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– Thorough investigations of the foundation’s finances show clear and systematic violations of the preconditions for grants, says IMDi Director Libe Rieber-Mohn.
IMDi’s decision means that the foundation will not receive the payment of NOK 3,000,000 in the second term.
On August 11, IMDi received a notice regarding various matters related to the Born Free Foundation. Based on the notification, investigations were initiated with an emphasis on the financial management of the foundation.
Born Free, led by Shabana Rehman, received harsh criticism in an investigative report conducted by auditing firm Ernst & Young (EY) on behalf of Imdi.
EY concluded that the foundation lacked sound financial management and that parts of the grant had not been used as intended.
Reject criticism
NRK has contacted Rehman, who says that she herself just received Imdi’s decision and has not yet had time to get acquainted with it.
Born Free has previously rejected criticism of financial mismanagement and demands that all financial support be paid by 2020.
In response, the foundation asked Imdi to reverse the decision.
One response states that “the decision to withhold budgetary funds is incorrect” and that “allocated public funds have been included in the relationship.”
– We do not recognize ourselves in the description given to us. “We have delivered and received good feedback from Imdi in the three years we have been in business,” Født Fris president Jan Asker said during a press conference last month.
– It must have consequences
On September 22, IMDi announced that the operating grant for the second period of 2020 was considered to be withheld. Born Fri was given a response deadline two weeks later and submitted its response on October 6. IMDi has completed the processing of your case and decided to retain support for the second term.
– There is a lot of competition for resources in the field of volunteering, so it is important that the organizations that receive support use the community funds according to the purpose and have good financial management. When an organization that has received $ 14 million from the state budget does not follow the guidelines, it must have consequences, says Rieber-Mohn.
The Ministry of Education and Research also announced in the wake of the investigation that the government will not continue to support Born Free in 2021.
– The decision is based on a clear recommendation from IMDi. It came on the basis of an external report showing that the financial management in the organization has not been satisfactory and in accordance with the requirements of the authorities for good financial management, said the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Education, Grunde Almeland ( V), in October.
