U.S. GAO’s 2024 International Auditor Fellowship Program Builds Capacities For SAIs Around the World
On July 11, 16 international professionals from Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) graduated from the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) International Auditor Fellowship Program (IAFP). The 2024 fellows represent the countries of Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Georgia, India, Kosovo, Madagascar, Malawi, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ukraine.
Fellow Shubhangi Gupta from India was selected by her class to give the graduation speech and complimented “the IAFP network and entire experience of learning alongside fellows from 16 different countries across the globe, exchanging insights about our countries’ cultures and our SAIs, broadening our perspectives as auditors.” She added that “The entire process has equipped us with the tools and confidence to lead change and drive progress within our Supreme Audit Institutions.”
The fellows attended the ceremony while family, friends, colleagues, and a wide range of GAO staff who supported the program watched and congratulated them in person and virtually. The fellows were grateful for the unique opportunity to participate in GAO’s 3-month intensive, multifaceted training program based out of its Washington, D.C. headquarters. With the inclusion of this year’s program, 657 officials from the SAIs of 111 countries have graduated the IAFP.
The IAFP is a prestigious, globally recognized program and is one of the major ways that GAO provides capacity development to SAIs around the world. It is designed for middle-to-senior level professionals from SAIs to help strengthen their institution’s ability to fulfill their missions and to enhance accountability and governance worldwide. Fellows explore a variety of audit techniques and approaches with an emphasis on the skills required to conduct performance audits. They participate in classroom training, learn key audit and management practices, and develop strategies to implement change and transfer knowledge within their respective SAIs.
Each fellow is paired with a senior GAO staff member, who serves as a professional mentor, as well as a team of multidisciplinary GAO staff members who support the fellows in different ways throughout the program. Each fellow develops an organizational strategy paper to implement when they return to their SAI. Strategy paper topics have included enhancing recommendation follow-up, improving report quality control systems, using real-time auditing, and strengthening the process for determining audit scope and methodology.
In addressing the fellows at the graduation ceremony, Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, underscored the importance of the program, noting
“This program provides a unique platform for you to learn from GAO, and also for the people at GAO to learn from you. I hope the bonds you forged during your time here—both with your colleagues in the program and with GAO’s people—will be a valuable asset for you as you progress in your professional careers.”
Mr. Dodaro added “We look forward to continuing our cooperative relationships with you and I wish you congratulations upon the completion of this program. It is a great achievement and you have much to be proud of.”
At the completion of the IAFP, fellows can stay connected through the IAFP Alumni Network—a global forum for continuous exchange of experiences and best practices among graduates of the fellowship program. The network, run by the alumni for the alumni, reflects the commitment to connect and empower the IAFP alumni community. Stephen Sanford, GAO’s Strategic Planning and External Liaison Managing Director, encouraged and commended the IAFP Alumni Network noting “The mutual experience we have all had with the IAFP can now continue well beyond just the time spent at the GAO.”
The fellows were nominated by their SAI leadership with the expectation that they will transfer the knowledge and skills gained to their organizations. Several program graduates have implemented audit and internal control standards, policy guidance, developed or updated strategic plans, and established performance or forensic auditing units in their audit offices. A number of graduates have since continued to advance in their career by going to become the Auditor General, the Deputy Auditor General or Government Ministers in their respective countries.
