Request for Proposals — External Audit

28.01.2026

Eastern European Coalition for LGBT+ Equality, wishes to engage the services of an audit firm for the purpose of auditing the “Eastern European Coalition for LGBT+ Equality 2025-2027” -  RFSL Partnership Agreement №5809-1001 project. The audit shall be carried out in accordance with international audit standards (ISA) issued by IAASB. In addition, an assignment according to International Standards on Related Services (ISRS) 4400 (Revised) shall be carried out. The audit and the additional assignment shall be carried out by an external, independent and qualified auditor.

The objective is to audit the financial report for the period of

  • June 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 
  • January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026
  • January 1, 2027 - December 15, 2027

as submitted to Donor and to express an audit opinion according to ISA, applying ISA 800/ISA 805, on whether the financial report of “Eastern European Coalition for LGBT+ Equality 2025-2027” - RFSL Partnership Agreement №5809-1001 is in accordance with the Cooperation partner´s accounting records and Sida’s requirements for financial reporting as stipulated in the agreement including appendices between RFSL and Cooperation partner (Agreement).

Final audit report must be submitted no later than February 28, each year.

Total project budget is 750 085 SEK.

Mandatory procedures that must be included:

  • Observe whether the financial report is structured in a way that allows for direct comparison with the latest approved budget.
  • Observe and inspect whether the financial report provides information regarding:
  • Financial outcome per budget line (both incomes and costs) for the reporting period and columns for cumulative information regarding earlier periods under current agreement.
  • When applicable, compare if the opening fund balance for the reporting period matches with what was stated as closing fund balance in the previous reporting period.
  • A disclosure of exchange gains/losses. Inquire and confirm whether the disclosure includes the entire chain of currency exchange from RFSL’s disbursement to the handling of the project/programme within the organisation in local currency/ies, if applicable.
  • Explanatory notes (such as, for instance, accounting principles applied for the financial report).
  • Amount of funds that has been forwarded to implementing partners, when applicable.
  • Inquire and inspect with what frequency salary costs during the reporting period are debited to the project/programme.
  • Review and confirm that the Cooperation partner screens IP’s and/or suppliers to ensure that such parties are not subject to the European Union’s financial sanctions list of persons, groups and organisations (EU Sanctions list).
  • Enquire whether there has been any reported findings from the screening process and if so, report on such findings.

  • a) Inspect and confirm that the unspent fund balance (according to the financial report) at the end of the financial year is in line with information provided in the accounting system and/or bank
  • b) Applicable the final year: Inspect and confirm the unspent fund balance (including exchange gains) in the financial report and confirm the amount that shall be repaid to RFSL.

    The reporting shall be signed by the responsible auditor (not just the audit firm) and shall include the title of the responsible auditor.

    Reporting from the ISA assignment

    The reporting from the auditor shall include an independent auditor’s report in accordance with the format in standard ISA 800/805 and the auditor’s opinion shall be clearly stated. The financial report that has been the subject of the audit shall be attached to the audit report.

    The reporting shall also include a Management letter that discloses all audit findings, as well as weaknesses identified during the audit process. The auditor shall make recommendations to address the identified findings and weaknesses. The recommendations shall be presented in priority order and with a risk classification.

    Measures taken by the Cooperation partner to address weaknesses identified in previous audits shall also be presented in the Management Letter. If the previous audit did not have any findings or weaknesses to be followed-up on, a clarification of this must be disclosed in the audit reporting.

    If the auditor assesses that no findings or weaknesses have been identified during the audit that would result in a Management Letter, an explanation of this assessment must be disclosed in the audit reporting.

    Reporting from the ISRS 4400 (Revised) assignment.

    The additional assignment according to agreed upon procedures ISRS 4400 (Revised) under section II, shall be reported separately in an “Agreed-upon procedures report”.

    Performed procedures should be described and the findings should be reported in accordance with the requirements in the International Standard on Related Services 4400 (Revised).

    When applicable, the sample size shall be stated in the report.

    Signatures

    With their signature, the undersigned certify the fulfilment of the requirements of these terms of reference and its existing rules.

    Questions and Clarifications

    If you have questions or need clarifications regarding these Terms of Reference, please send them in writing by email to vresetnic@eeclgbt.org

    All proposals in response to this ToR must be received no later than 16:00 local time on February 05, 2026.

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