Building Institutions And Systems to Harness And Realize Agenda 2063 Project ( - Тендер #68195183)

• Project ID

P180117

• Project Title

Building Institutions And Systems to Harness And Realize Agenda 2063 Project

• Country

Eastern and Southern Africa

• Notice No

OP00404653

• Notice Type

Request for Expression of Interest

• Notice Status

Published

• Borrower Bid Reference

ET-AUC-513831-CS-QCBS

• Procurement Method

Quality And Cost-Based Selection

• Language of Notice

English

• Submission Deadline Date/Time

Nov 12, 2025 17:00

• Published Date

Oct 30, 2025

• CONTACT INFORMATION
• Organization/Department

Africa Union Commission

• Name

Kaputo Chenga -Bwalya

• Address

Africa Union HeadquartersP.O.BOX 3243Tel: 251-11-5-517700webmaster: webmaster@africa-union.orgAddis

• City

• Province/State

Eastern and Southern Africa

• Postal Code

• Country

Eastern and Southern Africa

• Phone

+251982168552

• Email

Chenga-Bwalyak@AfricanUnion.org

• Website

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION)

Country: Ethiopia

Name of Project: The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project

Grant No: P180117

Assignment Title: Consulting Service for External Quality Assessment of the Office of Internal Oversight (OIO)

Reference No. ET-AUC-513831-CS-QCBS

The African Union Commission has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of the internal audit activity considering OIO’s charter as well as the AU financial rules and regulations.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this Request for Expressions of Interest.

The African Union Commission now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

• Confirm their independence from the OIO of the African Union Commission.
• Be a qualified, experienced, and Certified Quality Assessor or an equivalent qualification in the External Quality Assessment field.
• The team should comprise competent, tenured audit professionals who are well versed in the Global Internal Audit Standards assessment methodology, and successful internal audit practices.
• Possess detailed understanding of internal audit across governments/inter-governmental organizations and experience of working with international organisations and oversight bodies.
• Have at least 5 years of experience in performing EQA reviews.
• Have experience of similar engagements (including at least three contactable references).

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants’ Quality and Cost-based Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1700 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 12 November 2025.

African Union Commission,

Attn: Head of Supply Chain Management Division

Building C, 3rd Floor,

P.O Box 3243, Roosevelt Street

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305

Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430

E-mail: Tender@AfricanUnion.org

TERMS OF REFERENCE

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM)

CONSULTING SERVICE FOR EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF THE OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT (OIO)

REF: ET-AUC-513831-CS-QCBS

• Background

• The African Union (AU), established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a New Partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia.

• The Office of Internal Oversight (OIO) was established vide Executive Council Decision EX/CL/Dec. 34(III) adopted by the Third Ordinary Session of the Executive Council held in Maputo, Mozambique from 4 to 8 July 2003. According to Article 3 of the AU Internal Audit Regulations (AU-IAR), the OIO is mandated to carry out review of transactions/activities of the Commission and other AU organs to determine whether they are in-compliance with the AU Rules and Regulations, Resolutions of the Executive Council and Assembly as well as administrative instructions issued from time to time.
• In brief, OIO executes the following responsibilities (as per Article 4 of AU IAR):
• Review of compliance with applicable rules / policies
• Review of reliability and integrity financial information and data
• Review of economical and efficient use of resources including the review of accomplishment of programs’ objectives (performance Audits)
• Review of the safeguarding of assets
• Conduct of investigation activities (NB : now include forensic, corruption, human rights under Peace Operations)
• Provision of advisory services as appropriate.

• As part of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Professional Practices, Internal Audit Activity must meet the requirements of Standard 1312. The IIA Standard 1312 stipulates that external quality assessments (EQA) must be conducted at least once every five (5) years by a qualified, independent assessor or assessment team from outside the organization.

• Objectives
• The overall objective of the external assessment will be as follows:
• To assess OIO’s conformance with the IIA standards and Code of Ethics;
• To assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the internal audit activity considering OIO’s charter as well as the AU financial rules and regulations.

