The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) and INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) continued with phase II of the SAI Performance Measurement Framework (SAI PMF) project for supreme audit institutions (SAIs) in the North Pacific by facilitating a week long workshop in Guam on 30 January to 3 February 2017. Twenty one staff from nine SAIs including a representative from the United States Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General (US DOIOIG) attended the workshop.
The Speaker of the 34th Guam Legislature, the Honourable Mr Benjamin J.F.Cruz officially openedthe workshop. In his opening remarks, he acknowledged that the work of SAIs is vital and necessary in keeping all government officials including politicians, in line with utilizing public funds and public resources.
SAIs from Guam, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Office of the National Public Auditor, FSM States of Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap will conduct peer reviews of each otherusing the SAI PMF framework. Staff from SAIs Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga who took part in Phase I of this project participated as resource persons to assist with the peer review of the six SAIs in the North Pacific.
The main objectives of the workshop were:
- To train staff of SAIs who will participate in conducting a SAI PMF assessment;
- To develop the terms of reference (TORs) for the SAI PMF assessments; and
- To assess the SAI’s institutional capacity by measuring its independence and legal framework.
The planned activities for Phase II which will be executed in the next few months are peer reviews of the six SAIs and a final workshop to discuss and analyse the results of the assessments. The intended output of this phase is completed SAI Performance reports for all six SAIs participating in the programme.
Camilla Fredriksen, SAI PMF advisor from IDI, hopes that the implementation of Phase II will strengthen the knowledge on SAI Performance in the Pacific and that the results will enable regional bodies and SAIs to identify good practices as well as opportunities for capacity development throughout the region. She added that rolling out the Phase II provides an opportunity for applying the lessons learnt from Phase I, and to strengthen the regional expertise of SAI PMF assessors.
The assessment results will assist the SAIs in taking appropriate measures to ensure they have the capabilities and resources to carry out its responsibilities effectively with professionalism. The results will also assist the SAIs to know if they have the ability to respond to stakeholders’ expectations as well as emerging issues that impact the lives of citizens at large.
This program is aligned with one of PASAI’s strategic goals requiring SAIs to develop performance measurement framework to assist with improving the delivery of SAI’s audit responsibilities.
The workshop was facilitated by a team of facilitators consisting of Ms Camilla Fredriksen, SAI PMF Advisor from IDI, Mr Robert Buchanan, PASAI Consultant, Mrs Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, PASAI Director of Practice Development, Mr Allen Parker and Mr Desmond Wildin of Cook Islands, Mr Marshall Maua of Samoa and Mr Kelepi Makakaufaki from Tonga.
This project is supported by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, INTOSAI Development Initiatives (IDI) and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Image of the workshop participants and coordinators
