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Hi, I'm Kathy Buller, the Inspector General for the Peace Corps.
Every year the Peace Corps places and supports thousands of Volunteers around the world and
these Volunteers consistently meet the amazing challenges of Peace Corps service.
The Office of Inspector General has a unique role in the mission of the Peace Corps that
I think you should know about. Our goal is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness
of Peace Corps programs, initiatives and operations, and to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. To
accomplish our goal a team of auditors, evaluators, and criminal investigators staff our office,
including a number former Peace Corps Volunteers. The Office of Inspector General supports the
mission of the agency by providing independent oversight. We are part of the Peace Corps,
and I report to the Director. But unlike any other division of the organization, our work
is not only reported to agency managers -- but is also directly reported to the Congress.
We give your congressional representatives direct access to information about how well
the Peace Corps is achieving its mission.
I frequently send my team overseas to review post operations, to talk to the Volunteers
and staff face to face to make sure they have the services and support they need. Your input
is critical in the success of our country program evaluations and post audits. These
reports will always be publicly available on our website.
We also review headquarters operations. We have made recommendations that streamlined
broad agency processes like budgeting and contracting, and have improved functions like
Volunteer recruitment, placement, safety and security and medical services. We also ensure
that agency funds are being properly used and wisely spent - to maximize resources for
Volunteers and to recover any funds stolen from the agency. Every dollar misused is one
less the agency has to support Volunteers.
While the vast majority of Peace Corps staff and Volunteers are ethical and hard working,
sometimes even people in the Peace Corps make mistakes. So, we also conduct investigations
of staff and Volunteers who violate Peace Corps policies or the law.
But, we can't carry out our mission alone; that's where you come in. Each of you, every
employee and every Volunteer, has the right and the responsibility to contact us when
you see a problem that needs to be fixed. We know that sometimes it can be hard to come
forward when you see or hear about something that is wrong. But, contact my office by phone,
through the website or by email and we will treat your comments seriously, with respect
for your privacy, and keep your identity confidential to the maximum extent required by the Inspector
General Act. Thank you for taking the time to learn more
about the role the Office of the Inspector General plays in supporting Peace Corps Volunteers
and programs worldwide. Together, we can help pave the way to a better and more efficient
Peace Corps.