The African Union Commission

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: Consultancy Services to conduct External Audit for the Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project

Reference No. ET-AUC-492110-CS-LCS

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 conducting External Audit for the Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project.

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:

i) Legal Status and Registration
The firm shall:
 Be a legally registered audit firm.
 Be subject to oversight by an independent audit regulator or professional accountancy organization that applies quality assurance reviews.
 Be in good standing with a recognized professional accounting body (e.g., ACCA, CA, CPA Institute, or equivalent).
 Demonstrate authorization to conduct audits in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA).

ii) Core Technical Experience

The firm must demonstrate:
a) General Audit Experience

 Minimum 10 years of experience in external auditing.
 Proven track record in auditing financial statements prepared under IFRS, and/or IPSAS.
b) Experience with Donor-Funded Projects
 Substantial experience in auditing World Bank–financed projects.
 Experience with audits financed under:
 IDA / IBRD grants or credits.
 Investment Project Financing (IPF).
 Demonstrated familiarity with:
 World Bank Disbursement Guidelines.
 Designated Account (DA) audits.
 Interim Financial Reports (IFRs).
 Withdrawal application procedures
 Procurement compliance under the World Bank Procurement Regulations (2016, revised
2020).

Preference should be given to firms that have successfully completed at least three (3) similar assignments within the last five (5) years.

iii) Relevant Assignment Experience

The firm should demonstrate experience in assignments involving:

 Audit of:
Project Financial Statements (PFS)
i) Designated Accounts
ii) Statements of Expenditure (SOE)
iii) Reconciliation of World Bank disbursements


Review of:
i) Procurement compliance
ii) Internal controls
iii) Financial management systems

Issuance of:
i) Audit opinions in accordance with ISA
ii) Management Letters with actionable recommendations

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 Least Cost 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 20 March 2026 at 1700 hours.

African Union Commission,
Attn: Head of Supply Chain Management Division
Building C, 3 rd 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: [email protected]