This request follows the conclusions of an audit undertaken in 2019 at the level of several public entities. The United Nations Children’s Fund finances, among other things, projects to fight against malnutrition, access to water and education in the Big Island.
With our correspondent in Antananarivo, Laetitia Bezain
It is through a press release from the Council of Ministers that the Malagasy government made public this case which concerns funding granted by UNICEF between 2014 and 2019 to various ministries. The Malagasy authorities have announced the opening of an investigation into what they themselves describe as ” embezzlement of public funds “. “ It was found that there were expenses which were not agreed upon and Unicef is now seeking reimbursement of these funds “, they specify.
The Head of State, Andry Rajoelina, has instructed to send a general State inspection to the services concerned and to transmit the results to the Independent Anti-Corruption Office. ” A number of departments have outstanding funds that have not been used within the time allowed. The standard procedure is to return these funds to Unicef “Reacted the UN agency. While she has been trying to get reimbursed for these three billion ariary for several years, the latter says ” commend the President’s commitment to expedite this process » and ” reiterates its desire to support the government so that no child is left behind “.
Before his departure in 2021, the former representative of Unicef in the Big Island had made it known that such a situation could constitute ” a brake on the possible funding that the government of Madagascar could benefit from donors “.