USAID report reveals failures in vetting Ukraine aid partners for trafficking risks

A recent report from the U.S. Agency for International Development's inspector general revealed that the agency failed to properly vet humanitarian groups receiving aid for Ukraine. Over 90% of funding awards from February 2022 to September 2023 lacked necessary measures to prevent sexual exploitation and trafficking. The report highlighted that many aid applications did not meet USAID's standards, yet the agency still funded them, totaling around $750 million. USAID's monitoring of these organizations was inadequate, relying on virtual meetings and third-party oversight. In response to the report, USAID agreed to some procedural changes but rejected a proposal to ask about protection measures during inspections. The agency's future is uncertain as the Trump administration seeks to dissolve it amid ongoing criticism of its operations.