP failed to elicit any responses. Specifically a letter from UNOPS to RUTEC (01 November 2000) ordering the cessation of all activities under the contract and referring the project staff to the UN Resident Co-ordinator in Luanda for the practical and logistical aspects of such a transfer to the custody of UNDP, received no response. This left project staff with the responsibility for a substantial investment but no mandate or contractual framework within which to act. This was complicated by the fact that the Provincial Government was requesting that further funds be mobilised for the project.
Staff is working without salaries or contracts pending a solution.
With Paulo Kassoma, Provincial Governor:
The project is potentially one of the most important in the province, yet is treated like a second or third-rate project. It has no proper infrastructure, the reports submitted to the provincial government does not reflect the commitment of $1.65 million made by the international community.
‘We don’t want to see money or sign cheques, we only want to see that promises made to us are honoured.’
With Fernando Arroyo, OCHA Field Advisor:
The project is one of the most visible activities of the CRP in the province, yet receives no logistical or financial support.
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 15:27:44 +0200
From: "Bereket Sletzion"
To: Herbert Haraldsson
CC: M Ali-Kparah
Subject: (no subject)
Subject: UNDP ANG - Project "Capacity Building For the Community Rehabilitation and National Reconciliation Programme..." (ANG/96/B01).
Background: The project was executed by UNOPS and a South African company (RUTEC) was selected to implement activities whose funds were US$ 1.65 million. Regarding this arrangement, the following events should be noted.
1) The former UNDP-ANG RR requested for an audit to be carried out for the above mentioned project through a letter to Mr. J. Currie on 27 December 2000. In her letter she raised issues and concerns justifying her request for an audit.
2) Mr. Currie requested UNOPS/HQs to provide clarification on the issues raised by the RR. (refer to his memo of 14 January 2001).
3)UNOPS/HQs responded to Mr. Currie through a memo on 13 February 2001 generally disagreeing with the concerns raised by the RR. This memo was also sent by UNOPS/HQs to the CO.
As a follow up, the audit discussed the issue with the management of UNDP-ANG during the management audit carried out in April/May this year. As a result of the discussion, the following were decided:
1) The CO felt that an audit was still necessary. However, an evaluation of the project would be carried out before finalizing the arrangements for an audit mission.
2) A response to the UNOPS/HQs memo of 13 February 2001 would be sent to UNOPS/HQs and copied to OAPR. (At the exit of the mission a draft was already prepared and a copy is with the audit).
OAPR is therefore to wait for the results of the evaluation; renewed request for the audit; the COs response to the UNOPS memo of 13 Feb. and the reaction of UNOPS.
If you require more clarification, kindly let me know.
Regards.
An e-mail sent by Dimitri Samaras (UNOPS) to Herbert Behrstock (UNDP Angola) on 12 March 2001:
. . .Lots of money have been spent in Angola and wasted for no reason. . . or reasons beyond my imagination.
We have invested but never capitalised on it. Cost benefit analysis is indeed needed.
I do believe that this office needs a Central Management and Coordination Unit which will implement/ execute and supervise all operational activities.
. . . Regarding RUTEC, we have responded to the auditors and I am sending you a copy as well as their reaction.
I will provide at anytime all infos related to the said activity.
From Michele Falavigna to Dimitri Samaras on 13 April 2001:
Thank you Dimitri for transmitting the enclosed fax from RUTEC on ANG/96/003.
I believe that the sense of frustration about this project goes beyond not receiving the final report. There are questions in the CO on the appropriate use by RUTEC of UNDP funds and fulfilment of the contract obligations. That’s (why), the Audit which is expected to start in Angola next week has been asked to look into the matter. Definitively, this project has projected a negative image that is important to address. I was wondering whether UNOPS has any suggestion of how the failure of this project can be addressed apart from drawing lessons for the future.
Thank you.
The fax attached went like this:
Subject: ANG 96/003 Huambo Development Centre
Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your fax of 10 April 2001.
I appreciate the frustration you are experiencing in receiving the final report. It is not that we have not been paying attention to deliver this report, but we have been out of contact with the centre in Huambo. Having recently joined RUTEC I have no knowledge of the project and it would be senseless for me to provide you with a report as all I can report on is the instructions from yourself. It is almost impossible to receive any instructions from the centre if we are out of contact with them, we have investigated the possibility of chartering an aircraft to physically take us there. However, no charter company will fly to the area. The only flights in and out are those of the World Food Programme and the military. To get on any of these we need to talk to the centre. This gives some idea of the dilemma we find ourselves in.
