Contractor Leaves Iraq With Some School Projects Undone

The company hired by the U.S. Agency for International Development to help Iraq improve its schools wrapped up its contract in that country without having completed some tasks it was charged with carrying out, according to an audit report by the USAID’s office of inspector general.

The report, released last month, includes a letter of response from Hilda Arellano, the USAID mission director for Iraq, explaining that the war there made it hard for the firm—the Washington-based Creative Associates International Inc.—to complete some activities. After its contract ended in June, Creative Associates stayed in Iraq until the end of last month to try to complete outstanding work.

“An adverse security situation since the contract was awarded has resulted in unanticipated delays or changes in activities,” Ms. Arellano wrote in the Jan. 7 letter included...