Bridge audit

Bridge the gap to EU funding with HQAI's audit service

Are you a humanitarian or development NGO seeking to become an EU Humanitarian or Programmatic Partner? HQAI offers a service to complete the required ex-ante assessment, leveraging your existing CHS audit. We call this a bridge audit.

What is a bridge audit?

A bridge audit involves using all the information gathered from one audit process, such as knowledge of the organisation, IQC, documentary evidence, audit findings, and more, to inform another audit. The process can go in either direction, from an HQAI audit against the CHS to another process, such as a donor's due diligence assessment, or from another process to a CHS audit. To complete the second audit or assessment, additional audit activities (typically interviews and document reviews) are then carried out, bridging from one audit to another.

Here, we are discussing how to bridge from CHS audits to DG ECHO’s ex-ante assessments, which are a mandatory step for organisations to become either an EU Humanitarian Partner or Programmatic Partner.

When to bridge?

A bridge audit can be carried out alongside the CHS audit process -an organisation can indicate that they would like to do this during the application process (by ticking a box on HQAI's application form) or within 12 months of an initial or renewal audit.

Methodology

HQAI will use findings from a CHS Audit to inform the ex-ante assessment by:

Directly using conclusions from CHS audits findings: for example, where CHS audits fully cover an ex-ante question, for instance on the respect of humanitarian principles.
Using knowledge and documents collected in the CHS Audit process: for example, going deeper into the data protection policy documents to assess compliance with GDPR.

HQAI may carry out additional audit activities, such as document review, staff and partner interviews conducted remotely, and financial ratio calculations, to address ex-ante assessment questions that cannot be answered by CHS audit findings or processes.

How it Works:

Mapping and Review: Our auditors map CHS scores to ex-ante requirements, identifying areas for further investigation.
Document Review: We review additional documentation to address any gaps not covered by the CHS audit.
Bridge Activities: We conduct targeted interviews, document reviews, and financial analysis to complete the assessment.
Report Preparation: We draft a comprehensive ex-ante assessment report, including findings and recommendations.
Quality Assurance & Delivery: The report undergoes internal review before final delivery to you.

Timeframe:

The bridge audit process typically takes 1-3 months, subject to auditor availability and your organisation’s cooperation.

Costs:

HQAI offers competitively priced bridge audit services. For more information, please contact us at contact@hqai.org.

Success Story:

See how it worked for others! Read about the success story of four CARE Confederation members (CARE Denmark, CARE Germany, CARE Netherlands, and CARE Norway) who utilised the bridge audit service: https://www.hqai.org/en/news/CareConfederation_BreakingNews/