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Registrations now open for free online environmental auditing courses

Auditors can now register to participate in 2 courses being offered in 2025:

  • Introduction to environmental auditing in the public sector (17 February – 16 March 2025)

  • Auditing water issues (15 September – 12 October 2025)

Course materials are based on INTOSAI’s Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) guidance and the relevant experiences of WGEA members. Course lecturers are from the National Audit Office of Estonia.

Participants who successfully complete all tasks will receive a digital certificate from the University of Tartu.

The courses are fully online, free of charge and self-paced. Performance auditors can get more information and register online.

Kosrae and Yap State audit offices benefit from PASAI director visits

Auckland, New Zealand: Program Director for the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), Mike Scott, visited Kosrae and Yap States in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) for 2 weeks of in-person technical support and advocacy that finished last Friday.

Earlier in the year Mr Scott had worked with staff at the Office of the Kosrae Public Auditor to plan some audits and provide guidance on how to document findings according to international standards. During his visit from 25 to 29 November he followed up on the progress of 2 audits with the respective audit teams.

The following week he supported staff at the Office of the Yap State Public Auditor to clear an outstanding review of expenditure on the Micronesian Games hosted by Yap in July 2018.

Mr Scott expressed confidence in the diligence of audit staff saying, “The small team has now sought information to inform this review from many avenues and overcome some difficult obstacles to do so. The audit office’s work on this review should be of interest and value to the Yap State Legislature and all bodies managing public funds in Yap when it is finalised.”

While there, Mr Scott and Yap State Public Auditor, Bryan Dabugsiy, met with Acting Attorney General, Quintina Letawerpiy. She resolved to consider legislative amendments proposed by the audit office 4 years ago as part of its efforts to obtain greater independence.

During the 2-week overseas mission, Mr Scott even managed a virtual meeting with the outgoing and incoming second secretaries of the New Zealand High Commission based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

As well as technical support and advocacy, Mr Scott worked with the public auditors from both Micronesian states to create and get agreement on bespoke capacity development plans that will guide each audit offices’ training and development activities into 2026.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

PASAI Program Director, Mike Scott (second from right) and Kosrae Public Auditor, Palikkun Kilafwasru (far right) with audit staff

Left to right: Yap State Public Auditor, Bryan Dabugsiy; Staff Auditor III, Jessica Luktinag; and PASAI Program Director, Mike Scott

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Contact information:

Mike Scott, Program Director PASAI
E: Mike.Scott@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

PASAI welcomes Paki Ormsby as Deputy Chief Executive Operations

Auckland, New Zealand: The former Director of Policy at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat, Paki Ormsby, has joined the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) as its Deputy Chief Executive Operations – a role created under its new 10-year strategy.

In his role at the PIF Secretariat from 2017 to 2023, Mr Ormsby was responsible for the development and implementation of policy initiatives as directed by Forum Leaders including the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security. 

From 2023 to 2024 Mr Ormsby worked as a consultant providing strategic advice to regional agencies including the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center, the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Fusion Centre. 

Earlier in his career Mr Ormsby held various roles at the New Zealand Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). 

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, is pleased to have Mr Ormsby join PASAI.

“Paki’s previous leadership and regional experience make him ideally suited for this new role. I look forward to Paki leading our operational functions to meet the expectations of PASAI’s membership as framed in our strategic plan,” she said.

Paki Ormsby

Prior to starting the role Mr Ormsby was able to attend PASAI’s in-person Governing Board meeting and Secretariat team training last month. 

“Our region’s progress is built on having robust public financial management systems which our communities can have confidence in. I look forward to supporting our PASAI members to further strengthen their capabilities and to ensuring that PASAI is meeting member expectations,” he said.

Mr Ormsby has a Bachelor of Political Science and a Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations & Security Studies from the University of Waikato. As a Freyberg Scholar, he undertook defence and strategic studies at the Australian National University. He is also a graduate of the senior executive level Transnational Security Cooperation course at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

PASAI acknowledges the support of MFAT and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). 


