Summary: The State Department has not acted on recommendations by GAO and Congress to improve the management of its overseas posts. GAO suggested that each diplomatic post establish a proactive management improvement program. Although State has taken steps to improve embassy management controls, these initiatives were inconsistently implemented at embassies GAO visited. As a result, long-standing management deficiencies continue to hinder the efficiency and the effectiveness of many embassies' operations. By contrast, three embassies--those in Ankara, Turkey; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Tunis, Tunisia--have implemented management practices to improve administrative operations. These practices, which include tracking accounts receivables and automating travel vouchers, have strengthened internal controls, improved compliance with regulations, reduced costs, and led to more efficient and effective operations. In addition, these embassies differed from other posts GAO visited because of the active involvement of senior management and the use of existing reporting mechanisms. These management practices could be replicated at other embassies.
