REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION)

ASSIGNMENT TITLE:  PROVISION OF EXTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES

Cooperative Twihangre Umurimo (COTUMU) is a Farmer's cooperative located in the Northern Province, Gakenke District, Gakenke Sector, Buheta Cell, Karorero Village. It exists since 2007 and was legally registered by Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) in 2012 under license N^o RCA 188/2012. It is composed of 1,186 farmers (679 female and 507 men). Its core purpose is to increase maize production with access to market and value addition. COTUMU has been working in partnership with Vi Agroforestry since 2016. With ALIVE Program which started in 2018, COTUMU obtained funds from Vi Agroforestry to implement the project entitled “Agroforestry for Sustainable Maize Production” in Gakenke District.  

About  Agroforestry

Vi Agroforestry is a Swedish NGO, improving the livelihoods of small-holder farmer families through agroforestry and sustainable agriculture land management. The organization has been working in the East Africa region for over 30 years through local partner organizations. The foundation of Vi Agroforestry's work is sustainable agriculture and agroforestry. It provides increased access to food, access to sustainable energy sources, and more income. Sustainable agriculture contributes to the mitigation of climate change.

The main objective is to enhance the capacity of partner organizations to more efficiently deliver relevant services to their members. 

COTUMU invites bids from eligible firms for the Provision of External Audit Services. The required Audit service consultant firm/organization will be expected to provide high-quality service in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS); should have at least 5 years of audit experience with organizations whose turnover exceeds USD 300,000. In addition, they should demonstrate evidence of Audit experience with NGOs and local cooperatives in Rwanda and should appear on the list approved by Rwanda Revenue Authority.

The service under this EOI will include and not limited to the following:

1.    Undertake Audit of the annual financial statement of COTUMU in accordance with IFRS and reporting to Vi Agroforestry office in Kigali,
2.    Conduct Systems Audits to evaluate the strength and weakness of internal controls and propose improvements,
3.    Advice on the organization’s risk management processes,
4.    Evaluate and advise on the organization’s governance practices. 
For the purpose of demonstrating Experience in the EOI, the firm should provide the following:
i.    A brief description of the firm/organization with an outline of relevant specific recent experience on the assignment of similar nature with NGOs and cooperatives (documentary evidence should be provided)
ii.    Details on the approach, strategies, design, and methodology to ensure effectiveness and comprehensive-time schedule of undertaking the assignment.
iii.    A profile of proposed staff team by specialty, number of years working in the firm and degree of responsibility held in various assignments; tasks that would be assigned to each and their timing and contract amount per man-hour.

In addition, interested firms should provide a copy of the certificate of registration, a copy of a valid tax compliance certificate, a copy of the registration with the accounting Body for the firm or partner.

COTUMU will shortlist a maximum of six (6) firms to be pre-selected on the basis of expression of interest received to whom it will send a request for a financial offer to perform the services. 

Interested firms may obtain further information through email: cotumugakenke@gmail.com. The same address should be used to send the EOI.

The deadline for application is 15^th October 2021

Done at Gakenke on 28^th September 2021

URAYENEZA Elisaphan

The Chairperson of COTUMU