Second Public Employment for Sustainable Agriculture and Water Resources Management Project - Redacted Report - March 2020

Jul 19, 2026

The report presents the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) findings from an administrative inquiry into allegations of corrupt, fraudulent, collusive, and/or coercive practices related to World Bank-supported activities in Tajikistan. It describes the project’s background, the selection process for a PMU staff role, and how duplicate attestation documents were submitted. Evidence indicates that Individual A provided a fraudulent past employment attestation, and the director confirmed the signature was invalid. The report outlines corrective actions, including debarment with conditional release.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Project objectives and staffing selection

Allegations and Methodology

Referral to INT and evidence review

Findings

Fraudulent past employment attestation

Corrective Actions

Debarment with conditional release

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Republic of Tajikistan Second Public Employment for Sustainable Agriculture and Water Resources Management Project Redacted Report March 2020 Statement of Use and Limitations This Report was prepared by the World Bank Group (the WBG) Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) . It provides the findings of an INT administrative inquiry (the Investigation) into allegations of corrupt, fraudulent, collusive, and/or coercive practices, as defined by the WBG for purposes of its own policies, rules and procedures (the WBG’s Framework regarding Anti-corruption), in relation to the WBG-supported activities. The purpose of the Investigation was to allow the WBG to determine if the WBG’s Framework regarding Anti-corruption has been violated. This Report is being shared to ensure that its recipients are aware of the results of the INT Investigation. However, in view of the specific and limited purpose of the Investigation underlying this Report, this Report should not be used as the sole basis for initiating any administrative, criminal, or civil proceedings. Moreover, this Report should not be cited or otherwise referred to in the course of any investigation, in any investigation reports, orin any administrative, civil, or criminal proceedings. This Report is provided without prejudice to the privileges and immunities conferred on the institutions comprising the WBG and their officers and employees by their respective constituent documents and any other applicable sources of law. The WBG reserves the right to invoke its privileges and immunities, including at any time during the course of an investigation or a subsequent judicial, administrative or other proceeding pursued in connection with this matter. The WBG’s privileges and immunities cannot be waived without the prior express written authorization ofthe WBG. Background The Second Public Employment for Sustainable Agriculture and Water Resources Management Project (the “Project”) in Tajikistan aims to improve food availability and food access for low-income people in poor rural areas. The Project Management Unit (the “PMU”) issued a Letter of Invitation for the selection of a PMU staff member under a World Bank-financed contract. In response to this, several consultants submitted their Curricula Vitae (“CVs”) . The Evaluation Committee recommended that the contract be awarded to Individual A, based on the responsiveness of Individual A’s CV to the “technical and other related aspects specified in the [Terms of Reference] .” Subsequently, in response to the PMU’s request, Individual A submitted a copy of an attestation purportedly signed by the director (the “Director”) of another project implementation unit (the “PIU”) . The document stated that Individual A had been employed by the PIU for over four years. After the PMU and Individual A signed the contract for the PMU staff member position, Individual A re-submitted to the PMU another copy of the same attestation, bearing the same signature. Allegations and Methodology The World Bank noted that the signature on the attestations submitted by Individual A were potentially falsified and referred the matter to the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency (“INT”) . INT’s investigation consisted of, among other things, a review of Project documents and obtaining a statement from the Director. Findings Evidence indicates that Individual A submitted a fraudulent past employment attestation to the PMU. The World Bank noted that the Director’s signature on Individual A’s attestation did not match the Director’s signature in an audit report for a different project managed by the same Director. To verify the authenticity of the signature on the attestation submitted by Individual A, the World Bank sent the Director a copy of the attestation. The Director replied that the signature on the attestation was “invalid.” INT gave Individual A detailed notice of IN

FAQs

What was the purpose of the INT Investigation in this report?

The investigation aimed to determine whether the World Bank Group’s anti-corruption framework was violated in relation to World Bank-supported activities.

How did the staffing selection and attestation documents unfold?

A PMU invitation led consultants to submit CVs, and a contract was recommended for Individual A. Individual A later provided an attestation purportedly signed by the director, and re-submitted the same attestation after signing the contract.

What were the key findings regarding Individual A’s attestation?

Evidence indicates Individual A submitted a fraudulent past employment attestation. The director reported that the signature on the submitted attestation was “invalid.”

What corrective actions did the World Bank take?

The World Bank imposed debarment with conditional release on Individual A, extending to any entity that Individual A directly or indirectly controls.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Evangeline