Wildlife Trafficking: Agencies Should Improve Efforts to Protect Human Rights in Overseas Activities
Fast Facts
Park rangers overseas—who received training and support from partner organizations using U.S. funding to combat wildlife trafficking—have allegedly committed human rights violations, including sexual assault and murder.
Since 2020, U.S. agencies have sought to prevent such abuses by requiring plans outlining how partners will safeguard human rights, and more.
We found weaknesses in these efforts. For example, some partners' plans were 6 to 21 months late. Some partners didn't report abuse allegations promptly—including a sexual assault that one U.S. agency was unaware of.
Our 9 recommendations address these issues.
Tanzanian Village Leader Explaining Community Bulletin Board Illustrating Local Grievance and Redress Mechanism
Highlights
What GAO Found
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Department of State award funds to partner organizations that support park rangers' efforts to protect wildlife around the world. Since 2020, these agencies have taken steps to enhance human rights protection mechanisms, or social safeguards, to help prevent human rights abuses in ranger activities they support. For example, USAID published guidance for partners on social safeguards, including on community consultation and engagement; consideration of Indigenous Peoples' rights; human rights training for park rangers; and grievance mechanisms. FWS began a pilot to assess social risks and safeguards for its awards. In addition, State began adding language on social safeguards to combating wildlife trafficking award notices.
While agencies have taken steps to ensure partners plan for social safeguards to protect human rights, GAO identified gaps in selected awards. For example, USAID generally required partners to provide social safeguards plans, but several of its partners, among the awards GAO reviewed, did not provide the plans in a timely manner. These partners provided plans 6 to 21 months after their due dates. As a result, USAID did not have timely information to determine whether partners had designed appropriate social safeguards to address human rights risks and prevent abuses from occurring in projects they support.
GAO also found weaknesses in agencies' monitoring of social safeguards in the 19 awards GAO reviewed. For example, the agencies have not ensured that all partners provide updates in monitoring reports on the status and effectiveness of planned safeguards to protect human rights. In addition, while USAID requires partners to report human rights abuse allegations to USAID in a timely manner, FWS and State do not have similar clear requirements. GAO identified abuse allegations that State was unaware of, including an alleged incident involving sexual abuse by a ranger. Without ensuring partners provide monitoring updates and notify agencies of abuse allegations in a timely manner, agencies may be unaware of abuses, or of whether social safeguards are working as intended to protect Indigenous Peoples or other vulnerable populations.
Rangers Work to Protect Wildlife at Parks and Protected Areas Around the World
Why GAO Did This Study
Wildlife trafficking—the illegal trade and poaching of wild animals—is a transnational crime that threatens security, economic prosperity, and conservation efforts, according to State. In recent years, media reports have alleged that park rangers trained by U.S.-funded partner organizations overseas have committed a range of human rights violations, including sexual assault and murder.
GAO was asked to review human rights protections in U.S. efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. This report addresses (1) changes agencies have made to human rights protection mechanisms in efforts to combat wildlife trafficking since 2020; and the extent agencies have (2) planned for and (3) monitored the effectiveness of social safeguards for selected awards. GAO reviewed documentation, including for a non-generalizable sample of 19 awards, and conducted fieldwork in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.
Recommendations
GAO is making nine recommendations, including that USAID ensure partners submit social safeguards plans in a timely manner; USAID, FWS, and State ensure partners provide monitoring updates on social safeguards; and FWS and State require partners to report abuse allegations in a timely manner. USAID, FWS, and State agreed with the recommendations.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Agency for International Development | The Administrator of USAID should take steps to ensure that implementing partners for awards with ranger activities meet the established timeframes to provide social safeguards plans. (Recommendation 1) |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| United States Fish and Wildlife Service | The Director of FWS should communicate guidance in NOFOs for applicants for direct-funded awards with ranger activities on what information to provide to FWS on project social risks and any planned social safeguard mechanisms to address those risks. These safeguards may include community consultation and engagement, consideration of Indigenous Peoples and FPIC principles, human rights training for rangers, and grievance and redress mechanisms. (Recommendation 2) |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of State | The Secretary of State should ensure INL develops internal guidance for officials who review social safeguards plans in applicant proposals regarding the social risks and social safeguard mechanisms they should consider. These safeguards may include community consultation and engagement, consideration of Indigenous Peoples and FPIC, human rights training for rangers, and grievance and redress mechanisms. (Recommendation 3) |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| U.S. Agency for International Development | The Administrator of USAID should ensure that implementing partners for awards with ranger activities that require social safeguards plans include information in periodic monitoring reports for USAID on the status of implementation of project social safeguard mechanisms and any steps taken to assess their effectiveness. This should include information on any issues encountered, resolutions, and lessons learned. (Recommendation 4) |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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| United States Fish and Wildlife Service | The Director of FWS should periodically update the "abuse of power" risk assessments FWS conducts for direct-funded awards with ranger activities to analyze and respond to any changes in project human rights abuse risks and social safeguards. (Recommendation 5) |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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| United States Fish and Wildlife Service | The Director of FWS, to inform its risk assessments, should ensure that implementing partners for direct-funded awards with ranger activities include updated information in periodic performance reports on human rights abuse risks and applicable project social safeguard mechanisms. This should include information on any issues encountered, resolutions, and lessons learned. (Recommendation 6) |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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| United States Fish and Wildlife Service | The Director of FWS should clarify requirements for implementing partners for direct-funded awards with ranger activities to report grievances or human rights abuse allegations to FWS in a timely manner. (Recommendation 7) |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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| Department of State | The Secretary of State should ensure that implementing partners for INL awards with ranger activities that require social safeguards plans include information in periodic monitoring reports for State on the status of implementation of project social safeguard mechanisms and any steps taken to assess their effectiveness. This should include information on any issues encountered, resolutions, and lessons learned. (Recommendation 8) |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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| Department of State | The Secretary of State should ensure INL clarifies requirements for implementing partners for awards with ranger activities to report grievances or human rights abuse allegations to State in a timely manner. (Recommendation 9) |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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