Audit Agency — EARSP/AU Component Implementation throughout Project Life Cycle

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Name of Project: Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program-for-Results (EARSPforR).

Project ID: P176371

Assignment Title: Audit Firm to perform the Consultancy services for Audit Services to STATAFRIC – Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results (EARSPR) (P176371) project for the accounting period (January - December 2025).

Reference No. TN-STATAFRIC - AUC-481094-CS-LCS

• Background

The Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results (EARSPR) is part of a broader continental effort to implement the Second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA2), which was adopted for the period 2017–2026. This strategy aims to generate timely, reliable, and harmonized statistical information to support Africa’s political, economic, social, and cultural integration agendas.

Three countries (Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania) are implementing selected statistical reforms aligned with SHaSA2. The African Union Commission (AUC), through STATAFRIC, and the East African Community (EAC), are providing regional coordination and support.

The African Union Commission (AUC) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include Selection of Consulting firm for the Financial Audit Services to STATAFRIC – Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results (EARSPR) (P176371) project for the accounting period (January-December 2025).

• Shortlisting Criteria

African Union Commission now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Financial Audit Services. Interested Audit Firms should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Interested firms are invited to submit their expressions of interest in accordance with the following shortlisting criteria. Please ensure that your submission shall address only the below specified shortlisting criteria.

Shortlisting Criteria

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• Firm’s core business: The firm should have a core business on Financial Auditing and has a license from a national or regional professional Accountancy Body.

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• Years in Business: The firm should have Minimum of 5 years’ experience in carrying out financial audit of projects and companies of similar complexity financed by an international financing institution.

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• Specific Experience: The firm should complete a minimum of 5 relevant similar projects financed by the World Bank or International financing Institution.

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• The firm Should have adoption and use of proven Audit Quality Assurance measures.

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• The Firm should have an adequate staff with the required skill and qualification.

Interested Audit Firms are not required to submit technical proposals, technical approach and methodology, work plan and key experts.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage and firms are not required to submit CVs of their key experts.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this request for expressions of interest.

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 Least Cost Based Selection (LCS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

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

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form following the above shortlisting criteria to the address below (by e-mail) before 18th December 2025 at 15:00 Hours Local Time, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Only submitted Expression of Interests (EoIs) mentioning the reference number “TN-STATAFRIC - AUC-481094-CS-LCS“ in the subject field of the e-mail, will be considered.

African Union Commission,

Attn: Head, Supply Chain Management Division - Operations Support Services Directorate

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-mails: [email protected]

Terms of Reference

Consultancy services for Audit Services to STATAFRIC – Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results (EARSPR)-( P176371) for the accounting period from January-December 2025.

• Background

The Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results (EARSPR) is part of a broader continental effort to implement the Second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA2), which was adopted for the period 2017–2026. This strategy aims to generate timely, reliable, and harmonized statistical information to support Africa’s political, economic, social, and cultural integration agendas.

Three countries — Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania — are implementing selected statistical reforms aligned with SHaSA2. The African Union Commission (AUC), through STATAFRIC, and the East African Community (EAC), are providing regional coordination and support.

• Project Development Objective

The Project Development Objective is to strengthen the regional harmonization, dissemination, and use of core economic and social statistics for Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania

• Project components

The EARSPR Operation consists of two main parts:

• Part 1: The Program (Country-level Implementation)

Each participating country carries out selected statistical reforms, including:

• Harmonization and quality assurance

• Data production and dissemination

• Infrastructure and institutional development

• Part 2: The Project (Regional Support by AUC and EAC)

Implemented by the African Union and EAC, includes:

• Support to countries for producing harmonized, comparable, and quality statistics

• Development of indicators and operational guidelines

• Capacity building and institutional strengthening at STATAFRIC and EAC

• Establishment of integrated information systems and dissemination platforms

• Project Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries are:

• National Statistics Offices (NSOs) in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania

• STATAFRIC (African Union’s statistical arm)

• East African Community (EAC) Statistics Department

Indirect beneficiaries include:

• Policymakers and planners using statistical data

• The public benefiting from improved evidence-based policies

• Project Period

The Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results (EARSPR) Grant D999-3A is from the Signature Date of the agreement until the Closing Date, which is set as June 30th, 2027.

• Project size

The Project grant (EARSPR) is USD 10,000,000.00 which is financed by the World Bank

• Background and Audit Objective

The project books of accounts serve as the foundational source for the preparation of the Project Financial Statements (PFSs) by the African Union Commission (AUC). These records are structured to accurately capture and reflect all financial transactions related to the implementation of the Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results (EARSPR). The AUC has established and maintains a system of adequate internal controls and comprehensive documentation to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper financial management of project resources.

The primary objective of this audit is to enable the external auditor to express an independent professional opinion on the annual financial statements of the EARSPR project. Specifically, the audit will assess whether the financial statements present a true and fair view, in all material respects, of the financial position of the project and whether the project funds have been utilized in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement signed between the African Union and the World Bank.

In line with the African Union’s commitment to fiduciary responsibility and results-based implementation, this audit will also provide assurance regarding:

• The financial integrity of the project’s operations.

• Compliance with relevant rules, regulations, and donor requirements.

• The effectiveness of internal controls governing the financial and operational management of the project; and

• The extent to which resources have been applied towards achieving the intended development objectives and measurable results.

To this end, the African Union Commission is seeking the services of a qualified, experienced, and independent audit firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of the project. The selected firm must demonstrate proven capacity in auditing donor-funded projects, a strong understanding of international accounting and auditing standards, and the ability to provide actionable insights that enhance financial governance, accountability, and performance.

The audit will be conducted with the aim of providing an independent, objective, and evidence-based assessment of the financial management and operational integrity of the Eastern Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results (EARSPR). Specifically, the audit shall:

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• Verify the Appropriate use of the project Funds.

Assess whether all project funds have been utilized strictly for their intended purposes, in alignment with the objectives and eligible expenditure categories de