International donor advisory

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Our advisory services go beyond compliance. We work with global donors to improve their internal structures and processes, strengthen their risk management and build their capacity. We advise on governance, systems and processes, at an organisational or project level. Our proactive approach is designed to improve outcomes and strengthen resilience. We enable and equip donors, recipients and local stakeholders to maximise impact and minimise risk.

We help each donor organisation we work with to address its specific and often unique challenges. Our main advisory services are listed below but please get in touch to discuss how we can help. 

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Capability Development

  • We work with clients to improve their performance by delivering tailored development training that builds financial, operational and compliance capacity. Through upskilling and our tailored technical assistance, we reduce risk and support our clients’ operations for the future.

Building a capacity development framework for engagement with civil society organisations

A humanitarian mission needed a practical, real world toolkit to help strengthen its partnerships with civil society organisations in a rapidly changing environment. The toolkit had to work across different contexts, be bilingual, fit internal standards, and be usable by CSOs with varying levels of experience - all while supporting long term localisation goals.

Over the course of a year, our team provided technical guidance, project management, thematic expertise, and language support, working together to co design a model grounded in the realities of the field.

The final toolkit offers a straightforward, consistent way to collaborate, sets clear expectations, supports capacity building, and gives the organisation a solid structure for future engagement with civil society.

Consultancy

  • We provide strategic advice to enhance systems and processes, delivering tailored, outcome-focussed solutions to improve governance and performance.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) & Sustainability Advisory

  • We offer specialist guidance on ESG risks and opportunities, helping donors navigate a changing regulatory and development landscape. 
  • Our services include safeguarding advisory, gender equality frameworks, anti-modern slavery initiatives and additional checks to meet donor requirements. 

ESG Regulations across EU, China, APAC - Private Sector Fundraising

We carried out three studies for a UN Agency’s Private Sector Partnerships team, looking at how ESG regulations are evolving in Europe, Asia Pacific, and China.

Working with BDO colleagues in each country, we explored the CSRD, IFRS S1 and S2, and local ESG rules across the EU and six countries in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and China). This helped us assess the impact of these standards, see how they align with our client’s own frameworks, and offer practical suggestions to help them build stronger, more balanced partnerships with corporate donors.

Mexico - environmental and social safeguarding capacity assessment

We carried out an environmental and social safeguarding assessment for a UN agency in Mexico that wanted to understand how a potential partner measured up against set ESS standards.

Working with our local field office, we reviewed key policies and processes in areas such as sustainable agriculture and biodiversity, indigenous peoples and gender mainstreaming. We identified several areas where the partner could strengthen their capabilities, helping ensure any risks were identified before funding was approved.


Evaluation and Performance

  • We help global donors assess how their funds are being used, the effectiveness of their strategies and programmes and how their resources could deliver more value for money. 
  • Using a flexible, mixed-methods approach, we combine quantitative and qualitative insights to produce robust findings and actionable recommendations. Our approach covers programme and project evaluations, organisational performance reviews, policy analyses and results measurement.

Forensic Audit & Counter-Fraud 

  • Fraud and corruption threaten the impact of donor investments. We help global donors design and build anti-corruption programmes, whistle blowing mechanisms, HR, procurement and integrity reviews, tailored training on forensics investigations and proactive integrity reviews – we safeguard our clients, reduce risk and ensure transparency.

Risk & Internal Control Advisory

  • We strengthen confidence by ensuring global donors’ internal control environments and risk management frameworks are robust and effective. Our consultative approach helps donors adopt adaptive risk strategies, build resilience to change and turn volatility into a strategic advantage.

Your key people

Caroline Hagmann

Caroline Hagmann

Partner, Head of Advisory, International Institutions and Donor Assurance
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