Islamabad, September 23, 2010 - The United States announced today that it will launch a hotline to report fraud, waste, and abuse related to activities funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. This initiative aims to increase transparency of USAID-funded programs and ensure responsible management of U.S. development assistance.

The new anti-fraud hotline for USAID-funded activities is a five-year, $3 million initiative that will be implemented by Transparency International Pakistan. Users of the hotline will be able to report suspected misuse of funds and the USAID Inspector General will review all credible allegations and coordinate with relevant Pakistani authorities.

"An effective complaint handling mechanism is essential in mitigating the risks of funding misuse and in ensuring that relief efforts are maximally effective," said Bob Wilson, USAID Mission Director. "This is a normal oversight mechanism in many countries where we work."

The hotline is just the first piece of a larger anti-corruption initiative that USAID plans to undertake in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan in the near future.