Request for Expressions of Interest (firm) for Provision of External Audit Operations for the Hdmi Project, Phase 1

Tender descriptionREQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (FIRM)INTERGOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON DEVELOPMENTHORN OF AFRICA DIGITAL MARKET INTEGRATION (HDMI)PROJECT, PHASE 1PROVISION OF EXTERNAL AUDIT OPERATIONSFOR THE HDMI PROJECT, PHASE 1, FOR THE PERIOD 1ST JANUARY 2026 TO 30TH SEPTEMBER 2027REF NO: IGAD-HDMI/EXT-AUDIT/LCS/2026Country: Multinational (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan) Sector: Digital developmentFinancing Agreements References: 2100155042222 / 5900155017803ProjectID No.: P-Z1-GB0-036Date: 05/11/2026The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has received a grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, tofinancethe Horn of Africa Digital Market Integration (HDMI) Project – Phase 1, an intervention based under the Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration Division (ECRID) of the IGAD Secretariat. IGAD intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this grant to payments under the contract, for provision of External Audit Operations for the HDMI Project – Phase 1, for the Period 1st January 2026 to 30th September 2027.Hire AccountantsThe objective of the HDMI project phase 1 is to strengthen economic integration in the IGAD region, by unlocking market opportunities, thus enhancing creation of a single digital market. With ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, complimented the IGAD’s strategy 2026-2030 and IGAD’s Vision 2050, the possibility of new markets will open new avenues for businesses and new jobs, especially for youth and women. Thus, the use of digital solutions will support implementation of the AfCFTA, which is a key policy instrument available to the African economies.Specifically, the project seeks to implement robust, secure, and reliable digital trade and e-commerce enablers, promote digital economy and trust substrates and fill gaps with regards to digital ecosystem (cybersecurity, data protection and exchanges and digital transactions). With this phased operation, the gradual development of an integrated regional market in the digital sector will allow the IGAD region populations to trade more easily. This will facilitate competitiveness and expansion of the local industry that will meet these new needs (manufacturing in particular) thanks to the widening middleclass and maintaining value creation and jobs for youth on site by improving the sub-regional competitiveness, which will attract more capital to support innovation and digital entrepreneurship.The project includes the following components: (a) Digital trade and e-commerce enablers, which contributes towards enabling trade and commerce using electronic and digital-based solutions. Digital tools are critical to success of firms as digitalization reduces transaction costs, helps small and medium sized enterprises integrate into local and global economies and facilitates access to resources including finance, (b) Data economy and digital trust promotion, which supports promotion of digital financial services through government payment systems, to ensure reliability of the cash in and out processes of public resources, (c) Support actions, which complement and provide support to implementation of the previous components, and (d) Project Management, which comprises management, quality control and supervision of the project.IGAD Secretariat as an Executing Agency of the HDMI Project – Phase 1, is planning to hire a competent Auditing firm to undertake financial audit of the HDMI Project – Phase 1, for the period covering 1st January 2026 and ending 30th September 2027. The services and requirements for this Consultancy are stipulated in the Terms of Reference (ToRs) that can be obtained from the address below.Hire AccountantsThe Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)() now invites eligible audit firms to express their interest in providing these services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, desc