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External Audit Terms for Yemen Project

The document outlines the Terms of Reference for an external audit of the 'Peacebuilding from the Group Up in Yemen' project, which is funded by Irish Aid and aims to support marginalized communities in Yemen. The audit's primary objective is to provide an independent opinion on the project's financial statements and assess the efficient use of funds. The external auditor will evaluate financial management practices, compliance with regulations, and deliver a report with findings and recommendations by July 2025.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
15 views2 pages

External Audit Terms for Yemen Project

The document outlines the Terms of Reference for an external audit of the 'Peacebuilding from the Group Up in Yemen' project, which is funded by Irish Aid and aims to support marginalized communities in Yemen. The audit's primary objective is to provide an independent opinion on the project's financial statements and assess the efficient use of funds. The external auditor will evaluate financial management practices, compliance with regulations, and deliver a report with findings and recommendations by July 2025.

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ahmed7737758
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Terms of Reference (ToR) for External Audit

Project Title: The Peacebuilding from the Group Up in Yemen Project


Project Amount: €1,200,000
Project Duration: September 2021 – September 2024
Location: Yemen-Aden
1. Introduction
Saferworld is an independent international non-governmental organization that operates
worldwide in 20 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe to prevent violent
conflict and build safer lives. We have been working in Yemen with civil society
organizations, institutions, and local authorities since 2010. We support women, youth, and
community groups in their efforts to build social cohesion and respond to the impact of the
war.
2. Background
The project, Peacebuilding from the ground up in Yemen, is a three-year project funded by
Irish Aid and implemented collaboratively by Saferworld, YWBOD, PASS, and NODS. –
The project aims to support communities and civil society organizations, particularly
marginalized groups such as women and youth, to engage with local authorities in addressing
the root causes of conflict and insecurity .
The project seeks to enable these groups to actively contribute to peace processes at the local,
national, and international levels. In the longer term, the project aims to help reduce
humanitarian needs by supporting conflict-affected communities be more resilient to shocks
and contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable political settlement in Yemen.
The Peacebuilding from the Group Up in Yemen project aims to achieve its goals through four
interconnected objectives:
• Enabling communities to work together with authorities in identifying and addressing
the key drivers of conflict in their communities;
• Enabling Yemeni CSOs to influence national and international level peace processes
through the delivery of joint advocacy and peacebuilding interventions based on
community priorities;
• Enabling Yemeni women activists and women’s rights organizations to influence peace
processes at all levels through the delivery of joint peacebuilding interventions;
• Enabling international stakeholders, including diplomats, policymakers, and INGOs to
develop solutions and policy ideas for a more inclusive long-term peace process and to
take decisions on key Yemen policies and strategies informed by peace and security
priorities identified by communities and CSOs including women.
The project was implemented in the governorates of Taiz and Aden and mainly targeting
community members that are part of community groups, local authorities, Yemeni CSOs,
women activists, and women-led organizations.
3. Objective of the Audit
The primary objective of the external audit is to provide an independent opinion on the
financial statements and to assess whether the project funds have been utilized efficiently and
effectively in accordance with the agreed-upon terms of the project.
4. Scope of Work
The external auditor will be required to:
• Review the financial statements of the project for the period from September 2021 to
September 2024.
• Assess the internal control systems that govern financial management.
• Evaluate the compliance of project operations with applicable laws, regulations, and
donor requirements.
• Verify the accuracy and completeness of financial records.
• Review project financial reporting to ensure alignment with donor specifications.
• Identify any irregularities or issues in the financial management of the project.
• Provide recommendations for improvement in financial management practices.
5. Methodology
The audit will be conducted in accordance with International Auditing Standards (IAS) and
will involve the following stages:
• Initial planning and risk assessment.
• Examination of financial statements and records.
• Assessment of internal controls and compliance.
• Interviews with project staff, stakeholders, and management.
• Drafting and delivering the audit report.
6. Deliverables
The external auditor is expected to deliver the following:
• An audit report containing:
• An opinion on the fairness of the financial statements.
• Findings regarding the internal control environment.
• Recommendations for improvements.
• A management letter detailing any identified areas of concern and suggested actions.
7. Timeline
• Audit Planning: [4th May 2025 – 22nd June2025]
• Draft Report Submission: [26th June 2025]
• Final Report Submission: [8th July 2025]

8. Qualifications of the Auditor:


The external auditor must have:
• Proven experience in conducting financial audits, preferably of similar projects.
• Knowledge of relevant financial regulations and auditing standards.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Capacity to provide objective insights and recommendations.
9. Reporting Structure
The external auditor shall report to Saferworld organization and may be required to
present findings to stakeholders at project review meetings.
10. Confidentiality
The external auditor must maintain confidentiality regarding all information accessed
during the audit process and ensure that sensitive project data is not disclosed without
prior approval.
11. Budget
The budget for the audit services shall be discussed and finalized based on the auditor's
proposed methodology, scope of work, and timeline.

