Support to supreme audit institutions

The Bank Group is scaling up its support to supreme audit institutions (SAIs) in order to achieve greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. The Bank supports the strengthening of country systems in financial control and auditing in its regional member countries through Institutional Support Projects (ISP) and Budget Support (DBSL) operations. Within the context of donor harmonization and Paris commitment aimed at strengthening country PFM system, the Bank is in the process of developing with the World Bank a joint strategy to support and strengthen SAIs in Africa. It will emphasize that the international community needs to send a consistent message to African countries on the importance of strengthening SAIs and parliaments to promote greater financial accountability.

In that context, the Banks will co-host a consultative meeting on this strategy with African stakeholders in April 2008 in Tunis with the African Organization of Supreme Institutions “AFROSAI”. The joint strategy will constitute a main pillar for the implementation of the Bank Governance Strategic Directions and Action Plan for 2008-2010. It will direct both institution assistance to RMC in enhancing oversight institutions in public financial governance in Africa.