World Vision Malawi flagged for fraud in Global Fund malaria grant audit

An audit by the Global Fund’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has identified approximately K576 million (US$125,901) in non-compliant expenditures and systemic control failures within World Vision Malawi (WVM). The investigation focused on the management of a K151 billion malaria grant between 2020 and 2022.

The OIG reported significant fraudulent activity involving a local supplier, Planet Car Hire, which submitted 13 fraudulent invoices totaling $46,922. The supplier allegedly misrepresented vehicles, billing for Land Cruisers and buses that were actually registered as motorcycles or small cars. Additionally, auditors found K101 million ($22,122) in internal fraud, where WVM finance staff processed fictitious payment requisitions, including one involving a forged delivery note and another involving a payment diverted to a personal bank account.

In total, the OIG flagged $125,901 in non-compliant spending, including $56,857 in vehicle hire costs that could not be verified due to poor record-keeping. The report noted that these documentation failures prevented auditors from confirming whether critical indoor residual spraying (IRS) health interventions actually occurred. World Vision Malawi stated it self-detected several issues and has since recovered some of the funds.