Audits of civil protection grant beneficiaries
Throughout their duration, the activities financed by DG ECHO are subject to monitoring and evaluation and can be selected for an audit.
Audits are part of an overall control process by which DG ECHO receives information on the proper implementation of the action and compliance with the requirements of the grant agreement.
The conducted audits provide DG ECHO with information about its’ grants beneficiaries’ internal control system and so serve to build the confidence that is needed in the organisations that are essential to DG ECHO's mission.
Information about the objectives of a DG ECHO audit, on the audit process and what is expected from beneficiaries and auditors is provided in the note ‘General information on audits of the EU Civil Protection Grant Beneficiaries’ by the External Audit Sector of DG ECHO. The document explains the procedures governing the audits.
For projects funded under the UCPM call for proposals, audits can be foreseen up to 5 years after final payment.
DG ECHO organises audit webinars for civil protection grant beneficiaries on a regular basis, to explain the audit process, to highlight lessons from most common errors from previous audits to better address the audit process and auditors’ expectations, and to help avoid recoveries years after a project closes. During these info sessions, basic information on reporting of fraud cases is also provided.