Introduction
The European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) seeks a Senior Internal Audit Consultant to support its Integrity Cities cooperation. The Consultant will work closely with partner cities — mainly Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr, and Mykolaiv — to strengthen internal audit units, establish normative documentation, provide methodological support in planning, preparing and organizing internal audit activities, and provide pieces of training for staff.
The EUACI
The EUACI is a joint EU and Government of Denmark financed programme aimed at supporting Ukraine in its efforts to reduce corruption at the national and local level through the empowerment of citizens, civil society and state institutions. In January 2024, a new phase of the EUACI was launched. The strategic objectives are that: Corruption in Ukraine is reduced; Ukraine advances with anti-corruption reform; and Reconstruction in war-affected areas of Ukraine is implemented within a framework that incorporates transparency, accountability and integrity.
The EUACI has four intervention areas, namely:
- Support to independent state institutions fighting and preventing corruption;
- Transparency and accountability of the reconstruction process;
- Support cities in war-affected areas in enhancing integrity in the reconstruction process;
- Civil society and media in preventing and fighting corruption.
This tender falls under intervention area 3 and focuses on helping Integrity Cities implement measures that will contribute to increased integrity, transparency and accountability. Organisationally, the Senior Internal Audit Consultant will work with the EUACI team and Advisors in Integrity Cities, and will be supervised by the Intervention Area 3 Team Lead.
The partnership with Integrity Cities
The six Integrity Cities with which the EUACI has a partnership are Chernivtsi, Sheptytskyi, Mykolaiv, Nikopol, Mariupol and Zhytomyr.
During phase I and II, the EUACI worked with these cities to strengthen their systems and tools for enhancing integrity, transparency, and accountability. The partnership continues in the current 3rd phase, focusing on the continued development of the various integrity tools launched during previous phases and the implementation of new tools. Currently, there are no activities in Mariupol.
Based on the agreement reached with the Integrity Cities Mayors under Memorandums of Understanding, the EUACI envisages an establishment of efficient, transparent, and ISO-compliant internal audit practices in Integrity Cities. This consultancy focuses on providing methodological support in planning, preparing and organising internal audit activities in partner cities, ensuring enhanced transparency, efficiency, and accountability. The Consultant will be directly engaged in the process of adapting normative documentation, providing training, and facilitating the development of effective internal audit units in Sheptytsky, Nikopol, but mainly — in Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr, and Mykolaiv.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS
To support the Advisors to the Mayor, Heads and staff of the municipalities’ Internal Audit Units in coordinating, advancing and supporting the implementation of actions directed at effectively implementing efficient, transparent, and ISO-compliant internal audit practices. The Consultant will provide supervision services to city officials in support of the above.
The selected Consultant will report to the EUACI management team.
The Consultant is expected to have regular visits to Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr and Mykolaiv.
BUDGET AND LENGTH OF CONTRACT
The expected duration of the assignment is 12 months and 180 working days, including 36 travel days, with a tentative start in December 2024 and completion in December 2025.
The budget is up to 30,000 EUR including business trips (per diem, logistics and accommodation) for 36 travel days in Ukraine.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Area of Responsibility
- Provide advice to the city management, Heads and staff of the municipalities’ internal audit units, including units in MoEs, in coordinating, advancing and supporting effective implementation of internal audit practices and their integration into city governance frameworks.
- Develop regulatory documents, policies, and procedures for internal audit functions to align documentation with international standards, including ISO standards.
- Provide supervision of audit checks and control processes for, as well as technical guidance to address identified gaps and risks.
- Provide supervision of audit checks and control processes for, as well as technical guidance to address identified gaps and risks.
- Develop training materials covering audit methodologies, reporting practices, implementation of international standards
- Conduct monthly visits to Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr, and Mykolaiv to engage stakeholders and ensure alignment with project objectives. Support Advisors to the Mayors in facilitating communication and cooperation between city councils and the EUACI team.
- Provide ad-hoc consultancy services in internal audit to Sheptytsky and Nikopol city administrations.
- Provide regular progress reports with actionable recommendations.
- Contribute to the activities development, updates, presentations, and reports on the Program’s implementation.
- Provide ad-hoc advisory support at the request of the five mentioned city councils.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please send your CV, short motivation letter and expected budget (including the total budget, the price of an 8-hour working day, logistics, accommodation and per diem) to [email protected], and [email protected], cc [email protected] indicating the subject line “Senior Internal Audit Consultant”.
Please note that the applicant will receive an auto-reply from [email protected] when the proposal is received. If this is not the case, then please contact the EUACI before the deadline.
The deadline for submitting the proposals is 5 February 2025, 18:00 Kyiv time.
The proposals shall be submitted in English.
Any clarification questions for the bid request should be addressed to [email protected], cc [email protected] no later than 1 February 2025, 18:00 Kyiv time.
More details can be found in the attached document.
