Portfolio Risk Assurance Programme III

Portfolio Risk Assurance Programme III (PRAP III), is the third phase of an original Portfolio Risk Assurance Programme (PRAP) and a successor of PRAP II.

The programme aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness of FCDO bilateral programmes in Pakistan. It will focus on portfolio and programme assurance, by playing an advisory role, building capacity of implementing partners and developing tools to mitigate risks for all Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA programmes. This will be achieved by mitigating the risks of high fraud and corruption in public funds, and by ensuring implementation of due diligence and safeguarding policies. Reviews will help identify where risks are highest. Programme effectiveness should improve as risk-managed funds have a higher chance of reaching the intended beneficiaries while efficiency will be improved by addressing governance and system flaws within partner organisations and streamlining the flow of funds to beneficiaries. The programme will also help build capacity across BHC programmes to measure VFM and report on it, which will contribute directly to achieving the intended impact of the programme. Support to partner organisations to take positive action to manage risks can promote and ensure consistency and standardisation of how FCDO and the implementing partners working at different scale, address risks and assess value for money.

The intended outcomes of the programme are:

1. Improved risk management of Pakistan Network programmes.
2. Improved understanding, measurement, and management of value for money within the portfolio.

The main components of the proposed programme are:

• Review and advise on the highest risk elements of our portfolio, ensuring there are robust governance, management and financial controls to mitigate fiduciary risks.
• Conduct comprehensive cash flow tracking reviews following complete delivery chain from implementing partner through to downstream beneficiary/recipients. These reviews might document the financial flow process and confirm the authenticity of the cash value being processed between payee and recipient. They could also corroborate the evidence for supporting payment release by checking the validity of the data or examination of goods or services delivered.
• Support and build the capacity of FCDO staff in interpreting finance, audit and assurance reports and adequate follow up.
• Help implementing partners to further develop tools to identify, manage and mitigate risks, drawing on best practice.
• Provide access to a broader range of relevant specialists such as legal advice, labour law expertise, forensic audit specialists, and accountants. .
• Conduct value for money reviews of selected programmes, identify challenges, ensure lesson learning across portfolio and build capacity of the implementing partners to assess VfM.
• Support and advise on best practice of safeguarding policies by delivery partners, follow up on enhanced due diligence recommendations and conduct periodic reviews when required.

The proposed programme budget is £2m (inclusive of VAT and local taxes) over 5 years. The primary recipients of the services will be partner organisations operating in the delivery chains of FCDO Pakistan’s programmes. The supplier and their potential supply chain partners would need to obtain registration under the relevant department as laid out by rules of the government of Pakistan. Additional information: FCDO will be holding an online EME event on Tuesday 20th Feb 2024 9:30 to 11:00 GMT - to attend you will need to register at the following link:

forms.office.com/e/FS94grQ3JV ↗