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Contact information:

Esther Lameko-Poutoa, Chief Executive PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: secretariat@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

Twelve Pacific Island government audit office staff trained as HR Champions

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) in collaboration with the Swedish National Audit Office (Swedish NAO) have completed an 18-month program to develop human resource (HR) management capabilities of staff from Pacific Island government audit offices.

Twelve staff (9 female, 3 male) from 8 supreme audit institutions (SAIs) in the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have today completed the last of 6 modules in a comprehensive HR Champions program.

The program finished with a 5-day, in-person workshop in Auckland, bringing participants together for a final time after an initial gathering in May 2023.

The program facilitators included senior advisors from Swedish NAO, Ingela Ekblom and Carolina Bjerström, and PASAI Program Director, Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo.

Of the partnership, Ms Palamo-Iosefo said, “Swedish NAO is very active internationally in capability development and since 2020 its HR experts have supported many audit offices in our region to develop their own HR strategies and operational plans.

“Their support and expertise have been invaluable to run this broad program that asked a lot from its participants.”

Historical SAI Performance Measurement Framework assessments identified that most Pacific Island audit offices were not well-resourced to coordinate and manage human resource issues ranging from recruitment, appraisal and staff well-being to professional development and training.

Through the HR Champions program, participants have addressed some of the gaps identified in their respective SAIs’ assessments.

The program aimed to create a regional pool of staff capable of supporting their own SAIs and those of others in the region in a self-sustaining model, minimising a reliance on external expertise for HR support.

For Ms Ekblom, ensuring the training had tangible benefits was paramount.

“For us, it wasn’t enough to merely present international good practices – participants had to devote about 20% of their working time to demonstrate how they had succeeded in implementing HR strategies that were practical for their local context.

“We are really impressed with the deliverables and knowledge acquired by the participants,” she said.

PASAI acknowledges the support of Swedish NAO, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Program participants and facilitators

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Contact information:

Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, Program Director PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: sina.iosefo@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

PASAI’s 40th Governing Board meeting

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) held its 40th Governing Board meeting on 7 and 8 November 2024, chaired by Desmond Wildin, Director of Audit for the Cook Islands.

PASAI’s Secretary-General and Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand, John Ryan, attended along with other Pacific Island-based board members, PASAI Secretariat staff and representatives from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The Governing Board participated in interactive presentations on the Secretariat’s proposed programs of work such as audit quality management and organisational development.

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, received positive feedback about the planned use of bespoke Capability Development Plans to ensure assistance to supported members aligns with PASAI’s new 10-year strategy and the priorities acknowledged by each SAI.

The Governing Board endorsed the programs which will lead to the finalisation of PASAI’s monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework and noted the Secretariat’s progress implementing its operational plan since last meeting online in early September.

Board members considered various reports and received updates on a regional cooperative audit on climate change adaptation action and upcoming changes to incorporated societies legislation that will affect PASAI.

Board members and staff also had a fruitful governance training session with facilitator, Caren Rangi ONZM.

The Secretariat expresses its gratitude to the Governing Board members for their ongoing assistance and acknowledges the support of its development partners, MFAT and DFAT.

Attendees of PASAI’s 40th Governing Board meeting

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Contact information:

Esther Lameko-Poutoa, Chief Executive PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: secretariat@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

 PDF version of this media release

12th Meeting of the PASAI RWGEA communiqué now available

The Regional Working Group on Environmental Auditing (RWGEA) met in Canberra, Australia from 17 to 19 September 2024. The communiqué records the common themes emerging from the presentations and discussions from this hybrid event.

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), in partnership with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Audit Office and PASAI, hosted the meeting.

Related media release: Pacific environmental auditors collaborate in regional meeting

Meeting attendees

ClimateScanner© Global Assessment of the Government of Guam's Actions Related to Climate Change

Hagåtña, Guam: The Guam Office of Public Accountability (OPA) has released the flash report of the ClimateScanner© assessment of the Government of Guam’s (GovGuam) actions related to climate change. Our objective was to report the results of the assessment, and the scope of the assessment is from the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015 through August 2024.