• Scope and Methodology of Assessment
• The external assessor will assess all OIO’s internal audit activities and functions, such as but not limited to the following:
• Annual work planning, including use of resources.
• Various types of audits pertaining to Headquarter and Outstations.
• Audit Follow-up system.
• Coordination with external auditors.
• Relationship with management, audit committee and policy organs.

• It is envisaged that the external assessor will work both offsite and onsite (i.e. at the Office of Internal Oversight in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia). The external assessor will use the IIA standards to conduct the assessment. It is also envisaged that the assessment would be carried out by including at least the following:

• Interviews with key internal audit stakeholders.
• An electronic questionnaire to a wide range of internal audit clients.
• A review of key documentations on the audit process.
• Presentation of key findings and recommendations to OIO senior management team.

• Within this scope, the external assessment will include undertaking the following actions
• Examine and evaluate the suitability of the quality management systems used by OIO"s Divisions (such as audit working papers and manuals).
• Examine and evaluate the correlation between the average time required to complete audit assignments and the number of employees. If necessary, make suggestions for cutting down on timeframes.
• Examine and evaluate how many audit and investigation reports are released annually in relation to the number of OIO employees. Additionally, this study should aid in determining whether the resources are sufficient. Benchmark OIO works against similar organizations on topics like (i) case assessment, case management, and investigation methodology; (ii) financial resources and staffing; (iii) audit and investigation timelines; (v) information systems audit and (vi) continuing professional education; (vii) risk profiling; and (viii) annual operational planning, among other things.
• The external assessor will also assess the organizational status and mandate of the OIO as well as the proficiency of OIO’s Auditors.
• Complete any additional actions required to meet the assessment"s objectives.

• External Assessment Team

• A qualified assessor or assessment team must demonstrate competence in three areas: (1) professional practice of internal auditing (2) the external quality assessment process and (3) acquaintance with Global Internal Audit Standards (2024) released by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Competence can be demonstrated through a mixture of external and theoretical learning. Experience gained in organizations of similar size, complexity, sector or industry, and technical issues is advantageous.
• An independent assessor or assessment team means not having either an actual or a perceived conflict of interest and not being a part of, or under the control of, the organization to which the internal audit activity belongs
• The members of the external assessment team will be subject to confidentiality agreements and conflict of interest declarations.

• Reporting

• The EQA exercise is confidential with results provided to the Office of Internal Oversight (OIO).
• Upon completion of the assignment, a draft report shall be submitted to Director of OIO for comments.
• The report will be finalized after comments from the Director of OIO.
• In accordance with IIA standards, the Director of OIO will share the final report/executive summary with Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Chairperson of Audit Committee, and relevant stakeholders as appropriate.

• Deliverables

The key deliverables of this external assessment are as follows:

• Submission of a Draft Report to the Director shall state the internal audit activity’s conformance or non-conformance with the Standards and provide a summary of successful practices, conformance gaps, and enhancement opportunities.

• Submission of a Final Report after discussion with OIO senior management team.

• Required Qualifications/Selection Criteria

The qualified assessor should demonstrate competence in the areas of professional practice of internal auditing and the external assessment process. The external quality assessor (s) should set out their responses to the following requirements:

• Confirm their independence from the OIO of the African Union Commission.
• Be a qualified, experienced, and Certified Quality Assessor or an equivalent qualification in the External Quality Assessment field.
• The team should comprise competent, tenured audit professionals who are well versed in the Global Internal Audit Standards assessment methodology, and successful internal audit practices.
• Possess detailed understanding of internal audit across governments/inter-governmental organizations and experience of working with international organisations and oversight bodies.
• Have at least 5 years of experience in performing EQA reviews.
• Have experience of similar engagements (including at least three contactable references).

A report is provided by the Assessment Team that states the internal audit function’s overall conformance or nonconformance with the Standards and summarizes successful practices, conformance gaps, and enhancement opportunities.

• Duration

The External Quality Assessment is estimated to be completed within a period of two (2) months from the date of start of the exercise.

• Language :

The report of the External Quality Assessment exercise shall be in English language.

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