NRC encourages open discussions and acknowledges that corruption may occur even under the best of control systems. Our policy is to be transparent, and one element of that is that annually, by 30 June, we publish an overview of the closed corruption cases which were investigated the previous year.
During 2024, the below cases of alleged financial corruption/misconduct were invested and concluded. These were allegations to which a substantive, possible or attempted financial loss can be attributed, or where the nature of the allegation is explicitly impactive financially (e.g. fraud, extortion, bribery, etc.). The investigations into the cases below were closed in 2024. All cases were detected because of NRC’s internal control measures or through our whistleblowing system, Speak Up. Affected donors have been informed and where money has been lost, NR has sought to recover the amount or cover it. Proper prevention measures were applied accordingly, and appropriate disciplinary action taken in line with NRC policy and relevant law.
Afghanistan
Fraud – Case Number 00009119
It was alleged that NRC staff manipulated project participant selection criteria, accepted gifts, and filed fraudulent per diem claims.
The investigation determined that the allegations of manipulating participant selection and accepting gifts were unfounded but found that certain staff members hand improperly claimed per diem allowances.
Fraud – Case Number 00009388
Allegation of corruption in the ICLA team. The investigation determined that an excess number of refreshment kits were ordered for use during information sessions without any corresponding proof that they were provided to project participants.
Extortion – Case Number 00010218
It was alleged that a contingent worker was charging enrolment fees to project participants. The investigation found the allegation to be unsubstantiated.
Bangladesh
Extortion – Case Number 00009279
It was alleged that a mentor teacher in a camp was extorting project participants for participation in the programme. The investigation found the allegations not substantiated.
Extortion – Case Number 00009693
It was alleged that an NRC incentive worker was extorting project participants in one of the camps. The investigation found the allegations to be true.
Cameroon
Theft – Case Number 00009731
It was reported that stock was missing from the warehouse. The investigation found no misconduct. The items were later found.
Extortion – Case Number 00010221
It was alleged that project participants were requested to pay for inclusion on a distribution list. The investigation was inconclusive.
Central Africa Republic
Theft – Case Number 00009385
It was reported that a vendor had not been paid for services (approximately 1,8734.42 USD) while NRC accounts indicated that the payment had been made. The investigation determined that an NRC staff member had taken the money for their own use.
Fraud – Case Number 00010131
It was alleged that an NRC staff charged suppliers additional fees for their own benefit. The investigation found this allegation substantiated.
Fraud – Case Number 00009292
Fraudulent activity was suspected by an NRC staff member related to a cash advance request. The investigation found the suspicious activity unsubstantiated.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Fraud – Case Number 00009405
It was alleged that programme staff were conspiring with local officials to embezzle project funds through price inflation. The investigation found the allegation to be substantiated. The total affected amount was 33,150 USD.
Guatemala
Misappropriation of Funds – Case Number 00009590
It was alleged that an NRC staff member had diverted coupons redeemable for a value of 220 UD from an eligible project participant. The investigation found the allegation unsubstantiated.
Honduras
Fraud – Case Number 00010038
Cash assistance irregularities on a protection project were identified. The investigation found that forms were signed without payment being made, a transfer
was ordered to an unlisted participant, and there was an overpayment of approximately 209 USD. The irregularities were attributed to mistakes and not corruption.
Iran
Fraud – Case Number 00009416
It was alleged that senior leadership in a partner organisation was misappropriating funds and withholding staff salaries. The investigation confirmed the partner organisation had violated labour laws by not paying wages and manipulated financial documents to misrepresent rental payments. Although broader fraud could not be proved, evidence suggested likely further regularities.
Iraq
Extortion – Case Number 00009669
It was alleged that a contingent worker was extorting project participants by requiring them to pay fees to participate in the programme. The investigation found the allegation to be unsubstantiated.
Jordan
Theft/Fraud – Case Number 00009475
It was alleged that an NRC staff member had misappropriated NRC resources through the falsification of documents. The investigation found the allegations to be substantiated.
Libya
Procurement Fraud – Case Number 00009778
It was alleged that an NRC staff member abused their position in procurement for financial benefit by engaging in favourtism with a supplier. The investigation found the allegations to be substantiated. The total estimated value affected was 22,853.25 USD.
Mali
Extortion – Case Number 00009770
It was alleged that community leaders were extorting NRC project participants after cash distributions. The investigation found the case to be unsubstantiated.
Procurement Fraud – Case Number 00010193
It was alleged that NRC staff had fraudulently certified that ordered items had been delivered when they had not. The investigation found the allegation to be substantiated. The total effected value is 62,274.80 Euro.
Moldova
Fraud – Case Number 00009563
Concerns were raised that a service provider was charging multiple Non-Governmental Organisations for the same service. The investigation found these allegations to be unsubstantiated.