The ClimateScanner© Global Assessment is a priority project of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), currently chaired by the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) Brazil, the Federal Court of Accounts. ClimateScanner© is an initiative in which member SAIs participate in an assessment of their respective governments’ actions related to climate change. As the SAI for Guam, the OPA was invited to participate in this initiative to assess GovGuam’s actions towards climate change.

Government of Guam ClimateScanner© Assessment Results

There were 66 items for assessment. Results show that of the 66 items, GovGuam was rated at Advanced Implementation for 49 items, Intermediate Implementation for six items, and Early Implementation for five items. Six items were not applicable to GovGuam (explained in the Finance Axis section of this report).

Conclusion and Recommendations

This is the first-ever assessment of GovGuam’s action for climate change. These results will be consolidated with results from other participating member SAIs and presented to the Conference of Parties 29 at the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in November 2024. The assessment did not evaluate for the effectiveness of GovGuam’s climate change actions. It is OPA’s observation that improvements can be made on the transparency of GovGuam’s efforts in addressing climate change. We recommend for GovGuam to establish an overarching law or a legal or regulatory framework on climate change that would include reporting requirements and the centralization of GovGuam’s climate change action to increase public awareness, stakeholder engagement, and monitor progress.

GovGuam officials generally agreed with our conclusion and recommendation. They welcome a full performance audit on GovGuam’s effectiveness in addressing climate change action be conducted by OPA. An environmental performance audit will be considered as part of the Annual Audit Work Plan.

“I am very pleased that we participated in this global assessment, because now the rest of the world can see that Guam has been actively pursuing climate change action. I want to thank the government of Guam officials who provided evidence and most of the information that was needed to complete this assessment,” says Public Auditor Benjamin J.F. Cruz. “These results will guide the Office of Public Accountability with environmental performance audit projects for effectiveness, efficiency, and equity in climate change action.”

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 For more information, please contact Selina Onedera-Salas at (671) 475-0390 ext. 207 or at sonederasalas@ugamopa.com.

PDF of press release

You can also download the flash report from www.opaguam.org.

Register now for IMPACT 2025

The Office of the Auditor General for Western Australia invites you to attend IMPACT 2025, the International Meeting of Performance Audit Critical Thinkers.

Established in 2016 as an initiative of the Australasian Council of Auditors-General (ACAG), the responsibility to host this biennial conference dedicated to public sector performance audit rotates among member offices.

Themed Performance Auditing with Insight, Influence and Independence, the 2025 conference will take place in Perth, Western Australia from 1 to 2 April. This in-person conference offers you a unique opportunity to share ideas and innovations with other auditing offices, discuss emerging topics and devise solutions to performance auditing issues in a time of increasing complexity and rapid change.

Tickets are now available via the conference website.

The highly competitive ACAG Performance Audit Awards winners will be announced during the conference dinner function, overlooking the beautiful Swan River and Government House gardens. Tickets to the dinner function are included in your conference registration; however, there are limited dinner seats available, so please book early to ensure you don’t miss out.

For all event enquiries, please contact impact25@eventandconferenceco.com.au.

Pacific environmental auditors collaborate in regional meeting

Canberra, Australia: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) this week brought together government auditors from Australasia and the Pacific Islands for a 3-day meeting of the Pacific Regional Working Group on Environmental Auditing themed ‘Auditing in the blue economy’.

The Australian National Audit Office hosted the hybrid event from 16 to 19 September in Canberra, Australia. Acting Auditor-General of Australia, Rona Mellor PSM, and Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand and Secretary General of PASAI, John Ryan, opened the proceedings.

Staff from state, territorial and national audit offices who are involved in environmental audit work, climate reporting and sustainability assurance attended meeting sessions in person or online.

Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni, gave the keynote address at the meeting, which had sub-themes of ‘Oceans and waterways’ and ‘Climate change and natural disasters.’

Participants heard from international guest speakers and panellists on topics including engaging with legislatures and creating impact. The Public Auditor of Guam, Benjamin JF Cruz, shared his perspective on engaging with senators.

The Secretary General of the international working group on environmental auditing, Dr Vivi Niemenmaa, facilitated a practical seminar on auditing government action on climate change.

PASAI Program Director, Mike Scott, facilitated a panel discussion exploring audit quality in the Pacific and challenges in environmental auditing, followed by a Q and A session. Quality Assurance Manager at the Office of the Auditor-General of the Republic of Fiji, Risiate Baba, was a panel member and shared his office’s approach to assuring audit quality, emphasising that as auditors, “We do not compromise on quality.”

Mr Scott also spoke about auditing public sector performance at a session focused on the blue economy, noting how important the blue economy is to Pacific nations as coastal communities.

Audit Manager at the Office of the National Public Auditor for the Federated States of Micronesia, Miriama Naivalu, shared findings from audits related to sustainable fisheries. Fishing and licence fees comprise 52% of the state revenue.

Audit Manager at the Tonga Office of the Auditor General, Cathreen Mafi, also shared findings from an audit on Tonga’s preparedness for implementation of Sustainable Development Goals.

And Senior Auditor at the New Caledonia Territorial Chamber of Accounts, Jacques Wadrawane, spoke during a session on audits about natural disasters.

Representatives from some of the 9 Pacific Island audit offices who are currently working on a collaborative audit on climate change presented on their work, focusing on sea level rise/coastal erosion, water security and climate change adaptation planning.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

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Contact information:

Mike Scott, Program Director PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: mike.scott@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

PASAI strategy 2024–2034 now available

The PASAI strategy 2024–2034 sets out our strategy for the 10 years to 2034. This strategy, which builds on the success of the previous strategy, was developed using feedback from development partners and comprehensive discussion with, and feedback from, SAI heads. It also responds to the findings of an independent evaluation of our work.

To learn more about our new vision, mission, values and strategic priorities, visit our new strategy page.

Register for next RWGEA meeting in Canberra, Australia

Registrations are closing soon for the 12th meeting of our Regional Working Group on Environmental Auditing (RWGEA) next month.

A preliminary meeting agenda is now available, following the formal invitation that was sent to member audit offices in June.

Meeting details

Dates: Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19 September 2024
Venue: East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston, Australian Capital Territory, AUSTRALIA
Hos: Australian National Audit Office
Theme: ‘Auditing in the blue economy’
Sub-themes: ‘Oceans and waterways’ and ‘Climate change and natural disasters’
Attendees: Staff who are involved in environmental audit work (including assurance over sustainability and climate reporting) or those who would like to gain knowledge and skills in these areas
Format: Hybrid
Costs: Meeting attendance is free; however, audit offices will have to meet the travel, meal and accommodation costs of in-person attendees (apart from the Day 2 dinner)
Keynote speaker: Dr Filimon Manoni, Pacific Ocean Commissioner

Dr Manoni’s recent professional roles and academic credentials make him an ideal keynote speaker for this meeting’s themes. Prior to his appointment as Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Manoni served at high levels in the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Forum Fisheries Agency and as the Attorney General for the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The event will be hybrid, so online participants will be able to hear from international guest speakers and panellists. This includes sessions on engaging with the Legislature and creating impact.

There will be targeted training for those attending in person. INTOSAI WGEA Secretary General, Dr Vivi Niemenmaa, will facilitate a practical seminar on scoping performance audit topics and establishing audit criteria on climate action. Dr Niemenmaa is an expert in sustainable development and environmental auditing from SAI Finland.

In-person workshops will build on the introductory performance audit training delivered at the 11th RWGEA meeting and will include ongoing support for environmental auditing after the meeting.

