Environment In Background and Context

‐       ANAO Report No.10 2014–15 Administration of the Biodiversity Fund Program 33  conducted a survey of a sample of grant recipients to canvas their views on the department’s administration of the program;  undertook site visits to 10 Biodiversity Fund program projects located in regional New South Wales and Victoria; and  examined a random sample 20 per cent of unsuccessful and successful grant applications, including the funding agreements of successful applicants. 35

1.15 The

analysis of grant applications was undertaken to provide additional assurance that: applicants provided the required information; the assessment and selection process was undertaken in accordance with the grant guidelines and was transparent and accountable; and that for funded projects, agreed milestone requirements had been met before payments were released. 36

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audit was conducted in accordance with ANAO Auditing Standards at a cost to the ANAO of 641 000. 35 The ANAO examined 20 per cent of all applications successful and unsuccessful—471 applications in total. The ANAO also examined the funding agreements and other documentation relating to 72 successful applicants 21.5 per cent of the 334 projects funded under the Biodiversity Fund program. 36 The audit did not examine the integrity of payments made through Environment’s Financial Management System, as this type of examination is undertaken during controls testing as part of the ANAO’s financial statements audit. ANAO Report No.10 2014–15 Administration of the Biodiversity Fund Program 34 Report structure

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structure of the report is outlined in Table 1.2. Table 1.2: Structure of the report Chapter Overview 2. Governance Arrangements Examines the governance and oversight arrangements established and implemented by Environment for the Biodiversity Fund program, as well as the development of a performance monitoring and reporting framework.

3. Access to the Biodiversity Fund Program

Examines access to the Biodiversity Fund program, including stakeholder engagement, development of the program’s grant guidelines, and preparation for the grant assessment and selection process.

4. Grant Assessment and Selection

Examines the grant assessment and selection processes implemented by Environment for the four Biodiversity Fund program funding rounds. 5. Selection of Discretionary Grants Examines the four discretionary grants that were funded under the Biodiversity Fund program. 6. Establishment and Management of Funding Agreements Examines Environment’s development and ongoing management of Biodiversity Fund program funding agreements. ANAO Report No.10 2014–15 Administration of the Biodiversity Fund Program 35

2. Governance Arrangements

This chapter examines the governance and oversight arrangements established and implemented by Environment for the Biodiversity Fund program, as well as the development of a performance monitoring and reporting framework. Introduction

2.1 The