Myanmar
Fraud – Case Number 00009650
It was alleged that NRC staff engaged in fraud and embezzlement through the creation of fake project participant lists / households as part of the cash for shelter repairs training and cash distribution programmes. NRC was unable to investigate due to the security situation in the area and the inability to conduct the investigation remotely.
Nigeria
Favourtism – Case Number 00009453
It was alleged that the son of a community leader in a cap favoured certain residents and distributed aid tokens during a WASH kit distribution. The investigation concluded the allegations were false.
Favourtism – Case Number 00009454
It was alleged that local officials, collaborating with NRC staff, favoured relatives and non-targeted individuals in selecting participants for NRC support. An investigation confirmed that six officials selected family members with permission from an NRC staff who provided payment tokens, violating NRC procedures. This resulted in approximately 2,695 USD in diverted aid. An additional allegation uncovered during the investigation led to a separate finding of token theft and a further loss of 1,012 USD involving the same staff member.
Extortion – Case Number 00009426
It was alleged that community focal points were extorting project participants during shelter and WASH activities. The investigation found that two community focal points were not extorting funds but charging a legitimate fee for land certificates. The investigation concluded the allegation was unsubstantiated.
Theft – Case Number 00009964
It was reported that aid had been stolen by NRC staff. The investigation revealed that poor compliance, incomplete records, and a lack of reporting allowed for theft from a guarded warehouse.
Extortion – Case Number 00009455
It was alleged that a community focal point and an NRC community based worker were exploiting project participants by taking 50% of their entitlements. The investigation found these allegations to be false.
Fraud – Case Number 00010022
It was alleged that an NRC enumerator and a project participant (the reporter) conspired to falsely register the enumerator as a project participant to receive a cash allotment with plans
to split the money. The reporter submitted the report after the enumerator allegedly backed out of their agreement. The investigation found the allegation to be substantiated. The value of the affected funds was 441 USD.
Extortion – Case Number 00009308
It was alleged that community focal point leads sold distribution tokens to project participants. The investigation found this allegation to be unsubstantiated.
Fraud – Case Number 00009522
It was reported that an NRC staff member had submitted a payment form for goods that had already been delivered and paid for. The investigation concluded that these documents were forgeries and that a staff member has colluded with a supplier to defraud NRC of 23,167.08 USD.
Theft – Case Number 00009672
It was alleged that an NRC staff attempted to divert water network hose popes after completion of borehole rehabilitation work, including forging of documentation. The allegation was substantiated. The estimated value at risk was 945.60 USD
Theft – Case Number 00009683
Reports were received of missing stock from the warehouse. The investigation revealed corruption by NRC staff.
Procurement Fraud – Case Number 00010051
It was alleged that NRC staff were colluding with a supplier to underdeliver solar lights while certifying full delivery and splitting the excess payment and ordering unnecessary replacement lights for resale. The investigation found the allegation unsubstantiated.
Somalia
Fraud – Case Number 00009379
There were concerns of potential fraud on a distribution as three recipients were not from the community and suspected to have been ghost beneficiaries. The investigation found these concerns to be unsubstantiated.
Fraud – Case Number 00009664
Reports of potential ghost beneficiaries on a cash distribution. Investigation determined that there were ghost beneficiaries, but it was not determined who added them. Value effected was 810 USD.
Tanzania
Procurement Fraud – Case Number 00009422
An alternator from a generator had been removed and stolen. It was not clear on when the theft took place as the generator was not in use at the time and was awaiting repair. The theft was reported to the police and no suspects or investigative leads were identified. Value of loss was approximately 1,000 USD.
Fraud – Case Number 00009907
Concerns that an NRC staff member was misappropriating NRC funds intended for tax payments. The investigation found that the staff member obtained a cheque from NRC to pay the principal amount, but the tax authority lowered the amount, and the NRC staff was able to split the cheque at the bank, allowing them to pay the lowered amount and keep the remainder. Value of effected funds was 18,135 USD.
Uganda
Extortion – Case Number 00009923
It was alleged that school staff had misappropriated funds on a school improvements project supported by NRC and submitted false accountability documents to conceal it. The investigation found the allegation substantiated and the case was referred to the District Service Commission. The value of effected funds was 3,968.15 USD.
Extortion – Case Number 00010173
It was alleged that school staff had misappropriated funds on an NRC supported project. The allegation was substantiated and referred to the employer of the school staff. The value of effected funds was 2,156.02 USD.
Ukraine
Falsification of Documents – Case Number 00009444
It was alleged that an NRC staff had tampered with a project participant list. The investigation found the allegations unsubstantiated.
Conflict of Interest – Case Number 00010210
It was reported that staff within a partner organisation financially benefited from a conflict of interest. The investigation concluded there was no conflict of interest and the allegation was unsubstantiated.
Venezuela
Bribery – Case Number 00009946
Concerns that a former NRC staff was receiving kickbacks on rental premises agreements. The investigation found the allegations to be unsubstantiated.