There will be a free optional excursion on Day 3 to the National Museum of Australia for a guided tour of its Great Southern Land Exhibition, thanks to the Australian Capital Territory Audit Office. After the tour, participants will be able to explore the museum’s other features.

Please register online (whether attending in-person or online) by COB Friday 30 August 2024.

CA ANZ and PASAI collaborate to improve government financial audit capabilities in the Pacific

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) is collaborating with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) to deliver a series of online workshops on accounting standards for government auditors, starting this week.

Fifty-six staff (28 female, 28 male) from the 5 government audit offices of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, and 11 staff from the Cook Islands have registered to participate in 7 online workshops on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) accruals, ending in late August 2024.

The training aims to bring staff at public audit offices up to date with these standards and their applications to the government financial reporting framework.

The sessions will include discussions on IPSAS accruals as well as practical exercises and case studies to illustrate their application. Additionally, consultation sessions of up to 2 hours will be available to each participating audit office on a needs basis throughout the workshop series.

The facilitation team includes Principal Advisor NZ Audit Oversight, CA ANZ, Merchaleen Laaks; PASAI Director, Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba; and eLearning Specialist, PASAI, Danial Sadeqi.

On an intended training outcome, Ms Vosawale-Katuba said, “When SAI staff conduct audits in accordance with international financial and auditing standards that helps to support the government in its decision-making through reliable and transparent financial reporting.

“While most financial statements of government in our member countries are based on cash basis IPSAS and modified cash basis IPSAS, with only one country using the accrual basis IPSAS, some countries are looking to move to the accrual basis.

“We aim to build the capacity of our SAIs for future audits on accruals basis IPSAS,” she explained.

Strengthening the capacity of its member SAIs to deliver quality, impactful and timely audits that enhance public sector performance is part of PASAI’s mission.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

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Contact information:

Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba, Director (South Pacific) PASAI
E: Meresimani.VosawaleKatuba@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

Pacific and Caribbean auditors in Fiji as part of global assessment of actions addressing climate change

Nadi, Fiji: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) is facilitating the training of Pacific Island and Caribbean auditors to participate in ClimateScanner, a global assessment of government actions related to climate change.

Twenty-two staff (13 female, 9 male) from the government audit offices of American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, Guam, the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are in Nadi, Fiji for the 5-day face-to-face workshop from 24 to 28 June 2024.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is funding the participation of almost half of the audit staff attending from the Pacific Islands.

Ten staff from national and territorial audit offices in the Caribbean are also attending, having travelled from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The ClimateScanner initiative is focused on evaluating government efforts to address climate change through a rapid review tool. With data consolidated at the global level, relevant information will be accessible and inform future audit work on climate issues.

Similar workshops have already been held in the European and Latin American regions and more will follow in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Participants will apply the ClimateScanner methodology to partially complete assessments of their respective jurisdictions during the workshops.

Subject matter experts are instructing participants on the tool’s key components of governance, public policies and climate finance. Although the auditors come from offices with different mandates, they share a common mission to provide independent assessments of the use of public resources and the performance of public policies.

By finalising the results in the coming months, the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) aims to show a comprehensive picture of the state of government action in climate change at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) in early November 2024.

The keynote speaker for this week’s training was Karlos Moresi, Programme Adviser & Team Leader, Climate Finance & Resilience at the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat. The Head of Community Research & Ethnographic Solutions Mapping, UNDP Pacific Accelerator Lab, Dr Mohseen Riaz Ud Dean; and the Permanent Secretary for the Fijian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Dr Sivendra Michael both delivered presentations covering the Pacific context.

Auditor-General of Fiji, Finau Nagera; PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa; Auditor-General of Montserrat, Marsha Verancia Meade; and a representative from the Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil, Junnius Marques Arifa also made remarks at the opening ceremony on Monday.

The workshop facilitation team includes senior staff from the Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil and the Office of the Auditor-General of New Zealand.

The Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil, as current Chair of INTOSAI, has made additional information about the ClimateScanner project available online.

