Contribution to Global Call for Proposal tier 2 Supreme Audit Institutions
The programme’s overall objective is to empower Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in politically unstable and challenging environments to enhance their capacity and to improve their performance, to be able to make a difference to the lives of the citizens in their countries in line with International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions number 12:
• Strengthening the accountability, transparency and integrity of government and public sector entities
• Demonstrating ongoing relevance to citizens, Parliament and other stakeholders
• Being a model organisation through leading by example
The support provided to the targeted SAIs is expected to address all main challenges of the SAI. There shall be a high focus on delivery of support through long term partnerships between the targeted SAI, donors and providers of support from the community of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). Worldwide experiences of SAI capacity development show that peer-to-peer cooperation can both ensure highly qualified and relevant advices, as well as ensure a trustful and sustainable relationship between SAI employees and advisors.
The Programme is planned for two phases:
• A Phase 1 of two years to assist the SAIs to clarify strategic priorities and operational plans, and establish long-term project proposals.
• A Phase 2 of several years with support to implementation of project proposals developed in Phase 1.
The expected results for Phase 1 in 2018-19 are planned as follows:
1. Strengthened SAIs strategic management
a. By end of 2019 5 SAIs have strategic plans developed based on needs assessments and containing core elements for effective performance of the SAI.
b. By end of 2019 7 SAIs have new or updated operational plans developed with a clear performance and results orientation, especially an indication of the number of audits to be carried out.
2. SAIs have sufficient, effective and coordinated external support
a. 7 SAIs have comprehensive plans for external financial and technical support to strategic plan implementation developed. The plans show priority projects and contain specific project proposals.
b. SAIs have dedicated staff and responsibility for coordination of external support
c. 5 SAIs have established funding and cooperation agreements starting in 2020 to meet the needs of the Strategic plan implementation document.
3. SAIs lead by example in the areas of gender, inclusion and diversity
a. 7 SAIs have considered gender, inclusion and diversity in their strategic and operational plans.
The implementing agencies are the INTOSAI Development Initiative, IDI, the African Organisation of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions, AFROSAI-E, and the African Organisation of French-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions, CREFIAF. In January 2018, the IDI, AFROSAI-E and CREFIAF agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding for five years (2018-2023) to work collectively with the Tier 2 SAIs. The IDI, AFROSAI-E and CREFIAF, have collectively wide experience and access to resources in almost all areas of SAI development.
9 SAIs are potential partners and beneficiary intuitions of the programme as they have been selected for the Global Call for Proposals Tier 2 initiative (this initiative is describe more below in the context chapter). These SAIs are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Guinea, Togo and Niger (French speaking, CREFIAF members), and Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Gambia (English speaking, AFROSAI-E members). In mid-2018 it will be decided which of the Tier 2 SAIs that will be a part of the programme.
The programme is expected to involve a large part of SAI staff in the activities to ensure commitment to change and strategic priorities. More than thousand SAI staff may directly benefit from the programme, assuming that most of the 9 SAIs will be included in the programme.
The focus of Phase 1 of two years is to clarify strategic priorities and operational plans and establish long-term project proposals for all SAIs. The support to the Tier 2 SAIs is planned with different tracks as the SAIs have a different starting point. Generally, the activities are to assist each SAI to:
– establish project functions, including strategic planning teams and communication facilities
– systematically assess their current capacity, performance and needs and to develop updated or new strategic and operational plans with involvement of all SAI staff
– consult key national stakeholders on expectations of SAI development
– print and share electronically the finalized strategic plan
– sensitize and motivate all staff and national stakeholders on the finalized strategic and operational plans
– develop a comprehensive plan and project proposals for external financial and human support to implementation of the strategic plan
– mobilize comprehensive support for implementation of the strategic plan
The Global Call for Proposals (GCP) is a mechanism seeking to match Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) capacity development proposals with donor or International organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions funding. It aims to empower SAIs in developing countries to drive forward their capacity and performance by ensuring proposals for capacity development are SAI-led and aligned with the SAI’s strategic plans. GCP is under the INTOSAI-Donor Steering Committee.
The 2nd Tier of the GCP involves more intensive support to a small group of the most challenged SAIs that struggle with developing strategic capacity development programs, particularly SAIs in politically unstable or fragile and conflict environments.
The INTOSAI-Donor Cooperation is a strategic global partnership in the domain of public financial management aimed at enhancing the capacity of SAIs in developing countries. The Cooperation was formed in 2009 by a Memorandum of Understanding between the Donor Community and INTOSAI. The Austrian Development Cooperation has been supported the INTOSAI-Donor Cooperation since its very beginning.
INTOSAI is an autonomous, independent, professional and nonpolitical organization consisting of 192 member SAIs. It is the recognized voice of SAIs. The Cooperation recognizes the important role of SAIs in strengthening accountability, transparency, good governance and the stewardship of public funds. As of now twenty-three donors have joined the Cooperation.
The INTOSAI Development Initiative is an INTOSAI body or capacity development organization of INTOSAI, which supports Supreme Audit Institutions in developing countries, in their efforts to sustainably enhance performance, independence and professionalism. The IDI provides this support by facilitating and coordinating effective SAI capacity development programmes; developing and disseminating Global Public Goods; strengthening regional bodies, networks and communities; and mobilizing scaled up and more effective support to SAIs.