REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: Consultancy Services (TAAT II)

IITA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is seeking expressions of interest for External Audit Consultancy Services for the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Program Phase II and its Addendum. The selected consultant will be based at the TAAT Program Management Unit (PMU) in Ibadan, Nigeria, with travel to various sub-Saharan African countries. The assignment involves conducting financial and procurement audits in accordance with specified standards, providing audit opinions on financial statements for both TAAT II and TAAT II Addendum projects, and issuing management letters. The audit will cover IITA and other CGIAR implementation centers, including AfricaRice, ICARDA, ILRI, AATF, CIP, ICRISAT, IWMI, CIAT, WorldFish, FARA, and World Vegetables. The services are expected to be completed within a six-week duration.

Requirements

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Procurement policy framework, October 2015.
Consulting firms must submit detailed Company information, including brochures, description of assignments of similar nature in the last ten (10) years, experience in similar conditions and environment, and availability of appropriate managerial and technical skills among staff.
Auditor should be registered and have a license from a national or regional professional Accountancy Body.
Auditor should have relevant experience in accounting and auditing of development project/programs, especially donor-funded operations.
Audit Manager: Professional Accountant (CA, ACCA, CPA, Expert Compatible, etc.) with a minimum of 10 years post qualification experience of which 5 years should have been in the audit of either, African Development Bank or other multilateral donor-funded project/programs.
Audit Supervisor: Professional Accountant (CA, ACCA, CPA, etc.) with a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience of which 3 years should have been in the audit of either, African Development Bank or other multilateral donor-funded project/programs.
Audit Senior: Partly qualified Accountant with a minimum of 3 years working experience in an audit firm, of which 2 years should have been in the audit of either, African Development Bank or other multilateral donor-funded project/programs.
Technical Audit senior: A technically qualified professional in the field of expertise with a minimum of 5 years working experience in the relevant sector. Experience in the audit of multilateral donor-funded project/programs or the conduct of technical audits will be an added advantage.
Procurement Auditor: Where necessary, a certified procurement professional (CIPS or its equivalent), with a minimum of 5 years working experience in the conduct of procurement audits and/or execution of procurement activities in multilateral donor-funded project/programs.
The key audit team will comprise: 1 Audit Manager (1 staff week), 2 Audit Supervisors (2 staff weeks), 3 Audit Seniors (1 staff week), 1 Technical Audit Senior (1 staff week), 2 Procurement Auditors (1 staff week).

Nice To Haves

Experience in the audit of multilateral donor-funded project/programs or the conduct of technical audits will be an added advantage for the Technical Audit Senior.
Experience in the audit of African Development Bank or other multilateral donor-funded project/programs is required for the Audit Manager, Audit Supervisor, Audit Senior, and Procurement Auditor.

Responsibilities

Carry out financial and procurement audits in accordance with the Standards specified in section 3.2 of the Terms of Reference.
Provide audit opinions on the financial statements of the TAAT II program for the period January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, and the No Cost Extension period from January 1, 2027, to March 31, 2027.
Provide audit opinions on the financial statements of the TAAT II Addendum for the period March 12, 2025, to December 2026.
Issue a copy of the Management letter in respect of each set of financial statements submitted.
Report on the project achievements/outputs for each agency involved in the implementation of the projects, including through site visits.
Undertake a comprehensive verification of the project's assets.
Ensure a comprehensive procurement review is conducted.
Obtain reasonable assurance as to whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Provide reasonable assurance that the project books of accounts provide the basis for preparation of the Project Financial Statements (PFSs) and that adequate internal controls and supporting documentation were maintained.
Express an independent professional opinion on the financial position of the Project, assuring that funds have been used for their intended purposes and in accordance with the Loan/Grant Agreement(s).
Obtain reasonable assurance about the achievement of project/program objectives by matching physical outputs and achievements to funds disbursed and the timing of flows.
Report on the financial statements and communicate findings as required by auditing standards.
Test the effectiveness of controls with regards to payments for goods, works, and services.
Test the effectiveness of controls with regards to the procurement processes.
Test the effectiveness of controls over assets financed by the project/program and ensure these assets are being used for the intended purposes.
Test the effectiveness of good practice in the use of project/program fixed assets and other resources.
Identify and evaluate risks related to fraud.
Evaluate compliance with the provisions of laws and regulations that might affect significantly the PFSs.
Communicate with those charged with Governance regarding significant audit issues.
Apply appropriate audit procedures and address anomalies/risks identified during assessment.
Verify that the PFSs have been prepared in accordance with agreed accounting standards and give a true and fair view of the financial position of the project.
Verify and ensure the PFSs have been presented using the Borrower’s functional currency or provide rationale for using a different presentation currency.
Review and examine all documents relating to the use of Special Accounts (SAs) to ensure consistency with supporting documentation and adequacy of internal controls.
Review counterpart contributions to ensure they were budgeted, released on time, and used for the project/program purposes.
Examine compliance with the provisions of the Grant Agreement regarding procurement modes, standard documents, and tendering processes.
Review clarity and transparency in bid evaluation and criteria for procurement.
Review conformity of final contracts with approved tender documents.
Review procedures of publicity, bidding documents, bid opening, evaluation, and contract endorsement.
Review any complaints from bidders or other concerned parties.
Review the physical progress of the project/program to ensure achievements exist, adhere to specifications, costs are in line with estimates, and completion times are within the project life.
Deliver a Draft Report and Final Reports on the Audit Report on TAAT II Program and the Audit Report on TAAT II-Addendum Program.