Media Release: Kiribati Audit Office undergoes its first performance assessment

PRESS RELEASE

Kiribati Audit Office undergoes first performance assessment

(Tarawa, Kiribati: 16 September 2019) - In a first of its kind for Kiribati, a review team from the Pacific Supreme Audit Institution (PASAI) have assessed the relative importance and performance dimensions of the Kiribati Audit Office. This was conducted using the international Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) which covers its core audit functions, legal framework, internal governance and communication with stakeholders which ensures the promotion of good governance and effective scrutiny of performance.  

Kiribati’s assessment was made possible through the Strengthening of Public Finance Management and Governance in the Pacific Project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). PASAI is a responsible party to the project and delivers the SAI component and contributes to the strengthening of the budget oversight capacities of PAC from the perspectives of SAIs.

The SAI PMF is a multi-purpose, universal framework that can be applied in all types of SAIs regardless of governance structure, mandate, national context and development level.

The Auditor General for the Government of Kiribati, Mr Eriati T Manaima, who took up office seven months ago said, “I’m looking forward to the report from this assessment to set an objective platform for me to work on in improving the Office’s performance.” 

The Chairman of the Audit Board, Dr Mareko Tofinga who also plays an oversight role over the operations of the Kiribati Audit Office as stipulated in the Audit Act 2017 echoed the sentiments of the Auditor General.  “As a newly established body, we look forward to any guidance and advice from your report, on areas where the Audit Office needs to improve to align with international standards.”

The manager of the SAI PMF initiative across the whole PASAI region, Sina Palamo-Iosefo commented, “With a new AG and a new Board who oversees the operations of the SAI, the assessment could not have taken place at a better time.” She added, “We are certain that the SAI PMF assessment will provide essential information for the SAI and its Board to determine the relevant support to advance the SAI’s performance to international standards.”

The assessment included interviews with the Auditor General and heads of divisions, a series of evidence-based enquiries and documentary reviews throughout the two-week process. The team comprised of representatives from PASAI, Fiji’s Office of the Auditor General, as well as from the Vanuatu National Audit Office.

The four-member team presented a summary of key findings from the assessment and provided an overview of the framework to all staff for their understanding about the relevance of the assessment to their individual role within the Office.

PASAI extends its gratitude to the EU and UNDP for their support through the ‘Strengthening PFM’ project, and to development partners MFAT and DFAT for their ongoing support and contributions to PASAI’s core funding.

The audit was held from 23 August to 4 September in Tarawa, Kiribati.

This is the third SAI Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) assessment in the PASAI region following the successful SAI PMF planning workshop that was held in Fiji early this year.

###

Read the media release online

Download the media release

Contact information:

1. Jill Marshall, Communications Advisor, PASAI (Auckland, NZ) E: jill.marshall@pasai.org, P:+64 9 304 1893

2. Jone Tuiipelehaki Raqauqau, Effective Governance – Communications Associate, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji. E: jone.raqauqau@undp.org, P: (679) 3227 552

Auditor General (middle) with members of the assessment team.

Kirabiti SAI PMF assessment team meeting with Chairman of the Audit Board

SAI PMF discussions with the Kiribati Audit Office

PASAI announces its latest Regional Report - the first cooperative compliance audit on Public Procurement

PASAI regional report:

The first cooperative compliance audit, on
Public Procurement

PASAI is very proud to present our report on the results of the first cooperative compliance audit on Public Procurement.

The audit was a joint initiative between PASAI and the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI). Lead by PASAI’s Director of Technical Support, A’eau Agnes Aruwafu and Mr. Shofiqul Islam, IDI’s Manager of Capacity Development, PASAI’s team of facilitators included two officers from Audit NZ, one auditor each from SAI Cook Islands, Samoa, Norway and Maldives, and PASAI’s Director of Practice Development, Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo who helped with design, planning and quality reviews. The whole team met in Oslo to design the program followed by a two-week planning workshop in Auckland, NZ, in 2015, and another week of reporting in Samoa, in Dec 2016. Quality assurance of the reports was done in Dec 2017, with the SAIs’ reports being made public for most in 2018.