Your instruction to close the centre was forwarded to the centre. We were informed that this was not in accordance with the procedure required and there was a concern for the centre staff’s safety should they unilaterally close the centre. I informed them that with no further payments from UNOPS for the contract it would not be possible to provide them with additional funding. In the light of this the contract was closed. It appears that the centre took it upon themselves to continue operating whilst trying to secure funds for its future. This was a decision taken at that level with no instructions to do so from RUTEC and as such any liabilities or credit cannot be accounted to RUTEC.
We have recently re-established with the centre manager and are in the process of receiving the material for a final report, which we will forward to you as soon as we complied it into a report.
As I do not have the fax numbers of Mr Behrstock and Mr Almeida please could you forward a copy of this fax to them.
I apologise for the intolerable delay in finalising this issue.
Yours Faithfully
(Note: There is something interesting that need to be noted with regard to this fax. The “facts” represented in it are of course all fabrications. RUTEC had made no attempt, and had no intention of making any such an attempt, to travel to Huambo, by chartered plane or otherwise, and they did not need to since the Project Manager was in touch with them almost daily wanting to know what they had done with $1.65 million that they had received. The thing that is interesting is that the very same people, who had received this very large sum of money to implement a project in Huambo, now claimed that they were unable to report on how they had in fact implemented that project since they have no contact with this project and does not know how to get to it.)
On 23 April 2001 an e-mail written by Dimitri Samaras (UNOPS) to Michele Falavigna (UNDP New York):
Many thanks Michele .
One thing which I am sure of is that UNDP participated fully in the selection and the award of the contract to RUTEC and the funds were used for services that are spelled out in the RUTEC’s contract.
In addition, it is my understanding that the activities undertaken were so positive that the Local authorities were to mobilize additional funding.
I can assure you that the Production Centre’s initiative had met the full endorsement of many actors and in particular the Funder i.e. UNDP and the Recipient i.e. the Government of Angola.
So to question it today, as it was done by UNDP new Leadership was indeed not a plus in terms of projecting a positive image but rather was felt as some kind of “ retaliation” for which UNOPS is not part of.
Mr James Curry, Director of OAPR submitted to UNOPS on 14 January 2001 a memo in which he referred to some allegations made by the Resident Representative. That kind of attitude is indeed not conducive to constructive understanding of what went well and wrong.
Nevertheless we have answered his queries and concerns in a memo dated 13 February 2001. A copy of this memo will be sent to all so that you get a better idea of the situation (where we started, how we started and which role we played). Talking about failures is already taking a strong position which I believe at this juncture is premature.
I am scheduling a visit to Angola next month with the Division Chief and would hopefully be able to clarify the misunderstandings that are occurring.
I hope we can joint efforts and try to overcome perhaps things that are beyond our control.
I am waiting as well as a positive reaction from the CO since I have many times offered my services to regularize situations which can be with of course a good will.
MANY THANKS.
I stand ready to bring any contribution required from our end and serve the noble cause that we are serving after all i.e. the development one.
And then the issue became forgotten until one Erick de Mul came up with the following justification in a letter to the staff, dated 13 January 2002, and addressed also to the Director of Planning Dr. Henrique Barbosa, the Governor, Engo Paulo Kassoma and the Minister of Planning, Ana Dias Lourenço:
Subject: Your requests of 21 December 2001 and 09 January 2002
The office of the United Nations Development Programme in Angola has the honour to present its respectful compliments to the collective of the ex-staff of the project RUTEC-Microform in Huambo and makes reference to the issue mentioned in the title line.
In this respect we would like to inform you that we take note of your concerns manifested by way of your requests, and to guarantee you that our office has pledged to do everything since the end of 2000 to find a solution to this difficult situation.
However, as you know UNDP did not have any direct responsibility in the execution and implementation of the RUTEC-Microform project in the province of Huambo. The responsibility of UNDP is limited to the formulation and financing of the project[1], the execution of the same having been entrusted to the United Nations Office for Project Services “UNOPS,” that had in turn contracted the private South African company “RUTEC” as implementing agent for the project.
. . .
(Signed by Erick de Mul as Resident Representative UNDP)
One wonders if it should be noted that Graig N. Murphy, in his pseudo-factual book “UNDP: Abetter Way?” describes UNDP as a “model of efficiency.”
[1] Underlined by Author.
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Cool!
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