More than $700 million in international funding meant to support the fight against Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains unaccounted for, raising fresh questions about transparency and accountability in the management of emergency health funds.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Congolese health authorities are demanding clearer financial records from organisations involved in the response, as the country battles an outbreak that has put pressure on its already stretched healthcare system.
International donors have disbursed approximately $962 million to organisations implementing Ebola response activities in the DRC. However, authorities say they have yet to obtain sufficient financial information to establish how much of the money has been received, spent or remains available.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said the problem was primarily one of transparency and financial reporting, cautioning against jumping to conclusions about possible wrongdoing.
He told Reuters it was too early to speak of embezzlement, but warned that the funding gap prevented authorities from getting a complete picture of the resources mobilised to fight the outbreak.
The figures emerging from a recent meeting convened by the Congolese health ministry illustrate the scale of the challenge. Only about a third of the organisations involved in the response attended and provided financial information.
Those that participated reported receiving $228 million, of which $127 million had been spent, while roughly $100 million remained available. The figures leave a substantial portion of the reported donor funding without adequate financial information.
Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba has also called on aid organisations to disclose their funding sources, objectives and implementation progress.
Kaseya warned that organisations failing to comply with accountability requirements could be barred from operating in the DRC and potentially blacklisted across Africa.
Accountability concerns amid a health emergency
The revelations come at a critical time for the DRC, where mistrust of health workers and response agencies has previously complicated efforts to contain Ebola outbreaks. Earlier responses have also faced allegations of favouritism and corruption.
Beyond the financial questions, the funding gap raises concerns about whether resources are reaching the communities and health facilities that need them most.
Delays and gaps in funding oversight are threatening to undermine the delivery of essential supplies, treatment and other interventions needed to protect lives.
The immediate task is to reconcile the figures, establish how the money has been used and ensure that donor funding delivers the intended results.
The controversy also points to a challenge facing humanitarian operations across Africa including securing international funding is only part of the battle. Governments and implementing partners must also demonstrate that the money is properly accounted for and reaches the people it was intended to help.