Following a public tender, the London-based audit company was hired to audit the NGO programme in Hungary financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants.
The audit found that the fund operator’s management and control system is in line with the agreed requirements. It also found that the programme is operated effectively.
A sample of projects was selected by PKF Littlejohn LLP for financial audits. The results of these audits were overall positive. This means that the financial reports of the projects audited presented fairly the actual expenditure incurred and were in line with agreements. Only minor errors were found.
Based on the audit, PKF Littlejohn LLP suggests possible measures to further strengthen the management of the programme related to documentation procedures, guidelines and reporting.
The donors will use the results of the audit as well as an evaluation of the NGO programme to improve the implementation of the programme and make any necessary financial corrections.
Since the Secretariat of the EEA Grants (Financial Mechanism Office) is the programme operator of 13 NGO programmes, the responsibility of audits lies with the donor countries. In line with regular procedures, audits of all these programmes are commissioned in 2014/2015.
Programmes increased capacity of NGOs
Through the EEA Grants, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are contributing almost €160 million to strengthen the development of civil society so that it can better contribute to social justice and democracy in 16 beneficiary countries.
A recent evaluation report highlights that the NGO programmes have increased the capacity of civil society in Central and Southern Europe and helped to mobilise citizens to voice their concerns and actively engage with governments.
To verify the effective functioning of the management and control systems and to ensure compliance with legal requirements, all programmes under the EEA and Norway Grants are subject to audits.
More information
Mid-term evaluation of the EEA Grants NGO programmes
Public access policy