USAID halted humanitarian food aid to \u2018famine-like conditions\u2019 in Ethiopia because so many products were being stolen. This is the \u2018theft\u2019 type of food fraud, and a food fraud prevention strategy can be applied for assessment and prevention. This is a massively complex problem, and simple first steps are critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In April 2023, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that they were investigating humanitarian food theft in Ethiopia<\/a>. The stolen or diverted product is especially concerning in Ethiopia since as many as 20 million of the 120 million population are in \u201cfamine-like\u201d situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Later in May 2023, USAID \u2018paused\u2019 shipments of humanitarian food aid<\/a> to Tigray, a region in Ethiopia. \u201cUSAID uncovered that food aid, intended for the people of Tigray suffering under famine-like conditions, was being diverted and sold on the local market.\u201d \u201cUSAID stands ready to restart paused food assistance only when strong oversight measures are in place, and we are confident that assistance will reach the intended vulnerable populations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then earlier this month, in June 2023, it was announced that humanitarian food aid to all of Ethiopia would be halted<\/a>. \u201cThe two governments commit to collaborate toward an efficient aid distribution system in Ethiopia, which would safeguard assistance from diversion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They state \u2018diversion,\u2019 but this would fall into the food fraud category of theft or stolen goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u2018oversight measures\u2019 could be a food fraud prevention strategy such as is already implemented in the food supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This would all start with a root cause analysis or crime scene investigation, such as food supply chain mapping with hot spot analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, some processes and experiences can be applied to this specific fraud opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The USAID does have an Anti-Fraud Plan<\/a> (ADS Chapter 596). \u201cThe objective of USAID\u2019s Anti-Fraud Plan is to implement an integrated, enterprise-wide strategy that includes the awareness, prevention, detection, monitoring, early-response reporting, and evaluation of fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, food fraud prevention strategies follow the same risk management methods. Food fraud prevention methods are noted below alongside the USAID Anti-Fraud Plan requirements (Reference: Defining the Public Health Threat of Food Fraud<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The U.S. Fraud Reduction and Data Analytics Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-186) plan requires USAID for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, there are many resources to help get started. The efforts to address this new problem do not require developing new processes or new knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The concept of humanitarian food aid fraud has been explained within the food fraud prevention concept of Praedial Larceny and Agricultural Theft (PLAT). Generally, Praedial Larceny is a concept from Commonwealth laws, and it is a common topic in regions such as the Caribbean. In 2019, the concept was published in the Food Fraud Prevention textbook<\/a>. The concept was developed during a 2018 food fraud prevention conference in Trinidad & Tobago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Praedial Larceny and Agricultural Theft (PLAT) concept was initially conceived during discussions at the 2018 food fraud prevention conference in Trinidad & Tobago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The food fraud prevention methods were applied to Trinidad & Tobago and can apply to Ethiopia. [Note: more country-level examples exist in the Food Fraud Prevention textbook.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Praedial Larceny and Agricultural Theft (PLAT) concepts were presented at a conference USAID and the World Food Programme attended. This presentation included a case study of thefts of goats from small farms, including possible countermeasures and control systems. The presentation listed \u201cType of Fraudster: neighbor(s), gang, regional crime group, organized crime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nFood Fraud Prevention Based on the USAID and the Anti-Fraud Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Praedial Larceny and Agricultural Theft (PLAT)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Trinidad & Tobago<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Previous USAID\/ World Food Programme Presentation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n