PASAI was in Tuvalu last week conducting a communications workshop, ‘Communicating and Promoting Value and Benefits of SAI’. This workshop is the fourth SAI specific communications training that PASAI has delivered over the last12 months, with the aim to improve report writing and stakeholder engagement for its members.

In addition to the nine staff of the audit office, participants also included three staff from the Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation (TVBC) and the Media Liaison officer of the Prime Minister’s office.

In his opening remarks, Auditor-General Mr. Eli Lopati stated, “It is expected that after this workshop, the audit staff will be able to provide report writing at the expected level and also to formulate a good communication strategy for our office. For the rest of the participants, the non-auditors, I understand it will assist them to improve part of their responsibilities in their respective sectors and also to enablethem to prepare their communication strategy.”

Participants actively engaged in discussions and activities that equipped them with strategies, tools and knowledge on how to create a communications strategy and write clear reports. The sessions also covered presentation skills, dealing with the media, social media and how to write media releases.

Tuvalu SAI staff commented, “This training is a wake up call. The pre-test showedme that I need to improve my communication.” “The sessions are helping us with drafting our communication strategy for our office.  It been really good.”

Media Advisor for the Tuvalu Government, Silafaga Lalua Tauetia said, “The Tuvalu SAI Communication workshop has helped me boost my confidence in developing my own communication strategy and in doing my work as a communication officer.   Most importantly this opportunity has taught me about the work of our SAI and how I can help in the dissemination of its message to the citizens of Tuvalu.”

The Tuvalu Office of the Auditor-General will be hosting the 20th PASAI Congress from 8 – 11 August 2017 with the theme “Promoting Values and Benefits of SAIs through Effective Communication”. This workshop has been a good lead in to the Congress.

The training was co-facilitated by PASAI’s Director of Advocacy, Engagement and Financing, Aolele Su’a Aloese and PASAI’s Communications Advisor, Tina Vaka. The training was hosted by the Tuvalu Office of the Auditor-General and supported bythe Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).