Barry Andrews in Syria in 2013.
By Ray O’Hanlon
Irish aid agency GOAL has been plunged into crisis amid an investigation by U.S. authorities and the resignation today of the organization’s CEO, Barry Andrews.
GOAL, which operates an affiliate in the U.S., GOAL USA, has been a leading Irish international aid and relief organization since its founding almost four decades ago by Irish sports journalist, John O’Shea.
GOAL USA, based in Manhattan, announced recently that its annual fundraising ball, a standout fixture in the city’s Irish American social calendar, would not take place this year.
It was scheduled for October 21 at Cipriani on Broadway.
John O’Shea was ousted from his leadership role in GOAL in 2012 and was replaced by Andrews, a former Irish government minister in a Fianna Fail-led administration.
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, said in a statement today that he had learned of the decision by Barry Andrews to stand down as CEO of GOAL.
“I would like to acknowledge to his personal contribution in the role over the past four years,” said Flanagan.
Continued: Flanagan: I have been seriously concerned about the issues under investigation by the U.S. relating to procurement practices for humanitarian assistance operations for Syria, since learning of the investigation at the end of April.
“My department has been in regular contact with the U.S. authorities and with GOAL.
“I outlined the government’s concerns in a meeting with the chair and members of the board of GOAL last month.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has withheld €10.1 million in planned funding for GOAL pending further clarity on the U.S. investigation and on the plans of GOAL. The department is maintaining regular contact with the board of GOAL.”
GOAL has for years been in receipt of aid funding and supplies from The U.S. government’s foreign aid arm, USAID.
Earlier this year, USAID informed GOAL and a number of other agencies, including well known U.S. ones, to halt certain procurement with American funds pending the outcome of an inquiry into alleged bribery and bid-rigging involving suppliers on the Turkey-Syria border.
According to an Irish Times report, the USAID investigation, being carried out by the U.S. Office of the Inspector General, resulted in the Department of Foreign Affairs withholding funding.
Barry Andrews confirmed to the Times that he was stepping down and that GOAL needed “a fresh start in terms of leadership.”
Mr. Andrews released a statement in which he said: “I have served as CEO of GOAL for four years, during which time GOAL has completed a number of highly effective humanitarian responses.
“Our long term work has evolved significantly and I have enjoyed working with highly motivated colleagues.
“The circumstances of the OIG investigation over the last seven months has been extremely uncomfortable for GOAL and we are working hard on correcting the weaknesses identified and providing all necessary assurances to our donors.
“I do not for one moment resent the robust oversight of our donor partners and if we are serious about retaining public trust and managing large sums of taxpayers’ money, then this type of oversight is not only to be expected but to be welcomed.
“GOAL applies exacting standards to the management of its programs and in my leadership role over the last few years I have endeavored to apply those standards.
However, it has become clear to me that GOAL requires a fresh start in terms of leadership. To that end, I informed GOAL’s Board of Directors last August of my intention to step down as CEO as soon as a suitable replacement could be identified.
“I have agreed to continue as interim CEO and I am delighted to note that a new appointment will be announced in the next few days starting next month.
“I will continue, in the meantime, to lead the Senior Management Team working closely with the Board and to provide the necessary assurances to our donors that will allow GOAL to continue providing life-saving services to its 12 million beneficiaries.”
GOAL chairperson, Anne O’Leary, thanked Mr. Andrews for his dedication and commitment to GOAL over the past four years.
She said in a statement: “Barry was appointed as CEO of GOAL during a turbulent time in the organization’s history.
Not only was he largely responsible for helping stabilize the organization following his appointment, he also led GOAL during a period of strong growth.
“The number of people GOAL have been able to reach has increased in his time from approximately four million people across 13 countries at the end of 2012, to 12 million people across 19 countries by the end of 2015.”
“Most of the growth in relief services was driven by the ongoing conflict in war-torn Syria and by the response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, two crises in which GOAL played a significant humanitarian and advocacy role.
“I want to thank Barry for the outstanding leadership he has provided to GOAL during his tenure over the last four years. He has also been an outstanding spokesperson for GOAL on the national and international stage and in particular has been a courageous advocate on behalf of the people of Syria.”
Meanwhile, the cancellation of the GOAL Ball in New York - what the agency describes as its “cornerstone fundraising event” – was revealed in a letter sent by GOAL USA on September 14.
The letter referred to “a change of circumstances” as the reason for the cancellation.
Said the letter in part: @The Board of Directors of GOAL USA and friends of the organization made the difficult decision to postpone the Benefit Ball scheduled for October 21…For a variety of sound reasons it was decided that now is not the best time to host the event.
“In the meanwhile, GOAL will continue to provide humanitarian relief work and long-term development programs...in the countries where such programs are needed.
“All of us at GOAL USA and ourt board members remain steadfast in our commitment to the vulnerable population we served globally and we trust that we can continue to rely on your generous support.”
The letter was signed by Margot Steinberg, GOAL USA’s Director of Philantrophy.
GOAL was founded in 1977 by John O’Shea, a sports writer at the Evening Press newspaper in Dublin.
Its first overseas operation was in Kolkata (then Calcutta) in India, but in subsequent years its operation attained a much more far flung global reach.
O’Shea drew support from a number of international sports stars who became ambassadors for GOAL, which developed rapidly during the 1980s and would eventully become Ireland’s largest international aid and relief agency.
GOAL marketed itself heavily on the speed of its reponse to crises and diasters and also on the fact that it kept overheads at a very low level, thus allowing a very high proportion of its funds to be applied directly to its overseas operations.
It was the very size that GOAL attained that, in part, led to O’Shea - a high profile, highly outspoken and sometimes controversial CEO - leaving GOAL and being replaced by Barry Andrews.
