The West African Power Pool (WAPP) was created by Decision A/DEC.5/12/99 of the Twenty-second summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. By Decision A/DEC.18/01/06, the Twenty-ninth summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Niamey, adopted the Articles of Agreement for WAPP organization and function. The said summit also accorded, by Decision A/DEC.20/01/06, the status of Specialized Institution of ECOWAS. Since 2006, the Headquarters of WAPP is based in Cotonou further to the signing of Headquarter Agreement with the Republic of Benin.
Job Title: Internal Auditor
Location:PMU Head Office, Abuja, Nigeria
Project Name: WAPP North Core/Projet Dorsale Nord Interconnection Project
Employing Institution: Project Management Unit (PMU) of the North Core Project
Reports to: PMU Director
Subordinates: N/A
Appointment: Full time, approximately 36 months
Language required: Proficiency in English and/or French with a good knowledge of the second language
Project Background
Within the framework of the West African Power Pool (WAPP), the Governments of Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Togo and Burkina are collaborating to develop a sub-regional interconnection project referred to as the 330 kV WAPP North Core Project. The project involves the construction of approximately 875 km of 330 kV transmission lines from Nigeria to Burkina Faso, through Niger, and Benin. The project will also involve the electrification of rural communities located within a 5 km radius on both sides of the line, and the implementation of several environmental and social mitigation measures. These include, among others, the implementation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) to provide for persons and communities affected by project implementation activities.
The project is being financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union (EU) and the World Bank (WB).
Given the regional dimension of the project, and in order to enhance its coordination, Energy Ministers of the North Core countries agreed to put in place an institutional framework which includes the establishment of a Project Management Unit (PMU) to, among others, assist in the preparation and physical implementation of the North Core project.
Job Purpose
The Internal Auditor will support the Project Director in providing an independent evaluation of the activities of the Project and its related entities. S/he will centrally coordinate all audit and compliance activities at the Project Head Office and at Field Offices and ensure strict adherence to the WAPP, World Bank and AfDB’s internal policies and procedures, regulatory and statutory requirements. The jobholder’s tasks will be undertaken with a view to promote transparency and accountability, develop risk-based audit, add significant value, enhance risk management, governance and compliance, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen the internal control systems within the operations of the project.
The jobholder will therefore assess among others the extent to which there is reasonable assurance that: risks are appropriately identified and managed, significant financial, managerial, and operating information is accurate, reliable, and timely, institutional policies and procedures are complied with, resources are acquired economically and used efficiently, quality and continuous improvement are fostered and institutional assets (physical and intellectual), records and data are safeguarded.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key duties and responsibilities include the following:
Develop and implement internal audit work programs, audit plan and risk register and drive the development, deployment and update/review of the charter, manual, relevant policies and other frameworks for the Internal Audit Function;
Establish effective business relationships within the project and support Management in the understanding and application of, and adherence to internal control, risk management, compliance and governance principles;
Perform audits through the review of physical and electronic records, evaluate the level of compliance with established business control policies, processes, procedures, standards, laws and regulations in assigned functional areas/business units, identify control weaknesses or process improvement opportunities and initiate workable solutions;
Document and file work papers and audit procedures performed. Track timely and effective corrective actions taken following audit recommendations;
Maintain back up (physical and electronic) of all internal audit materials for easy retrieval and reference and monitor the document management process;
Continuously review all documents and manuals and recommend amendments to reflect current Resolutions and Decisions as well as best practice;
Promptly disclose identified irregularities to the Project Director and ensure follow up of external audit findings, financial management supervision and Interim Financial Report (IFR) review findings.
Train project staff on key audit issues and proactively keep project staff informed of emerging trends, developments and practices affecting the work of internal audit;
Submit, on a timely basis, monthly, quarterly and annual internal audit reports to the Project Director and donors;
Monitor internal and external KPIs;
Monitor and drive compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements across all project areas.
