Bridging the Gap

To achieve positive, long-term outcomes, James-Christian Blockwood, Managing Director of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Strategic Planning and External Liaison (SPEL) office, believes creatively and critically thinking about emerging trends and future challenges and collaborating with experts are necessary efforts…

The independence of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) has long been recognized as a fundamental principle for ensuring the credibility and effectiveness of public sector auditing. Since the adoption of the Lima Declaration in 1977, the global consensus has been clear mentioning SAIs cannot fulfill their oversight mandate effectively without a high degree of independence, both formally guaranteed and practically exercised. Independence serves not only a technical function but also carries normative significance, as it underpins the accountability of governments to citizens and contributes to the broader goal of strengthening institutions as articulated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Greetings from Washington DC and your colleagues at the INTOSAI Journal. I hope this finds you, your colleagues, and families in good spirits and good health. This is an exciting time for the Journal as we publish this issue and prepare for the upcoming INTOSAI Congress in Egypt, where we look forward to engaging with the INTOSAI community.