Project Final Audit

Conservation of Natural Resources and Food security through Strengthening and Consolidation of Sustainable Agriculture in the KAZA area of  Zambia

(BENGO III Project).

WWF (The World Wide Fund for Nature) is an International Non-Governmental Organization that was born from a drive to conserve wildlife and wetlands in the country. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

Since 2019, WWF Zambia has been implementing a BMZ funded project called “Conservation of natural resources and Food security through Strengthening and Consolidation of sustainable agriculture in the KAZA area of Zambia”.

This project is being implemented in the Silowana complex, domiciled in the South West part of Zambia. The aim of the project is to contribute towards enhanced income security, food security and resilient cultivation systems among small-scale farmers as well as towards improved sustainable resource conservation in the KAZA TFCA protected areas of southwest Zambia. In addition, the project also aims to ensure that by 2023, at least 3,656 smallholder households in the Silowana complex are marketing sustainably produced agricultural products through self-governing cooperatives and seed grower’s associations. Below are project specific details.

Project Description and Details

1.     Title: BENGO III- Conservation of Natural Resources and Food Security through Strengthening and Consolidation of Sustainable Agriculture in the KAZA area of Zambia

2.     Duration: 60 months (1st January 2019 – 30th December 2023)

3.     Location: Zambia, Western Province, Sioma Ngwezi Game Management Area

4.     Partners: Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of fisheries and Livestock, Department of national parks and wildlife, Mufulani and Sesheke West CRBs, Barotse Royal Establishment (Mwandi and Kaunga Mashi Kutas).

5.     Budget: 877,3490 EUR

6.     Primary Donor: Engagement Global gGmbH

7.     Secondary Donor: WWF Germany

The project is nearing 5 years of implementation that stated, WWF Zambia is looking for a qualified external auditor to conduct a final project close out audit for the period 1st January 2019 – 30th December 2023.

Objective

The objective of the audit, is to allow the auditor to express an opinion on the financial reports and statements of expenditures based on the invoices paid under the Grant covering the period 1st January 2019 – 30th December 2023.

Scope of Works

The audit will be conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing as published by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board of the International Federation of Accountants.  and will include such tests and controls as the auditor considers necessary as well as on-site visits if also deemed necessary.

The external audit should include the following auditing and control measures:

1.     Verifying accounting records for correctness and completeness.

2.     The verification coverage should be of at least 65%.

3.     Verifying the financial reports in which all project-related revenues and expenditure must be shown and for which it must be confirmed that receipts are provided for all revenues and expenditure.

4.     Verifying how the provided project funds have been managed. This includes:

a.     Project funds transferred to the project partners during the project term

b.     Interest earned in the current budget year or during the project term

c.     Other revenues from the project activity.

5.     Verifying to what extent the funds have been used appropriately for the purpose of carrying out the planned project objectives and activities.

6.     Verifying the cost-effectiveness of expenditure with regard to financial resources (to be used economically and as effectively as possible).

7.     Verifying the personnel costs and social security contributions to ensure that they are in line with local standards, legal in the respective project country and, above all, that they comply with contracts and that the contributions required by law are being withheld.

8.     Verifying that the cost plan was adhered to by means of a comparison of objectives and effects

9.     Verifying the economic use of project equipment. Guide for an external, independent audit

10.  Verifying the procured inventory, where it is being held and whether it has been/is being used appropriately for the purpose of carrying out the planned project objectives and activities.

11.  Verifying and confirming that project-relevant documentation is complete and correct.

12.  Verifying that all agreements fundamental to the project are being adhered to (contracts, German private executing agency guidelines, BMZ funding requirements, BNBest-P/private executing agencies and BMZ contract award guideline.

The final audit certificate must state the following (minimum requirement):

1.     “We hereby certify that we have audited the statement of accounts of [name of project partner in developing country] regarding the financing of the project [name]. Our audit was carried out on the basis of the following requirements pertaining to the use of funding: [List of relevant contracts and documents]. To this end, we have inspected the books and receipts. Based on our audit, we confirm that:

a.     All income and expenditure has been properly documented by means of    receipts

b.     The documented expenditure complied with its application and project approval and was in keeping with the appointed purpose and the most recent budget. Any deviations from the budget have been explained separately.

c.     Documented income that is accounted for as contributions made by the project partner, the target group and/or other agencies in the project country has been specified correctly and its origin explained in accordance with specifications.

d.     The donor’s conditions that were specified in the project agreement were met (were not met in the following points).

Reports

The audit report(s) will:

1.     be issued by the auditor in English language

2.     include all aspects specified in the preceding paragraph (“Scope”)

3.     contain these Terms of Reference as integral part

4.     provide a schedule showing receipts and disbursements during the Audit Period

5.     the auditor will also prepare a “management letter” in which the auditor will:

1.     Give comments and observations on the accounting records, systems and controls examined during the course of the audit (as far as necessary for the understanding of the financial reports and the statements of expenditures);

2.     Identify specific deficiencies and areas of weakness in systems and controls of the project that have come to the auditor’s attention, especially with regard to withdrawal, procurement, storage and payment transactions, and make recommendations for their improvement;

3.     Report on actions taken by the management of the project to make improvements with respect to deficiencies and areas of weakness reported in the past;

4.     Bring to the Management attention any other matters that the auditor considers pertinent.

Application Submission Process

You can apply individually or as a firm. In either case your application should consist of the following:

i.         1-page expression of interest, highlighting relevant experience and knowledge financial audits,

ii.         A technical proposal detailing your approach to auditing of projects

iii.         A detailed work plan and financial proposal

iv.         An updated CV(s)

v.         Contact details for 2 references

Submit application by emailing the above compressed in one folder  to wwfcareers@wwfzam.org  with ‘BENGO III  External Final Project Audit’ in the subject line. Your application must highlight your technical strengths, sufficient experience and knowledge in auditing project. An added advantage would be experience working with a limited budget.

Communication, clarifications and submissions about this consultancy should all be via email to: wwfcareers@wwfzam.org. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

DEADLINE: 14th January 2024 by 17:00hrs.