Recruitment of a firm for the financial audit of beneficiaries of grants Phase 2.

Bid Reference: BJ-ADSC-533796-CS-CQS
Procurement method: Consultant Qualification Selection
World Bank project No. : P175768

REPUBLIC OF BENIN

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PRESIDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC

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SEME CITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

NOTICE OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Subject : Recruitment of a firm for the financial audit of beneficiaries of grants Phase 2.

Reference:

STAGE: BJ-ADSC-533796-CS-CQS

Source of financing: World Bank

Credit No. 7012-BJ

April 2026

NOTICE OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

 

Subject : Recruitment of a firm for the financial audit of beneficiaries of grants Phase 2.

Reference: STEP  BJ-ADSC-533796-CS-CQS

Source of financing: World Bank

Credit No. 7012 BJ

Date: April 2026

Notice No.BJ-ADSC-533796-CS-CQS/26/ADSC /FP2E-C3/CM/SPM/A-SPM of 30/04/2026

1. Context

This Notice of Expression of Interest (EOI) is part of the Public Procurement Plan of the Vocational Training and Entrepreneurship for Employment Project in Benin (FP2E), Component 3 (FP2E/C3), published on the World Bank public procurement portal on February 11, 2026.

The Government of Benin has received financing from the World Bank to fund the Vocational Training and Entrepreneurship for Employment Project (FP2E) and intends to use part of this grant to make payments under the contract for the recruitment of a firm for the financial audit of beneficiaries of grants Phase 2.

2. Description of services

The mission of the firm is to conduct an audit of the use of the first and second tranches (if applicable) of the grants awarded to the beneficiary SMEs of the FP2E/ADSC grant programs, in accordance with the provisions of the operational manual of each grant program.

The mission will aim to verify the regularity, compliance, and proper utilization of the financial resources allocated to the entrepreneurs, ensuring that the expenses incurred by the beneficiaries comply with the budgets validated by the Steering Committee and the signed grant agreements.

• Number of projects to be audited (Beneficiary): 300 (Three hundred)

The selected firm must particularly:

• Analyze the supporting documents related to the expenses incurred by the beneficiaries under the two tranches of grant (if applicable);


• Verify the compliance of the expenses incurred with the budget forecasts approved in the grant agreements;


• Control the eligibility of the expenses, in accordance with the rules defined in the operational manual of each program;


• Identify any irregularities, discrepancies, or anomalies in the use of resources by the SMEs;


• Assess the quality of the administrative and financial management of the funds by the beneficiaries;


• Make recommendations to improve the management of the grant for each of the beneficiaries in order to access the second tranche if necessary


• Make recommendations to improve the management of the second tranche of grants.

3. Duration and location :

The expected duration of the mission is twelve (12) months starting from the date of establishment of the service order, and will take place in Cotonou, but will concern the entire Beninese territory.

4. Conditions for participation :

• In this regard, interested firms must provide information demonstrating that they possess the required qualifications and relevant experience for the execution of the Services (references regarding the execution of similar contracts, registration with the Unique Tax Identification (IFU), availability of necessary skills (detailed CV and diplomas). The firm must provide evidence of its experiences (certificates/statements of good execution supported by excerpts from contracts, etc. containing the precise information to appreciate the experiences of the firms)

The FP2E-C3 project invites eligible Consultants (firms) to express their interest for the aforementioned services. Interested Consultants (firms) must provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to carry out the missions. The expression of interest file will include:

• A letter of expression of interest written in French specifying the mission;


• A presentation file of the Consultant (firm) including at least: a certified true copy of the commercial register and the statutes where applicable, defining the legal form of the firm, the detailed areas of intervention of the Consultant (firm), the technical and managerial organization of the Consultant (firm);


• the experiences of the Consultant (firm) accompanied by certificates of good execution + excerpts from contracts, etc.)

• Firms may form a grouping of firms in order to strengthen their qualifications. In the case of a grouping, all members of the Group will be jointly and severally responsible for the entirety of the contract, if applicable.

5. The criteria for evaluating expressions of interest are :

 Profile of experts

• For the realization of this mission, a firm or a grouping of consultants with a good understanding of the financial audit of the use of granted subsidies of the Beninese entrepreneurial ecosystem and specialized in the structuring of accompanying offers and services intended for entrepreneurs is sought.

• The specific experience of the firm: (05 points)

• Having carried out at least three (03) financial audit missions or grant audits in the past five (05) years as part of projects financed by technical and financial partners at the national or international level; (1 point per proven experience mission supported by certificates of good execution or any other means.) : 03 points. 


• Having a good knowledge of international auditing standards (ISA), (0.5 points) and good knowledge of procurement procedures or financial management of development projects (proven experiences supported by certificates of good execution, services rendered.) ; 1 point.


• Having carried out two audit missions focusing on subsidy mechanisms or support to SMEs/startups (2 experiences at a rate of 0.50 points/experience proven by certificates of good execution.) ; 1 point

NOTE : In the case of a consultation as a firm, it must be up to date with its fiscal and social obligations.

The firm in charge of the mission must be able to mobilize a team of experts in the following configuration :

1. A Mission Director :


2. A Mission Leader :

Score for the Criterion

(points)

Means of Proof to be Provided by the Candidate

A Mission Director, certified accountant registered with the Order of Chartered Accountants and Certified Accountants (OECCA) of Benin with at least ten (10) years of experience in general auditing and more specifically in auditing projects and programs supporting the development of private and public sector enterprises.

06 points

Certified accountant registered with the Order of Chartered Accountants and Certified Accountants (OECCA) of Benin;

01

Diploma (certified copy)

Have at least ten (10) years of general experience in accounting expertise from the date of registration with the order of chartered accountants.

In general auditing and more specifically in auditing projects and programs supporting the development of private and public sector enterprises as a registered certified accountant;

05

(0.5 points per year of experience proven by certificates of good execution or any other means or contracts accompanied by cover pages and signatures)

Total Scores

06 points

1. A Senior Auditor:


2. An Audit Assistant: