audit process

Introduction

Any analysis, whether a conservation audit, financial audit, general review, or evaluation, will only be valuable insomuch as its findings are used to support improvement. Consolidating audit findings in a usable format, supporting the development of a management response, and following up at periodic intervals are therefore vital to ensuring that the conservation audit leads to strengthening project design and management. Often, however, follow up tends to fall by the wayside and so auditor(s) and/or the project team should consider formally scheduling follow-up activities, including dates for reviewing management response implementation and performing repeat audits.

Steps and Tasks for Concluding and Following Up on a Conservation Audit

Draft the Report

• Building on the automatically generated audit summary provided in the audit workbook, write up the preliminary findings and recommendations of the audit into a concise draft report.

• Share the draft report with the project team and other relevant individuals (e.g., senior management, key partners) and request written feedback.

• After receiving the feedback, complete the final written report.

Prepare the Management Response

• Based on the audit findings and using the management response template in the audit tool, the project team and other responsible parties draft a management response that outlines how project design and management will change as a result of the audit. The response should include specific actions, timing, roles, and responsibilities.

Follow-up, Capture Learning, Repeat

• Capture and communicate the findings, recommendations, and broader learning from the audit to relevant audiences, including lessons learned about the Conservation Standards-based project planning and management process, and lessons regarding the audit process itself.

• Every six months, review progress on implementing the actions laid out in the management response.

• Compile and submit to CMP any findings that could be incorporated into the “Guidance” sections of further iterations of the Conservation Audit Guidelines and Tool, including tools used, process tips, report formats, etc.

• Consider repeating audits every few years, particularly of high-profile, high-risk, and/or high-cost projects.