Key Accomplishments in 2006

In 2006, the Internal Audit Unit (IAU) of the CGIAR broadened its coverage of assurance and advisory services to the pilot Challenge Programs (CPs) led by CGIAR Centers, reviewing all three pilot CPs during the year. A spin off from this was a review of practices regarding competitive grant schemes. The IAU began working with the Challenge Program for Water and Food Secretariat to identify best practice in this area. This continues into 2007 and will provide input into the review of the CGIAR procurement guidelines.

During the year, the IAU also focused on issuing good practice notes on two emerging but complex and sensitive areas of corporate governance that touch on the control environment in Centers: employee reporting of Center noncompliance with policies and laws; and developing strategies to ensure business integrity. The former includes whistle-blowing and hotline systems but presents them within a broader set of internal communication channels that Centers should have in place. The latter lays out the areas in which Centers should focus efforts to promote transparency and integrity in the use of resources, and in the allocation of research grants, contracts for goods and services, and jobs. The note also provides advice to Centers on how best to meet the challenges of working in countries with high levels of corruption.

In mid-2006, the IAU brought together internal auditors from across the CGIAR System, as well as a number of auditees from various Centers, in Nairobi, Kenya, to exchange ideas on improving audit methods and approaches, and to undertake some structured professional development through the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the worldwide professional body. The CGIAR became in 2006 the first organization to obtain a corporate membership from the IIA for all its internal audit staff globally, regardless of their location. This provides access to professional materials and discounted courses from the IIA for all CGIAR internal auditors, whether in the IAU or hired by Centers.

Collaboration with other System Office Units

The IAU worked closely in 2006 with the Chief Information Office to support and advise the CGIAR Enterprise Security and Business Continuity Project. This project aims to develop minimum standards for information technology network security and disaster recovery across the CGIAR Centers and to review vulnerabilities in these areas. This continues into 2007.

rawing on results of the IAU validation of selected 2005 CGIAR Performance Measurement System indicators reported by Centers, the IAU collaborated with the CGIAR Secretariat and the Science Council Secretariat to identify improvements to indicator definitions and evidentiary requirements ahead of the reporting cycle for the 2006 indicators.