Independent financial audit

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

LEBANON

Digital Skilling for Employment Project (DSE)

Grant No.: TF0D1121
Project ID: P506407

Assignment Title: Project External Financial Audit
Reference No.: LB-FORWARDMENA-541221-CS-LCS

Forward MENA has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Digital Skilling for Employment Project (DSE) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include the provision of independent external audit services for the DSE Project, covering the audit of the Project Financial Statements and related financial management arrangements in accordance with the applicable auditing standards and World Bank requirements.

The assignment will cover two audit cycles:

• 11 May 2026 to 31 December 2026, with the final Audit Report and Management Letter due by 30 June 2027; and
• 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027, including the applicable Project grace/closure period, with the final Audit Report and Management Letter due by 30 June 2028.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained by contacting procurement@forwardmena.org .

Forward MENA now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

Shortlisting Criteria

Interested firms will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Legal and professional standing: Registered and accredited audit firm legally authorized to conduct statutory audits in Lebanon and member of the Lebanese Association of Certified Public Accountants (LACPA); the firm must be acceptable to the World Bank.
• General experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in external financial audit, with ten (10) years preferred.
• Donor-funded and World Bank experience: Demonstrated experience auditing donor-funded projects, including World Bank-financed operations (IPF). Experience with other multilateral or bilateral donors is an advantage.
• Comparable assignments: At least two (2) comparable assignments completed within the last five (5) years.
• Quality control and independence: Documented quality-control system in line with ISQM 1 / ISQC 1, together with full independence from Forward MENA and absence of conflicts of interest.
• Relevant institutional capacity: Demonstrated ability to work with donor-specific reporting formats and analyze records maintained in a ring-fenced project accounting system.
• Local knowledge: Sound knowledge of the Lebanese legal, tax, banking and regulatory environment and its implications for project financial management.
• Language capacity: Excellent written and oral proficiency in English, with working knowledge of Arabic for reviewing local supporting documentation. French is an asset.

These criteria reflect the firm-level requirements contained in the Audit TOR, including the seven-year minimum, World Bank-financed audit experience, comparable assignments and quality-control requirements.

Information to be Submitted

Interested firms should submit an Expression of Interest demonstrating their qualifications and relevant experience for the assignment. The EOI should include:

• Brief company profile, including years of operation and core audit services;
• Evidence of legal registration and authorization to provide audit services in Lebanon, including LACPA membership/registration;
• Summary of the firm's external financial audit experience;
• Evidence of experience auditing donor-funded projects and World Bank-financed operations (IPF);
• Details of at least two (2) comparable assignments completed within the last five (5) years, including the client, assignment description, implementation period and contact information for references;
• Brief information on the firm's quality-control system and confirmation of its independence from Forward MENA;
• Brief description of the firm's experience with donor-specific reporting and project accounting systems; and
• Contact details of the firm and its authorized representative.

Conflict of Interest and Selection Method

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to the applicable provisions of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers regarding the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Least Cost Selection (LCS) method set out in the applicable World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers.

Only shortlisted firms will subsequently be invited to submit Technical and Financial Proposals.

Submission of Expressions of Interest

Further information, including the detailed Terms of Reference, can be obtained by contacting procurement@forwardmena.org during normal working hours.

Expressions of Interest must be submitted electronically no later than:

Monday, 12 October 2026, at 12:00 noon (Beirut Time).

Forward MENA
Attn: Michelle Boustany
Email: procurement@forwardmena.org
Subject: Expression of Interest – External Financial Audit – DSE Project – LB-FORWARDMENA-541221-CS-LCS