Details
Description
TERMS OF REFERENCE
CRxN Mekong Expansion – Laos Country Project
AGREEMENT NUMBER: 78-7001-MEK_LAO
Organisation: WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE IN LAOS (WWF-LAOS)
Project location: Champasak Province, Laos.
Supervised by: WWF-Laos, Site Coordinator
Project Period: August 2022 to December 2025
1. Organisational Background:
Worldwide Fund for Nature – WWF has had a presence in Laos since the late 1980s, when it contributed to some of the first biodiversity surveys that established Laos’ protected area system. The office in Laos was officially established in 2001. Today, our main office for WWF-Laos is in Vientiane Capital, with field offices in Savannakhet, Champasak, Salavan, and Xekong provinces. WWF-Laos works with government, civil society, and the private sector partners to address the drivers of biodiversity loss and to move towards a greener nature-based future where the people of Laos can thrive and live in harmony with nature. Our vision for Laos is that ‘the unique biodiversity, cultural diversity, and ecosystems are maintained or enhanced and contribute to the sustainable development and wellbeing of Laos, the Greater Mekong region, and the planet as a whole.’ Conservation is WWF’s core work, and our programme in Laos is implemented under three broads ‘Practice Areas’, which include Forests, Wildlife, and Freshwater. Under the five-year strategic plan (2021- 2025), WWF-Laos focuses on three landscapes, four priority sites, and two groups of priority species. Find out more from https://www.wwf.org.la/strategic_plan/.
2. Project Background:
Climate Resilient by Nature (CRxN)-Mekong is supporting three innovative Nature-based Solution (NbS) projects across Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos from July 2022 to December 2023. The NbS models work with nature to tackle climate change by protecting and restoring critical ecosystems, building sustainable livelihoods, and increasing resilience to climate shocks across targeted landscapes. They provide opportunities to demonstrate the value of NbS with local, national and regional government partners, mainstreaming the approach in decision making. Some will also engage the private sector, demonstrating a business case to support scaling of NbS approaches. Since 2002, WWF-Laos has worked on the management of the Mekong River wetlands and tributaries, including the 485 km2 Siphandone Wetland in Champasak Province, as priority freshwater conservation areas critical to the wellbeing of the country’s unique biological diversity and the Lao people’s wellbeing. In Laos, the CRxN-Mekong phase 1 covering Aug 2022 to June 2024 and extension phase until December 2025 supported 6+1 villages in Siphandone Wetland to 1.) strengthen and maintain integrity of Siphandone Wetland habitats with key adaptation services through the deployment of NbS to protect and restore critical ecosystems and build community resilience; and 2.) promote access and engage in diversified, climate-resilient, and ecologically compatible livelihood activities as sources of food and income opportunities through NbS. Under the Livelihood component supported by the CRxN project, the project focuses on enhancing technical and business development capacities. This analysis aims to identify opportunities for enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of specific products within the value chain, which starts with understanding the balance of current livelihood activities and resources, and where there could be opportunities for additional value-addition and/or diversification.
3. Scope of Services:
3.1 The Audit Firm, ‘The Auditor,’ will provide Financial Assurance and Audit Services based on Agreed Upon Procedures by reviewing the financial transactions undertaken by CRxN Project, for all operational and program related activities, and a review of the underlying systems, key policies and processes of WWF-Laos. This audit should provide assurance of the information included in performance and funding acquittal reports. The Auditor will provide ORGANISATION & CA with a Special Purpose Financial Statement and a financial audit report outlining the audit findings and recommendations to address any issues identified.
3.2 The financial periods to be audited are:
The project began from 18 August 2022 to 31 December 2025
3.3 The Auditor will be required to work to the standards and guidelines set by the Government of Laos. In addition, the work of the Auditor must fully adhere to the standards and guidelines of the professional practice of financial audit as set out by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), and International Financial Reporting Standards.
