Donor assurance

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Global donors have a responsibility to ensure their funds have been used as intended and provide reporting on their programmes that inspires trust and confidence. That is why leading donors turn to us, a trusted global partner with unrivalled sector expertise. As independent, assurance experts, we are dedicated to building confidence, trust and transparency while working in the best interests of the global donor community.

We tailor our services to your complex assurance requirements, always ensuring they build confidence.  

Our deep technical expertise enables us to identify and manage risks through robust financial reporting and effective internal controls and procedures. As a regulated firm, we understand the critical need for donor reporting and assurance to be of the highest standards and comply with the highest International Standards on Auditing to ensure confidence in our work.

How we can help on donor assurance

We would be delighted to discuss your assurance needs and how we can support the effectiveness of your projects and programmes. Please get in touch with one of your key contacts listed below or complete an enquiry form and we will get in touch shortly.


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Our assurance services play a vital role in reinforcing confidence and ensuring transparency for global donors delivered through:

Financial Audits

  • Detailed, ISA-compliant audits of project financial reports and programmes to provide an assessment of their accuracy, compliance and financial integrity, carried out in compliance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA).

ISRS 4400 Agreed Upon Procedures

  • We conduct targeted checks based on donor criteria, including expenditure verifications.

ISAE 3000 Other Assurance Engagements

  • Digital Oversight to provide assurance over digital systems in programme delivery.
  • Systems-Based Audits to support robust financial governance and the navigation of risk.
  • Verification of the proper use of funds in projects.

ESG and Sustainability Assurance

  • Evaluating management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks to make sure that donors are aware of and meet required ESG criteria, directives and certification processes.

Value for Money and Performance Audits 

  • Evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of donor spending in achieving intended outcomes.
  • Discover our value for money and performance audit capabilities.

Pre-Award Assessments & Due Diligence

  • Evaluating grant and donor systems for effectiveness.
  • Evaluating potential grantees’ accounting, adequacy of transparency, financial track record assessment, financial management, pillar assessment, reputation, reporting systems, safeguarding and control environments as a pre-award assessment .
  • We undertake due diligence on grantees to assess risk and capacity.

Procurement audits

  • Assessing procurement processes and procedures, including award, contract payment, publication and tendering procedures.

Industry Standards

  • We are globally licensed to perform certifications of organisations against the Good Financial Grants Practice (GFGP) across all tiers of this sector-facing initiative owned by the African Regional Standards Organisation.
  • In addition, we certify organisations against other industry standards including the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and the World Bank’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). 


Global Standardisation for a Multilateral Agency

A global multilateral organisation wanted to improve consistency and efficiency in the way its offices carried out assurance work. The procedures previously followed in individual countries varied significantly, and often resulted in poor quality work, meaning it was very difficult for the organisation as a whole to understand where its risks were.

Drawing on our previous experience of working globally with a similar organisation, IIDA was able to deliver standardised assurance work in any location around the world, providing an invaluable conduit between the local offices and its headquarters.

These insights helped to strengthen the internal procedures and systems and also meant we could provide targeted training to the organisations staff.

Our collaboration has since deepened, and we are working together on developing new training modules, improving data security, and refining the overall assurance framework for the future.

Governance and Oversight Strengthening for a Global Foundation

For the past decade, we have supported a leading, global foundation helping them to build trust in how their programs are being managed by their partners across the USA, Europe, Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Each year, we deliver financial reviews that provide the foundation’s board with assurance on fund use while highlighting practical ways that partners can improve their systems for managing donor funded programs.

Our work has helped the foundation understand operational challenges, refine its guidance, and harmonise requirements with peer donors.

This long term collaboration has delivered value beyond compliance. We now act as a trusted adviser to the foundation, providing wider support, including programme evaluation services through our donor advisory team.

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) promotes transparency in reporting government revenues from the extractives sector, including oil, gas, and minerals. With over 50 countries participating, EITI acts as a global arbiter, ensuring fair reporting practices.

Central to this initiative is the EITI Standard, guiding governments and companies in tax reporting and governance. As the UK's Independent Administrator for EITI, we reconcile taxes paid by companies with government revenues, addressing discrepancies and reporting on anti-corruption measures.

Our annual EITI Report enhances transparency, attracting responsible investors and assuring the public of proper governance. Our expertise in this area is recognised globally, having served as EITI Independent Administrator in over 30 EITI implementing countries.

Your key people

Matthew Hayes

Matthew Hayes

Partner, International Institutions and Donor Assurance
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James Walsh

James Walsh

Partner, Head of Assurance, International Institutions and Donor Assurance
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