Purpose and background of the procurement. The section for bilateral development cooperation with Zambia at the Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka has currently a portfolio of approximately 40 projects with an approximate budget of 450 MSEK per year. The annual budget is split in different areas which include human rights and democracy, health, economic development, renewable energy, environment and climate. The Swedish Government intends to decide on a new Strategy for Sweden’s Development Cooperation with Zambia to replace the current strategy that expires in 2022. The proposed Strategy Objectives remain within the areas of the current strategy. The framework agreement presented here is aimed for audit services where the Embassy is contract holder: The agreements Sweden hold with partner organisations grant the Embassy the right to commission special audits of partners, such as value for money audits, expenditure verifications, efficiency audits etc, for which the Embassy will be the contracting party. These framework agreements will be used for such audits. Under special circumstances, it could also be an annual financial audit at a partner organization, where the Embassy then is the contract holder. Furthermore, in connection with the preparation of possible support to institutions and organizations, the Embassy might also commission pre award audits, capacity studies or internal control reviews. Such pre-award audits form important parts of the assessment and give guidance to the design of the collaboration between the Embassy and the partner organisation. In suspicion of embezzlement and other corrupt practices, the Embassy need to call for investigative reviews and forensic audits on short notice. The Embassy also wants the framework agreements to include the possibility to call off advisory services and training sessions with Embassy staff and partner organisations. It should be noted that the Framework Agreement will not include any guarantees of volume of services to be required/provided.
Purpose and background of the procurement. The responsibility to have operations audited rests with the partner organisation. In all project and programme agreements it is stated that the project/programme shall be audited annually. An external, independent and qualified auditor shall carry out the audit. In addition to the audits agreed upon with partner organisations, the agreements will grant the Embassy the right to commission special audits, for which the Embassy will be the contracting party. In connection with the preparation of possible support to institutions and organisations, the Embassy might also commission an audit on the management systems and internal controls as part of the pre-appraisal of a possible contribution to institutions and organisations. Such pre- award audits form important parts of the assessment and give guidance to the design of the collaboration between the Embassy and the partner organisation. In order to support the Embassy in Kinshasa in undertaking the special audits, the Embassy have decided to procure a Framework Agreement with one local audit firm for rendering audit services on call-off basis. For each call-off a separate Terms of Reference will be presented and agreed upon in accordance with the specific requirements within the particular project or programme. The Embassy will also need advisory services and training sessions. This could include both the Embassy staff and the staff of our partner organisations.