3.4 The audit requires the examination and report on the compliance to sound financial management practices, with regard to the following but not limited to: whether the partner has applied sound financial management practices including accounting systems with associated internal controls; whether the financial transactions reflected in their reports are in accordance with financial regulations and procedures, budgetary provisions and other applicable directives; whether the financial transactions recorded have supporting documentation; whether the finance system is maintained accurately; whether reports submitted to partners represent adequate and accurate disclosure of income and expenditure information to enable monitoring and final determination; whether bank reconciliation including accounting for tranche payments is complete and accurate; whether internal policies exist and compliance to policy is evident in the operational transactions; whether internal policies are easily understood and implemented by staff; whether internal controls support a sound financial management framework and there is clear roles and responsibilities; whether the balance sheet accounts are reconciled and provide a true representation of the financial health of the partner; whether any taxes that are due and statutory payments are made in a timely manner in accordance with the local regulations. whether the assets register is accurately maintained and reflects the fair value of all assets; and Any other tasks that the Auditor deems necessary to complete the assurance process.
4. Period of Contract
The period is to be no more than agreed number of days as per the engagement letter – from the start of the audit to the final audit report compilation and submission to management. Roughly 8 weeks from start to finish.
5. Location of Audit
WWF-Laos will provide electronic documentation for audit purpose. The Auditor shall accept and assess such documentation as valid audit evidence, provided it meets standards of completeness, authenticity, and accessibility. For the purpose of the audit, the Auditor will consult with the Programme staff where required. However, the Auditor will work closely with Finance team.
6. Key Deliverables
The key deliverables for this project are:
6.1 AUDIT REPORT:
a. Executive Summary: The title, addresses, and an opening or introductory paragraph containing the financial information audited including the period covered, a Statement of the Responsibility of the WWF-Laos management and the responsibility of the auditor.
b. Membership number of the auditor to either the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Laos, Institute of Chartered Accountants Laos, or appropriate auditor regulatory body for Laos.
c. A scope and methodology paragraph describing the nature of the audit referencing the accounting standards that have been applied and indicating the effect of any deviations
from those standards; the audit standards that were applied; and the work the auditor performed.
d. The type of assurance to be provided is reasonable assurance.
e. An opinion paragraph disclosing whether the financial statements and supporting schedules and documentation fairly present the financial position of WWF-Laos as at year end date.
f. Whether the financial transactions reflected in the statements are in accordance with financial regulations, procedures and budgetary provisions.
g. The auditor may expand the report to include other information and explanations not intended as a reservation.
All financial audit reports will be submitted to WWF-Laos and signed by the Auditor. The Auditor will submit financial reports for the financial year to WWF-Laos upon completion of the audit and will include comments on the quality of financial management of the organisation and any implications including recommendations for improvement.
The draft report will be submitted to WWF-Laos within ten (10) working days of completion of the audit.
An authorised officer of WWF-Laos will review the draft and provide any comments within ten (10) days of receiving the draft report.
On receipt of the response from WWF-Laos, the Auditor will finalise and submit the final report directly to WWF-AUS & WWF-Laos within ten (10) working days.
The final report will include comments on the quality of financial management of the organisation, any implications and clear recommendations for improvement in the financial management of the organisation.
All reports or documentation produced both electronically or printed during the course of or as a consequence of the contract will remain the property of WWF-Laos.
7. Qualifications and Experience
It is expected that the audit is conducted by an appropriately qualified and experienced auditor. The auditor should either be a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Laos, Institute of Chartered Accountants Laos, or the appropriate auditor regulatory body for Laos. The auditor’s membership number should be disclosed in the audit report so that this can be verified. If there is no publicly accessible database to confirm the auditor possesses the necessary qualifications above, then a copy of the auditor’s membership or qualification should be provided.
8. Written Submissions
An Expression of Interest detailing the Scope of Services and a fee quotation must be submitted to WWF-Laos by close of business on October 31, 2025.
Expressions of interest and quotation should be sent by email to: Procurement Unit,or procurement-laos@wwf.org.la
ORGANISATION contact name: NAME
ORGANISATION contact email address: EMAIL ADDRESS