OLACEFS Working Group Holds First Meeting of SDG 3.B Coordinated Audit

On August 12, 2021, the Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (OLACEFS) held the first meeting of the Coordinated Audit of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.b (support research, development, and affordable access for vaccines and medicines). The main objectives of the audit are to evaluate the implementation of SDG 3.b, with an emphasis on the impact of COVID-19, and to facilitate the sharing of best practices.

The virtual meeting, which aimed to promote dialogue and initiate activities related to the coordinated audit, was led by the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Peru, as part of the Working Group on Disaster Management Auditing in the Framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (GTFD), chaired by the Superior Audit Office of the Federation of Mexico. Comptroller General of the Republic of Peru and President of OLACEFS, Econ. Nelson Shack Yalta, welcomed attendees and stressed OLACEFS’ commitment to establishing mechanisms to help member Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) address the impact of the pandemic and improve public health policies. David Colmenares, Superior Auditor of the Federation of Mexico, also expressed his support of the initiative.

The meeting was attended by the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Ms. Yesmín Valdivieso, and nearly 180 officials from OLACEFS member SAIs in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay. Also in attendance were associate members Corte dei Conti of Italy, the Office of the Comptroller General of Bogotá, the Honorable Court of Accounts of the Province of Buenos Aires, and the Court of Accounts of the State of Bahia.