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ZAMBIA ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAMME

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR PRE-GRANT DUE DILIGENCE

INTRODUCTION

The Zambia Accountability Programme (ZAP) is an innovative five-year 25.5 million GBP DFID-funded programme managed by the British Council.ZAP seeks to achieve the more equitable allocation and management of public goods. ZAP also aims to make the generation of wealth more inclusive so economic growth has a positive impact across society. The Programme will be delivered, in part, through selected Grant Recipients from Civil Society Organisations, private and public organisations.The Zambia Accountability Programme (ZAP) seeks to engage anaudit firm to undertake “pre-grant due diligence assessments” on selected and potential Grant Recipients from civil society organisations, private and public sector organisations.

RESUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Expression of Interest is invited from interested Audit firms for the provision of Due Diligence services. The purpose of this EOI is to identify service providers with the capability in the provision of due diligence services for inclusion in the tender process. This is NOT A TENDER. Only respondents that are considered suitably qualified will be invited to the tender process at the completion of the EOI evaluation and qualification process. Responding to the EOI is not a guarantee of inclusion in the tender process. Only Firms with all the necessary professional accreditations and proven track record required for this type of service are asked to apply.

PURPOSE OF THE PRE-GRANT DUE DILIGENCE

Pre-grant due diligence is the process used to assess the appropriateness of potential or intended recipients of a grant. It is an important part of effective and responsible grant making. Robust due diligence procedures aim to ensure long term value for money from grant expenditure by identifying potential weaknesses and risks and considering opportunities to enhance capacity before grants are disbursed. They reduce the risk of funding being diverted from agreed development objectives, which inevitably reduces the desired impact. They also aim to reduce misunderstanding and establish an environment of accountability and transparency.

This process does not in any way commit the British Council-Zambia Accountability Programme into contracting the potential Grant Recipients. The British Council- Zambia Accountability Programme will only contract Grant Recipients based on available resources at any given point in time. However, the due diligence process expedites the process of contracting any organisations that havesuccessfully gone through the bidding process when resources are available.

Scope of work

  1. The Audit firm will beexpected to carry out due diligence on selected and potential Grant Recipients and will utilize the due diligence framework developed by the British Council.
  2. The Audit firm will not be liable to the selected or potential Grant Recipients.The Audit firm will however, discuss its findings and recommendations with the Grant Recipient and the British Council -Zambia Accountability Programme.
  3. The Audit firm will submit its final report of factual findings with recommendations to the British Council-Zambia Accountability Programme. The final report of factual findings with recommendations and an action plan will be signed by the British Council-Zambia Accountability Programme and the Grant Recipient.

The Expression of Interest should be clearly marked “INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO CONDUCT “DUE DILIGENCE ON GRANT RECIPIENTS” and addressed to “The Programme Director” British Council Zambia Accountability Programme and submitted to the British Council Aquarius House along Katima Mulilo road.

Further information may be obtained through the Zambia Accountability Programme Finance and Grants OfficerMr Musyani Mutambo email: the Finance and Resources . The closing date for the receipt of the EOI is Monday7th September, 2015 at 17:00hours.

Application forms can be obtained from the our website

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