Foreign Disaster Fund: Court of Audit Criticizes

In a report published on Friday, it states that a large portion of the funds is allocated to already existing disasters, although the fund was originally intended for unforeseen disasters. Furthermore, there is a lack of a formally established strategy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs instead of ADA

Additionally, the ministry has implemented projects itself, although the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is designated as the responsible body. This has led to duplications in the allocation of funds. Moreover, the Court of Auditors criticizes an incomprehensible documentation of the decision-making basis for the allocation of AKF funds.

The Court of Auditors recommends conducting the allocation of funds through the ADA as a unified processing body. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since January 2023, all AKF funds have been implemented via the ADA.

More than 100 million euros in 2022

The years 2019 to 2023 were reviewed. During this period, between 15 million euros (2019) and 108.96 million euros (2022) were disbursed. According to the Court of Auditors, only 31 percent of the funds were used for newly occurring disasters. In 2022, about 87 percent of the funds were allocated to already existing ongoing disasters in recipient countries such as Syria.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Court of Auditors report does not indicate any serious objections. The main recommendation, that all AKF funds should be processed through the ADA, confirms the chosen approach of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has been implemented since 2023. The use of the funds is based on the strategy of Austria's humanitarian aid. Long-lasting crises and aid activities of recent years that require continuation are focal points of the disbursements from the AKF.

(APA/Red)

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