GAVI said that following separate investigations into the misuse of GAVI funding in Cameroon and Niger, both Ministries of Health “have cooperated fully and confirmed their commitment to take all necessary measures, including the reimbursement of misused funds.” GAVI said the investigations began last year after GAVI’s oversight processes “raised credible concerns” that funds were misused during the period 2007-2010. The findings suggest that up to US$4.2 million allocated for health systems strengthening (HSS) has been misused in Cameroon, and up to US$2.5 million allocated for immunisation services support (ISS) has been misused in Niger. Of these amounts, GAVI noted, approximately US$ 1.8 million in Cameroon and US$ 1.5 million in Niger are under investigation for theft. Also of concern are the other misused funds which were spent without sufficient documentation or used to pay for activities in the health sector but outside the scope of GAVI’s grant agreements. GAVI originally announced the Niger and Cameroon investigations in 2011 and, at the same time, suspended funding to the affected cash-based programmes. Support to the rest of the two countries’ childhood immunisation programmes have continued uninterrupted. Since its launch in 2000, GAVI has confirmed two other cases of misuse of its funds (in Uganda and Mali). Both cases have since been resolved and funds recovered.

http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/statements/2012/gavi-works-with-cameroon-and-niger-to-recover-misused-funds/