SIGAR's roles:
• Give objective oversight of Afghan reconstruction
• Perform audits and investigations
• Make sure reconstruction programs are efficient and effective
• Find and prevent waste, fraud and abuse in spending
Source: sigar.mil
Ball State was one of four universities asked to speak at a discussion Wednesday in Washington, D.C. about governmental money spent in Afghanistan.
Kenneth Holland, executive director of the Center for International Development, explained to staff members from Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) that the effort the U.S. government has put into Afghanistan hasn’t been wasted, and that it was money well spent.
The other three professors were from University of Virginia, University of Washington and University of South Carolina.
“Four universities were singled out for attention,” Holland said. “SIGAR thinks [we] are the most important four universities to talk about this subject.”
Ball State is one of the major universities working in Afghanistan, and Holland said the university has been heavily involved in improving the court system there.
“Ball State is very highly regarded by many different agencies in the U.S. government and so we have a strong reputation as a major university that’s helping developing counties,” Holland said.
SIGAR has to report quarterly to Congress whether the money spent by the U.S. government in Afghanistan is being spent appropriately.
The quarterly report looks at SIGAR’s audits and investigative activities, and gives an overview of the reconstruction activities going on in Afghanistan, according to sigar.mil. They also try to catch and prevent waste, fraud and abuse of the money going there.
Ball State received a grant from NATO to study trial courts in 100 districts in Afghanistan.
“Our study is one of the best-regarded studies of its kind and it’s one of the reasons we were singled out to be invited to Washington,” Holland said.
The U.S. had a high military presence in the past, and they worked on developing rule of law in Afghanistan, Holland said.
“There’s additional work that still needs to be done there,” Holland said. “My hope is that the U.S. government will continue to fund development projects in Afghanistan. The danger here is that Congress and the American people will lose their interest in the country.”
Read More
Here are 3 takeaways from Ball States home loss to Indiana State
By David Moore / 11 hours agoThe Cardinals fell at home to the Sycamores 94-84. Here are 3 takeaways from the matchup.
'The results matter too:' Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell speaks on firing of Mike Neu
By Zach Carter / 12 hours agoAfter it was announced Saturday morning that Ball State football head coach Mike Neu was dismissed, Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell spoke to the media about the move.
Ink Drinkers Anonymous bookstore celebrates two years as a locally owned business
By Katherine Hill / 18 hours agoThe business began out of owner Keeley Malone’s passion for offering representation to all authors.