Common questions

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The key deliverables from the external audit process include an audit report that provides an opinion on the fairness of financial statements, findings on the internal control environment, and recommendations for improvements. Additionally, a management letter detailing identified areas of concern and suggested actions is expected. These deliverables contribute to improving project management by ensuring financial transparency, identifying areas for process enhancement, and aligning financial practices with donor expectations. This comprehensive feedback mechanism helps refine project implementation and oversight .

Confidentiality is a critical component of the external auditing process, ensuring that sensitive information accessed during the audit is protected and not disclosed without prior approval. This is important because it builds trust between the auditors and the organization, allowing for open communication and access to all necessary data without fear of misuse or exposure. Maintaining confidentiality also ensures compliance with ethical standards and protects the integrity of both the audit process and the organization being audited .

International stakeholders, including diplomats, policymakers, and INGOs, benefit from the project by receiving insights on peace and security priorities identified by local communities and CSOs. Their role in the peace process involves developing solutions and policy ideas for a more inclusive long-term peace process in Yemen. They make informed decisions on key Yemen policies and strategies that align with community-driven insights provided by the project. This involvement facilitates a global understanding of the conflict's local dynamics and supports the international community in crafting policies that are responsive to grassroots realities .

The audit planning timeline for the 'Peacebuilding from the Ground Up in Yemen' project is structured to span from May 4, 2025, to June 22, 2025, with critical milestones like the draft report submission by June 26, 2025, and the final report due on July 8, 2025. This structured timeline is crucial for ensuring audit quality, as it allows sufficient time for comprehensive planning, risk assessment, examination of records, and stakeholder interviews. Additionally, it ensures that audit findings and recommendations are timely and relevant, allowing project management to address any issues promptly and effectively .

Yemeni civil society organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in the project by facilitating community engagement and influencing peace processes. They are empowered to conduct joint advocacy and peacebuilding interventions based on community priorities. This mobilization allows CSOs to advocate for inclusive policies at the national and international levels, driving more grassroots-driven solutions to conflicts. Their role is instrumental in representing marginalized groups, enhancing local capacity to address conflict drivers, and contributing to political strategies that are more reflective of community needs and aspirations .

The project addresses humanitarian needs through its long-term objectives by focusing on building community resilience and fostering inclusive political settlements. By engaging local communities in identifying and addressing key conflict drivers, the project works towards mitigating the root causes of instability, which are often exacerbated by humanitarian crises. It empowers marginalized groups, enhancing their capacity to cope with and adapt to shocks, thereby reducing dependency on immediate humanitarian aid. Additionally, advocating for more inclusive and representative governance structures at all levels aims to create sustainable solutions that address both immediate and systemic humanitarian challenges .

The external audit will use methodologies in accordance with International Auditing Standards (IAS) to ensure a thorough evaluation. These include initial planning and risk assessment, examination of financial statements and records, assessment of internal controls and compliance, and interviews with project staff and stakeholders. Additionally, it involves drafting and delivering the audit report to provide an independent opinion on the project's financial statements and management practices .

The project plans to involve women and youth by focusing on their engagement with local authorities to address the root causes of conflict and insecurity. Women activists and women-led organizations are specifically enabled to influence peace processes at all levels through joint peacebuilding interventions. The expected impact of their involvement is to empower these groups to actively contribute to peace processes, enhance community resilience to shocks, and support a more inclusive and sustainable political settlement in Yemen. This involvement also aims to provide these groups a platform to advocate for their priorities, leading to more comprehensive solutions to local and national issues .

The potential impact of the external audit's recommendations on the project's financial management practices is significant. By identifying internal control weaknesses and suggesting improvements, the recommendations enable more robust financial oversight and risk management. They can lead to enhanced compliance with financial regulations and donor requirements, ensuring that project funds are utilized efficiently and effectively. Improved financial reporting and management practices can increase donor trust and confidence, potentially resulting in sustained or increased funding and support. Such impact ultimately contributes to achieving the project's goals more effectively .

The primary goal of the 'Peacebuilding from the Ground Up in Yemen' project is to support communities and civil society organizations in addressing the root causes of conflict and insecurity, particularly involving marginalized groups such as women and youth. The project aims to achieve this by enabling community engagement with local authorities, influencing peace processes at various levels, and developing inclusive political settlements. Specifically, it enables communities to identify and address conflict drivers, empowers Yemeni CSOs to influence peace processes through advocacy, and involves women activists in peacebuilding. The project also seeks to inform international stakeholders on Yemen's peace and security priorities .

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