KILIMO TRUST CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – EXTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES Full Time NEW

Kilimo Trust (KT) is a non-profit organization that works towards agricultural development across the East Africa Community (EAC) Region—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Trust is registered in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda, with its mission being to make agribusiness a transformative tool for wealth creation, food and nutrition security for smallholder farmers and other Value Chain actors.

Objective of the Audit:

The objectives of the audit of Kilimo Trust’s statements are:

1. To enable the auditors to express an independent professional opinion on the financial position of the Trust as of 30th June of every Financial Year, and to ensure that the funds granted to the Project have been used for their intended purposes.
2. To express an opinion on whether the financial statements present a true and fair view of the financial position and performance of the organization.
3. To assess compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and donor or funding requirements (if applicable).
4. To evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls, risk management, and governance processes.
5. The selected Audit firm will provide Audit Services for five (5) years.

Competency and Expertise

The selected audit firm will employ adequate staff with appropriate professional qualifications and suitable experience with IFAC standards and International Standards on Auditing and with experience in auditing the accounts of entities comparable in size and complexity to Kilimo Trust. In addition, the audit firm should demonstrate

Relevant experience with audits of external aid operations financed by donors

Must have offices in all Kilimo Trust countries of operation

Must provide a lead partner/ manager for each country’s audit

Must have a good understanding of the statutory and financial regulations of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda

Standards and Ethics

The selected firm shall undertake this engagement in accordance with:

The IFAC code of ethics for professional Accountants developed and issued by IFACs International Ethics Board for Accountants (IESBA), which establishes fundamental ethical principles for auditors about integrity, objectivity, independence, professional competence and due care, confidentiality, professional behavior and technical standards.

The principles of public oversight as regulated in each country of operation e.g. ICPAU in Uganda.

Scope of Work

The audit shall cover the following areas:

1. Examination of financial statements, including the balance sheet, income and expenditure statement, cash flow statement, and notes to the accounts.
2. Review of supporting documentation and accounting records.
3. Evaluation of internal control systems, processes and overall control of the environment.
4. Review adequacy of the accounting and financial operations and reporting systems.
5. Assessment of compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
6. Verification of assets, liabilities, and fund balances.
7. Testing of transactions to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Audit Standards

The audit shall be conducted in accordance with:

International Standards on Auditing (ISA).

National auditing standards or donor-specific guidelines, if applicable.

Auditor’s Responsibilities

The auditor is responsible for:

Planning and executing the audit in a timely and efficient manner.

Maintaining objectivity and independence throughout the engagement.

Communicating findings and concerns to management.

Preparing and presenting the final audit report and management letter.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Kilimo Trust shall:

Provide access to all relevant records, documentation, and personnel.

Prepare financial statements in accordance with applicable accounting principles.

Respond to audit findings and implement agreed-upon recommendations.

Deliverables

Presentation of Audited financial statements with the auditor’s opinion to the Finance and Audit Committee and later to the Board of Trustees.

Presentation of the Management letter outlining key findings and recommendations to the Finance and Audit Committee.

Any other reports required by statutory bodies or donors.

Timelines

Audit fieldwork commences on 14th July.

Draft report submission by 25th August.

Final report submission by 1st September.

Duration of Engagement

The engagement will cover the financial year ending 30th June 2026, with potential for renewal subject to performance and mutual agreement**.**

Confidentiality

The auditor shall maintain strict confidentiality regarding all information obtained during the audit process and shall not disclose any information to third parties without written consent**.**

Reporting

The auditor shall report to the Board of Directors/Audit Committee/Finance Committee of Kilimo Trust.

Evaluation Criteria.

Least cost, East African regional presence, profile relevance, and demonstrable experience in the NGO and Agricultural sector

A technical and cost proposal that fully addresses the scope of this assignment and demonstrates relevant experience in the sector.