In 2020, CGIAR faced challenges related to COVID–19, and continued to undertake unprecedented transformational change as part of its One CGIAR transition. The CGIAR System Internal Audit Function remained agile and responsive to the priorities and needs of CGIAR in achieving its goals in an effective and efficient way.  

Across CGIAR’s entities, internal audit functions delivered over 80 assurance and advisory engagements, covering a wide range of operational areas responding to key risks. Cross-CGIAR work included:

• Assurance engagement on maximizing the value of CGIAR Intellectual Assets/Intellectual Property (also see Intellectual assets)
• Phase I of an assurance engagement review of the maturity of cyber security controls
• Assurance engagement to review the maturity of general data management with a specific focus on research-related data (also see Open and FAIR data assets)
• Advisory engagement exploring barriers to fraud reporting
• Assurance engagement to review workforce support activities in response to the COVID–19 pandemic.

In 2020, the CGIAR Internal Audit Function remained agile and responsive to the priorities and needs of CGIAR in achieving its goals in an effective and efficient way.

 In addition, the CGIAR System Internal Audit Function took part in transition design activities in relation to One CGIAR, and in its consulting capacity offered expert input and advice. 

Observations and recommendations made as part of cross-CGIAR internal audit engagements, which have been supported by stakeholders, strongly support the case for building a resilient and agile One CGIAR, fully benefiting from robust systems and processes.