To ensure an effective internal audit mechanism, the Coordination Council has adopted a Charter for Internal Audit.

Internal audit

In paragraph 272 of the report, UNFPA agreed with the Board's recommendation that it (a) develop an internal audit charter detailing the purpose, authority and responsibility of the internal audit function and (b) educate personnel about the functions and positive impact of an internal audit function.

In paragraph 272, UNFPA agreed with the recommendation of the Board of Auditors to (a) develop an internal audit charter detailing the purpose, authority and responsibility of the internal audit function and (b) educate personnel about the functions and positive impact of an internal audit function.

Internal audit ratings

Internal audit function

Subprogramme 1 Internal audit

Internal audit is conducted by a dedicated UNHCR Audit Service, which forms part of Internal Audit Division II that is headquartered at Geneva.

Table 1 Internal audit ratings

Programme Component B.2.2 Internal Audit

Internal audit and corporate risk management

Item 13 Internal audit and oversight

One D 1 post would be redeployed from Internal Audit in New York to Internal Audit in Geneva to strengthen audit operations handled from the Geneva office.

It therefore did not constitute an audit committee in line with best practices, although it was a commendable internal forum for audit follow up.

Several United Nations internal audit services have introduced such ratings to provide an overview of their reports.

E. Report on internal audit activities in 2004

During April September 2004, the Office of Internal Oversight Services conducted an audit review of the Galaxy system.

The working group fully supported the resources requested for external audit ( 479,900) and internal audit ( 1,240,700).

Considering that the Tribunal has no internal audit service, the request for quotation included a provision for an interim audit every two years, i.e., in 2005 and 2007.

The UNHCR Internal Audit Service Office of Internal Oversight Services conducted a review of the UNHCR implementing partners' audit certification of subprojects for the year 2004.

It is worth noting that even the organizations that do not have an institutionalized audit committee have set up mechanisms to review internal and external audit matters as well as progress made in implementing audit recommendations.

To ensure compliance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, an internal quality assessment of the UNHCR Audit Service is being conducted in 2005.

Programme B.2 Comptroller General, Internal Audit and Evaluation Services

(d) Enhancement of the external audit functions of the Fund and expansion of the Fund's internal audit coverage

(e) Providing an open avenue of communication between the governing board, management and the functions of internal and external audit

The internal audit section continues to monitor the implementation of recommendations and the follow up action of the geographic divisions in regard to the implementation of internal audit recommendations.

The group recognized that an effective internal audit function plays a significant role within the corporate governance framework of a company.

UNFPA has drafted an internal audit charter for consideration by management and expects it to be finalized by 30 June 2005.

The definition of an internal audit charter is part of this complex undertaking, which UNFPA expects to carry out in 2006.

Programme B.2 Comptroller General, Internal Audit and Evaluation Services 34

The Executive Board had before it the report on internal audit activities in 2004 (E ICEF 2005 AB L.2), which was introduced by the Director, Office of Internal Audit (OIA).

(d) Assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of internal and external audit services

2005 19 UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS report on internal audit and oversight

Enterprises should disclose the scope of work and responsibilities of the internal audit function, as well as the highest level within the leadership of the enterprise to which the internal audit function reports.

The amount of 1,657,900 covers the estimated requirements for external audit ( 462,400) as requested by the Board of Auditors, and for internal audit ( 1,195,500) as requested by the Office of Internal Oversight Services.

The provision under audit costs reflected a reduction in the costs of both external and internal audit, reflecting the resource levels recommended by the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight Services.

Enterprises with no internal audit function should disclose the reasons for its absence.

Strengthened capacity of the Office of Internal Oversight Services in audit and investigation

The audits of Treasury and the relevant specialist areas have been included in the 2005 audit plan of the Internal Audit Section of the Office of Audit and Performance Reviews.

An internal audit workplan was presented to the Fund's Chief Executive Officer and the Representative of the Secretary General in February and March 2005.

The office of the Director also coordinates the reviews of the internal and external audit functions and ensures the implementation of audit recommendations.

In paragraph 317, the Board recommended that the UNICEF Office of Internal Audit take steps to improve its internal quality assurance processes.

UNHCR agreed with the Board's recommendation to invite the Office of Internal Oversight Services to liaise with other United Nations audit services so as to harmonize internal audit ratings, in order to allow comparability among organizations.

UNHCR agreed with the Board's recommendation to invite the Office of Internal Oversight Services to liaise with other United Nations audit services so as to harmonize internal audit ratings, in order to allow comparability among organizations.

A new P 5 post is proposed to be established in the Internal Audit Division for a Senior Peacekeeping Resident Audit Coordinator (ibid., para.