In an effort to restore the credibility of its scandal-ridden procurement programme, the United Nations has asked a leading global consulting and accounting firm to carry out a 'full financial and internal control review' of the procedures followed by it.
The inquiry by Deloitte Consulting, a 150-year old consulting and accounting firm, is expected to start on Monday. The process is expected to be completed by the end of September.
The firm has been asked to condut a 'full financial and internal control review' of the world body's procurement system, the United Nations said.
The shortcomings, irregularities and corruption in the procurement procedures and award of contracts came to light during investigation by an independent panel into the 63 billion dollar Iraqi oil-for-food programme, the biggest humanitarian project ever undertaken by the world body.
Also read : Half the companies in oil-for-food program paid kickbacks
Even as the panel headed by former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker indicted head of the programme Benon Sevan, the United Nations own internal oversight office found several irregularities over the years leading to questions being raised by major contributors about the effectiveness of controls evolved by the world body.
Former procurement officer Alexander Yakovlev is facing charges of soliciting kickbacks as a result of internal investigation and also of findings of the panel.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, in an effort to repair the damage, placed the procurement division under direct control of UN Controller Warren Sach who announced the appointment of Deloitte.
Two weeks ago, the 3rd Interim Report of the Independent Inquiry Committee accused former procurement officer Alexander Yakovlev of soliciting kickbacks.
It also concluded that the former executive director of the UN Office of the Iraq Programme, Benon Sevan, 'corruptly benefitted' from his role in the oil-for-food-programme.
Annan vowed that the UN would act vigorously to ensure there were no more 'bad apples' in its procurement department, and pledged that the corruption outlined by the Volcker panel 'will not happen again.'