PASAI acknowledges the support of UNDP, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

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Contact information:

Esther Lameko-Poutoa, Chief Executive PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: secretariat@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

The Forum for INTOSAI Professional Pronouncements seeks new members

Standard setting is one of INTOSAI’s most strategically important and visible activities. The Forum for INTOSAI Professional Pronouncements (FIPP) plays a key role in the process of ensuring its quality.

FIPP comprises 16 volunteer members with an interest in ensuring clear, relevant and robust standards. With 3 vacant posts anticipated, there may be a unique opportunity for your SAI to contribute to the development of international standards and methodology for public audit, and through this, impact the quality and effectiveness of public audit globally.

The Chair of the INTOSAI Professional Standards Committee (PSC) has written an invitation for applicants to become a member of the FIPP. There is also background guidance and an application form.

The deadline to apply is 26 July 2024.

PASAI welcomes new MER Director

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) has welcomed a skilled monitoring and evaluation specialist experienced in the development sector, Sarnesh Deo, to its Secretariat team.

Mr Deo completed a comprehensive, three-day induction in Auckland this week, which included attendance at a virtual meeting of PASAI’s Governing Board.

As PASAI’s new Director – Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER), Mr Deo arrives at a crucial time for PASAI, which, last month approved a new 10-year strategy that starts from 1 July 2024. He will be instrumental in setting up the monitoring and evaluation framework to inform PASAI’s next decade of work. 

From earlier this year Mr Deo has been working as a Master Data Analyst at a New Zealand agricultural and construction machinery distributor and servicing provider. Prior to that he spent several years as the Assistant Manager – Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning at the Australian Pacific Training Coalition (APTC). This followed various roles at different universities and a government ministry.

APTC operates in 10 countries spread across the Pacific sub-regions of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia as well as Timor Leste, and is funded by one of PASAI’s core development partners, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Sarnesh Deo

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, is pleased to have Mr Deo join the Secretariat staff.

“Sarnesh is already well-acquainted with the Pacific Island region as well as the demands of monitoring, evaluation and reporting in the development sector, so we expect he’ll be able to hit the ground running in his role here,” she said.

Following his induction Mr Deo said, “I’m excited to use my skills and experience to design and implement a comprehensive M&E system that will enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of PASAI’s important initiatives.”

Mr Deo is based in New Zealand.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and DFAT.                                                                                                                         

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Contact information:

Esther Lameko-Poutoa, Chief Executive PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: secretariat@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

Staff from six Pacific Island national audit offices come to Vanuatu for improved financial auditing

Port Vila, Vanuatu: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) is training Pacific Island auditors to perform quality financial audits of profit-oriented public entities.

Twenty-one senior staff (13 female, 8 male) from supreme audit institutions (SAIs) in Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are participating in the five-day face-to-face workshop from 17 to 21 June 2024.

PASAI programme directors, Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba and Susana Laulu, and consultant, John Vila, are facilitating the programme focused on ensuring financial audits of commercial bodies comply with the requirements of international standards.

Support to improve audit capabilities in the Pacific comes from afar. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) developed a Financial Audit Manual suitable for SAIs to carry out efficient, effective and compliant audits of small to medium sized state-owned enterprises.

In an agreement with PASAI, ICAEW granted the SAIs the licence to use this manual.

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, explained, “The manual provides a structured and well-tested method for performing financial audits and will help ensure SAIs conduct audits in line with international standards.”

By the end of the workshop, participants should be more capable of developing and documenting the planning of a financial audit, document and link audit procedures for specific components of financial statements, and review workpaper file to ensure sufficient and appropriate audit evidence is obtained to support audit opinions. They will be able to train their colleagues in how to use the manual to conduct quality and timely financial audits.

Following the workshop, PASAI will provide one-on-one online coaching sessions on request to resolve any issues while implementing their learnings. It can also assist the SAI in a quality assurance review.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

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Contact information:

Esther Lameko-Poutoa, Chief Executive PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: secretariat@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release