Analysis of the Structure of Internal Controls of the IAI

This joint position paper by the Committee on Rules and Procedures and the Financial and Administrative Working Group analyzes the internal control structure of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). It reviews existing manuals and charters and recommends strengthening oversight, updating administrative rules, and introducing whistleblower protections for employees.

• The IAI currently utilizes four primary documents to manage its financial and administrative internal controls: the Accounting Procedures Manual, the Contracting and Procurement Manual, the Charter of the Financial and Administrative Policy Working Group, and the Standing Rules of the Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research.
• The Financial and Administrative Working Group (FAWG) is authorized to approve terms for staff salaries and benefits, review financial accounts and cash flow against budgets, and approve changes to administrative and financial manuals.
• External auditing is mandated by the Agreement Establishing the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, which requires the Executive Council to appoint an external auditor and review the annual audit of financial records submitted by the Director to the Conference of the Parties.
• The paper recommends several actions to strengthen internal controls before the Fifteenth Meeting of the Executive Council, including modifying IAI manuals, potentially amending the Standing Rules of the Executive Council and Conference of the Parties, and adding whistleblower protections to the Employee Manual to protect staff from negative performance evaluations or termination.
• The IAI's organizational structure involves the Director reporting to the Executive Council and Conference of the Parties, with oversight provided by two external bodies: the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), which manages the scientific agenda and peer review system, and the Financial and Administrative Working Group (FAWG), which handles financial and project management issues.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2001). Analysis of the Structure of Internal Controls of the IAI. https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/10_IAIStructure.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Analysis of the Structure of Internal Controls of the IAI. 2001. https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/10_IAIStructure.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Analysis of the Structure of Internal Controls of the IAI |date=14 November 2001 |url=https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/10_IAIStructure.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2001analysis, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Analysis of the Structure of Internal Controls of the IAI}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2001}, month = nov, url = {https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/10_IAIStructure.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }