1. Introduction

The National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW) was established in 1990 by the Women’s Rights Committee (WRC) of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to provide affordable legal aid to women and children from marginalized social sectors. The organisation has physical presence in three provinces of Zambia, namely: Copperbelt Province – Ndola; Southern Province – Livingstone; and Lusaka (Secretariat) Province – Lusaka). The Organisation’s overall objective is to empower women and children by facilitating their access to legal rights by way of legal representation, counseling, legal and human rights education. The organisation’s core business is litigation, but the NLACW also undertakes awareness raising activities that promote and protect the rights of women and children through mobile clinics, radio and television programmes, newsletters, brochures, posters and fliers.

The NLACW is funded by multi donors and Law Association of Zambia for implementation of its programme and administrative activities.

2.  Requirements

The external audit services required will include, but not be limited to:

The planning, management and execution of the annual external audit for the LAZ-National Legal Aid Clinic for Women
Preparing Audited Financial Statements and accompanying Management letter (Recommendation letter)
Reporting on external audit progress to Management and the Audit & Finance Committee, including attendance at Audit & Finance Committee meetings and Board meetings as appropriate
Provision of advice to NLACW Management and Audit & Finance Committee on technical accounting and financial matters including tax matters

3.  Proposed contract

The contract will be for an initial one-year period commencing on 1st January 2024 and will be subject to annual re appointment by the Women Rights Committee governing Board.

4. Tender Requirement

Tenders should include the following information:

The Audit firm must be registered with Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) and in possession of the current Audit Practising Certificate.
The fee for the contract period specifying what is included in the charges.
CVs of senior staff such as the Audit Partner and Manager and supporting personnel who would conduct the external audit including the location of staff;
An explanation of the external audit approach that would be used including the firm’s policy in relation to maintenance of continuity of staff involved in the audit.
Details of relevant experience within the NGO sector and list of NGO’s audited.
Details of the areas of technical expertise within the firm that can be called on to support the audit team and to provide advice to the Board and management of National Legal Aid Clinic for Women.

5. Contact details

For further information or clarification please contact Stephen Mulenga Kaleya, preferably by email in the first instance at:-stephenkaleya@gmail.com

6. Deadline

The deadline for responses to this tender is 17:00 hours on Friday 22nd December 2023.  The Tender Reference should be clearly identifiable on all correspondence (including envelopes and Emails) and should be sent to: nlacwlusaka@gmail.com  or

The Executive Director

National Legal Aid Clinic for Women

Plot 110A/150

Musonda Ngosa Road

Villa Elizabetha

Private Bag E 578

LUSAKA

7.  Assessment of Tenders

Tenders will be assessed on the following criteria:

Experience of providing comprehensive external audit services to the NGO sector and demonstrable technical expertise in accounting for grants.
The quality and experience of the proposed external audit team
The suitability of the audit approach
The ability to provide the full range of services required including audit, taxation and specialist technical accounting advice.
Value for money, particularly the added value that the audit process will bring to the organisation.