Nadi, Fiji: Senior delegates from international development agencies, supreme audit institutions (SAIs) and regional legislative bodies attended a workshop in Nadi, Fiji from 20 to 22 May as part of the Global Project on SAI Independence.
The project was jointly developed by the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The IDI is the capacity development arm of the global umbrella organisation for the external government audit community, the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).
Senior staff from the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) actively participated in the 3-day regional workshop alongside representatives from its member offices and legislators from Fiji, Kiribati and Samoa.
In a speech made at the event’s opening ceremony, PASAI Deputy Secretary-General, Sarah Markley, acknowledged the beneficial legislative reforms made in Fiji last year to advance the Office of the Auditor General’s independence and said, “This gathering is fundamentally about enabling SAIs to achieve PASAI’s vision of a transparent and accountable public administration.
“The purpose of that is so that the people of this region are served by public administration as they should be served.”
The workshop included presentations, discussions and case studies on the project’s findings and topics such as the influence on SAI independence of imbalances between the executive and the legislative branches of government.
PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, said there was great value in being able to discuss how PASAI could structure a regional follow-up agenda to support implementation of the project’s recommendations.
“With attendance by those from organisations as diverse as the Asian Development Bank, Pacific Island legislatures and agencies of the UN; we constructively engaged with public accounts committees and key stakeholders to explore how to strengthen independence for government audit offices in the Pacific,” she said.
As a final output of the global project, the IDI and the OECD will release a joint report next week, drawing on evidence gathered through surveys, country visits and regional workshops.
PASAI facilitated input to the global project through its connections in the Pacific.
PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
PASAI Deputy Secretary-General, Sarah Markley, speaking during the workshop’s opening ceremony
----END----
Contact information:
Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba, Program Director PASAI
E: Meresimani.VosawaleKatuba@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275
PDF version of this media release
