TERMS OF REFERENCE

 Assignment: ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT OF Lao Microfinance Association (LMFA)

(Period: January – December 2021)

1. Background

The predecessor of the Lao Microfinance Association (LMFA), the Microfinance Working Group for the Lao PDR (MFWG), was founded in May 2007 by a group of microfinance practitioners as an informal platform to exchange experience, represent microfinance sector interests and coordinate donor activities. In October 2013, the MFWG obtained its temporary license as a non-profit association (NPA) from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA). As a consequence, its name changed to Lao Microfinance Association (LMFA). LMFA got its permanent license by middle of August 2018.

The MFA is the national microfinance industry’s umbrella organization. It gathers microfinance practitioners and other relevant stakeholders that share the ultimate goal of the association which is to improve access to appropriate and affordable financial services for poor and unbanked people.

2. Objectives of the Audit

The objectives of this audit are to enable the Auditor to express an opinion on whether:

• the financial report prepared by the LMFA presents fairly, in all material respects, the actual expenditure incurred and the revenue received for the period under review, in accordance with the contractual conditions agreed upon with the donors/funding agencies of the LMFA;
• the Internal Control System set up and operated by the LMFA for the purpose of managing risks was suitably designed and operated effectively in the period under review.

3. Specific tasks of the Auditor

The Auditor shall perform the audit in accordance with Lao & International Auditing Standards.

Specifically, the Auditor shall

• Review and, if applicable, prepare the following financial reports for the period 1^st January – 31^st December 2021: Statement of Income and Expenditure, Fund Balance, as well as List of Fixed Assets (Inventory) as of 31^st December 2021;
• Express an opinion on the accounts/financial reports as well as the Internal Control System of the LMFA;
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimated made by the management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements;
• Formulate recommendations related to the accounting system and policies, Internal Control System and the overall presentation of the financial statements as well as follow up on the recommendations made in the previous year’s audit report (Management Letter).

4. Time frame

The audit needs to be conducted in the first quarter of 2022

5. Expected output (report / deliverables / products)

A complete audit report in English and Lao languages for the period 1^st January – 31^st December 2021, including a Management Letter.

Interested candidates must submit the proposal in electronic form with digital signatures to the following email addresses below on or before 16:00 hour (Lao PDR time) no later than 20^th December 2021

Lao Microfinance Association (LMFA),

Unit 14, Amone Village, Saysettha District

P.O. Box: 4030, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR,

Email: mfa@laomfa.org

Web: www.laomfa.org

Office Tel: +856 30 9481265 /Fax: +856 21 226019