It was a long-term yet very successful activity, and this report highlights not only the results of the audits themselves, but also the lessons learnt in being the first region to carry out a cooperative compliance audit, on this particular topic.

This report sits in the PASAI suite of information-sharing regional reports as PASAI continues to support its SAIs as Learning and Knowledge organisation (and we’ll soon be following up with a regional report on the cooperative performance audit of preparedness for implementation of the SDGs). We’re very pleased to share the report in both flipbook format and standard PDF download.

This report is also a first in another way. In the Pacific tradition of story-telling, PASAI’s SAIs have provided longer narratives that go beyond the audit results and share a fuller picture of the whole activity and impact on the SAI, the audited entity and the citizens of their country.

PASAI thanks IDI, its other development partners, the team of facilitators and especially the SAIs who took part, for their huge involvement in this cooperative audit and support for this report.

For more information, please contact PASAI’s Communications Advisor on jill.marshall@pasai.org.

A secondment three years in the making begins in SAI Solomon Islands

Press Release 4 September 2019

Office of the Auditor-General, Solomon Islands:

In an innovative peer-to-peer arrangement to support the growth of the Solomon Islands Supreme Audit Institution (SAI), Auditor General Peter Lokay, together with Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) and the New Zealand and Australian Governments have worked closely together to coordinate a one year secondment for direct support in the Office.  

PASAI advertised an Expression of Interest in December 2018 and received an overwhelming response.  An assessment of all applications were made and finally Rachel McKechnie - an Associate Director, Specialist Audit and Assurance Services from SAI New Zealand - was selected.

 After nearly a year of behind-the-scenes organisation and comprehensive recruitment activities, Rachel started her secondment at the Office of the Auditor-General in the Solomon Islands (SI-OAG) on 2 September 2019. She will be working with the team as the Deputy Auditor-General (DAG) for the coming year to provide assistance to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of the Office.  

 During the course of the year she will work alongside the Office’s Audit Managers to mentor and coach them so that one of them will take over the DAG position. Other responsibilities will include developing an effective quality control system for the Solomon Islands OAG and liaising with other strategic partners as they collectively seek to embed strengthening audit practices.

 Auditor-General Mr Peter Lokay, who has needed to fill this vacant role since 2016, created this approach and coordinated with PASAI with a vision to help build the capacity of his office to deliver his mandate. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) is funding Rachel’s deployment while DFAT Australia supports other logistical arrangements.

Says Peter Lokay, ‘We are privileged and thrilled to have Rachel working with us in such a practical guidance role for the next year. I know she will provide much-needed emphasis on quality audits while helping us build capacity for the future. We trust that Rachel will enjoy her time with us as much as we appreciate having her here.’

 For the two development partners, MFAT and DFAT, and PASAI and SAI New Zealand, it is a novel arrangement that has taken considerable time and collaboration to organise. New Zealand High Commissioner Don Higgins noted, “The Office of the Auditor-General plays a vital role in providing independent assurance to Parliament and to the people of Solomon Islands that public sector agencies have used public funds for the purposes for which they have been appropriated and in accordance with legislations, financial management rules and regulations. We are delighted to provide this secondment to assist the Auditor-General to carry out these functions.”

PASAI’s Chief Executive, Tiofilusi Tiueti, agrees. ‘We are very pleased with the outcome of this important peer support process. As with our very successful twinning and FASTS programmes, this enables a developing SAI to learn directly from a developed SAI and someone who is highly qualified for this role in all senses. We hope that in future we may be able to extend similar peer-to-peer cooperation and arrangements to other SAIs to provide the right support, at the right time, in the right way.’

 The Auditor-General acknowledges all partners in making this arrangement possible which will greatly move the office forward with its mandated programs.

For more information please contact PASAI Communications Advisor on jill.marshall@pasai.org

 Download the press release