Tag: News in Brief

The rapidly evolving pace of AI makes it necessary to establish a framework to independently verify AI systems (even as the technology continues to advance). The global accountability community needs a toolkit to evaluate this ever-changing technology, and, more importantly, organizations that build, purchase, and deploy AI need a framework to understand how AI systems will be evaluated. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), recognizing the urgent need for AI governance…

On May 25, 2021, Mr. Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, led a virtual discussion group on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 30 organizations—including INTOSAI organizations and 21 Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), donor and civil society organizations, and United Nations organizations and observers—contributed to the dialogue. The group stems from…

Recently, SAI Costa Rica has moved toward an innovative approach—the use of artificial intelligence (AI)—to auditing public procurement of goods and services. The SAI carried out two audits using AI in 2020 and plans to…

The Accountability State Authority of Egypt (ASA) participated from March 22 to April 23, 2021, in the financial audit of the African Union and affiliated institutions for fiscal year 2020. Egypt has been a permanent member of…

After years of preparation and several changes in dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Audit Office of the Czech Republic was finally honored to host the XI European Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI) Congress on April 14-15, 2021. The Congress—held online—attracted 219 participants, including…

In December 2020, the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania passed a new version of the Law on National Audit Office, establishing a legal regulation in line with current requirements for public audits. The new version of the law, which comes into effect on July 1, 2021, provides for the functional, organizational, and financial independence of the National Audit Office of Lithuania (NAOL), will enable NAOL to…

On January 14, 2021, Rolands Irklis was appointed Auditor General of the Republic of Latvia by the Saeima (Parliament of Latvia) and was sworn in to begin his 4-year term on January 28, 2021. Mr. Irklis brings rich experience from positions held in both the public and private sectors, including…

To ensure public sector institutions are functioning properly and at a reasonable cost, the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Latvia is enhancing its collaboration with the internal auditors of these entities. The SAI is currently working directly with internal auditors from…

His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, appointed Dasho Tashi as the new Auditor General of the Royal Audit Authority—the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Bhutan—on October 14, 2020. Dasho Tashi is the third Auditor General appointed under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The Auditor General of the Royal Audit Authority is selected by the King from a list of…

On December 11, 2020, the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan appointed Vugar Gulmammadov to a second seven-year term as Chairman of the Chamber of Accounts, the country’s Supreme Audit Institution (SAI). Mr. Gulmammadov, who has been with SAI Azerbaijan for almost 14 years…

On January 26, 2021, Vasily Gerasimov was appointed Chairman of the State Control Committee, the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of the Republic of Belarus, by the decree of the President. Mr. Gerasimov indicated that the State Control Committee would focus on…

The Accountability State Authority (ASA) of Egypt, headed by ASA President and Working Group on Fight Against Corruption and Money Laundering (WGFACML) Chair Hesham Badawy, virtually hosted the 14th WGFACML meeting on November 24, 2020, with the participation of 24 working group member Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs). During the meeting…

From February 11-26, 2021, SAO held its 8th International Integrity Seminar. Approximately 90 participants from SAIs in nearly 40 countries—the largest number of participants so far—attended the two-week-long knowledge-sharing event. The aim of the masterclass, which was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was to foster a culture of integrity…

In January 2021, Minister Ana Arraes took over as President of the Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil. She is only the second woman to occupy this position; before her, Minister Elvira Lordello Castello Branco led the organization in 1994. As head of SAI Brazil, Minister Arraes’ priority is to establish policies that promote…

The Office of the Comptroller General of Peru, the country’s Supreme Audit Institution (SAI), has deployed more than 500 auditors nationwide to help ensure that the COVID-19 vaccination process is timely, safe, and effective. Special teams of auditors are…

The government of Myanmar has taken important steps toward achieving its vision of digital transformation, including developing a Digital Economy Roadmap (2019), e-Government Master Plan (2016-2020), and Framework for Economic and Social Reform (FESR) (2012-2015). The Office of the Auditor General of the Union (OAG) of Myanmar is contributing to these efforts and has…

Guatemala’s General Comptroller of Accounts has declared 2021 the Year of Ethics and Probity in accordance with the Institutional Code of Ethics, which seeks to eliminate corruption from public service. This year marks the bicentennial of independence for Guatemala and Central America, and…

In December 2020, the Algerian Court of Accounts (COA) published its 2020 annual report, which includes the main findings, observations, and assessments resulting from the Supreme Audit Institution’s (SAI) investigative work. The report also includes…

The Turkish Court of Audit (TCA) provides trainings not only to its own staff and international stakeholders, but also to employees of the public entities it audits, in accordance with international standards, TCA’s Strategic Plan (2019-2023), and its communication strategy. These trainings…

Soon after his appointment in June 2020 as First President of the Cour des comptes, Pierre Moscovici identified the need for a new strategic plan that would define the SAI’s priorities for the next five years, enhance its impact on citizens’ lives, and…

On April 7, 2021, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) held the first in a series of free international webinars to promote knowledge sharing and address emerging issues the INTOSAI community is facing during the pandemic. More information about the webinar series can be found here. The topic of the first webinar was the challenges and lessons learned in conducting real-time audits of COVID-19 activities. The webinar featured…

Dr. Margit Kraker, President of the Austrian Court of Audit (ACA) and International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Secretary General, appointed a new Director General and new Head of the ACA’s International Department/Director of the INTOSAI General Secretariat. Ronald Roedl succeeds…