Consultancy: Independent Project Financial Audit – Search for Common Ground Retour vers les opportunités

Background Summary

Search for Common Ground (Search) is the world’s largest dedicated peacebuilding organization. Search works to prevent and end violent conflict before, during, and after a crisis, striving to build sustainable peace for generations to come.  Founded in 1982, Search has an almost 40-year track record of transforming the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. Search does this through a type of peacebuilding called “conflict transformation.” It shifts everyday interactions between hostile groups of people, so they can work together to build up their community, choosing joint problem-solving over violent means.  With a total of approximately 850 staff worldwide, Search implements projects from 57 offices and in 31 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. Search’s headquarters are in Washington, D.C., and Brussels. For general information on Search, visit the external website at https://www.sfcg.org.

Search’s mission in Tunisia is to promote the culture of dialogue and diversity through the involvement of all parts of society while building their capacities. Search works in Tunisia to help members of Tunisian society to address conflicts and differences constructively through cooperation and dialogue. Search-Tunisia works across multiple channels, mainly with youth, CSOs, media actors, security forces, and local authorities to build the capacity of individuals and institutions to address challenges including differences and acting on common points. Through this approach and partnerships, Search-Tunisia has four main strategic objectives: (i) promoting peace education; (ii) fostering non-violent social dialogue; (iii) enhancing participatory and inclusive governance; and (iv) transforming violent extremism. More information about our Tunisia program can be found here.

About the Consultancy

Search is seeking to contract an external audit company to carry out a comprehensive financial audit of a project implemented by Search in Tunisia in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The audit will cover the full period of implementation, from August 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The Search-specific project financial audit will cover an expected total budget spent of approximately USD 300,000.

 The objective of the audit of the Financial Statements is to enable the auditor to:

• Express a professional opinion on the financial position of Search under this project at the end of its implementation period, on the funds received and expenditures for the grant period (as reported by Search to the prime UNDP) and confirm that the reported expenditure has, in all material respects, been used in conformity with the provisions of the Responsible Party Agreement with UNDP, including any amendments thereto as contained in implementation letters, and any applicable guidelines in force and applicable to the audit scope, and with due attention to economy and efficiency.
• Confirm that the Financial Statements agree with the project accounts (books of accounts), which provide the basis for preparation of the Financial Statements and are established to reflect the financial transactions in respect of the project, as maintained by Search.
• Confirm that the Financial Statements agree or reconcile with any other information reported to UNDP.

Scope

The audit will be carried out in accordance with international standards of auditing. It will include such tests and controls as the auditor considers necessary, including any visits to Search’s office in Tunis. Representative sampling may be used as the auditor considers necessary. This exercise is required to give full and satisfactory audit discharge to the project expenditure from August 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

 Specific focus will be to establish that:

• The funds have been recorded and expended in accordance with the terms and conditions of the subgrant agreement.
• Items and services have been procured in accordance with the guidelines included in the responsible party
• Necessary supporting documents, records and accounts have been kept in respect of programme expenditure.
• The physical existence of UNDP-funded project assets per the asset register, their conditions and locations.
• Whether the systems, procedures and controls, contractual or otherwise, adopted by Search are efficient, effective, and transparent.
• Whether these systems, procedures and controls enable Search to discharge its contractual obligations to UNDP, including its financial and project management obligations.
• Whether improvements to Search’s systems, procedures and controls in Tunisia can be made as a result of the findings of this audit.
• Whether the funds in Search’s account were deposited, transferred and expensed properly in compliance with UNDP guidelines and other relevant financial policies and procedures as stipulated under the subgrant agreement.

Methodology

The approach should include but not be limited to:

• Hold separate pre-engagement meetings with Search to present an outline of the planned approach for conducting the exercise.
• Request and hold formal interviews with Search-Tunisia’s financial management team and with a view to forming an understanding on the effectiveness of the internal control system in the management of the project.
• Examination of the financial transactions of the project for the above period in line with expectations set out in the project documents listed below (to be made available after the contract has been signed). Note that the financial records would consist of all relevant documents, including personnel timesheets and invoices for consultants.
  • The subgrant agreement;
  • The most recent logical framework;
  • Approved work plans for the period under review;
  • Any other formal correspondence between UNDP and Search, which may have effect on the focus, direction and expenditure activities of the project.
• Review invoices for fees and reimbursable expenses by Search and ascertain that:
  • The basis for which invoices have been calculated are in line with obligations within the Search’s responsible party
  • Deliverables from short- and long-term consultancies were properly delivered and received before relevant costs were charged to UNDP.
  • Duly authorised timesheets are available for days charged to UNDP during the period under review.
  • Monthly fees charged to UNDP are for the contractually approved working days only.
• Review the procurement process and procedures for all short-term contracts for the period under review and ascertain that:
  • Transparent and open systems are in place to ensure negotiations for contracts (services, works and printing) are competitive and represent good value for money.
  • Appropriate procedures are in place to document and manage conflicts of interest that may arise from related party transactions.
• Review the assets register to ensure it is up to date and confirm that.
  • Supplies for direct purchases have been fully recorded with clear identification marks.
  • The physical existence and conditions of assets in project sites.
• Express an opinion on the cost effectiveness, accuracy and completeness of the financial transactions for the period under review.
• Review the grants management system set in place.
• Prepare a project expenditure report showing receipts and expenditure summaries from August 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and express an opinion on the financial transactions for the period covered.
• Review the agreement (and subsequent amendments, if applicable) to ascertain the extent to which Search has complied with specified reporting requirements.
• Bring to the attention of Search and UNDP any suspected fraud or irregularity that arises during the course of the audit and communicate matters that have come to attention during the audit which might have had a significant impact on the implementation of the project.

Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected from this consultancy:

1. Audited financial report for the period noted. Due date: February 28, 2020.
2. A statement of compliance with UNDP terms and conditions as contained in Search’s responsible party agreement with UNDP rules and regulations. Due date: February 28, 2020.
3. Management letter including comments and recommendations with respect to internal controls. Due date: February 28, 2020.

Please note that all deliverables should be submitted in English.

Payment Terms

The contracted company will be paid 10% of the total contract amount at signature of contract and 90% of total contract amount at submission and approval by Search of deliverables 1, 2, and 3.