LocationsStakeholder engagement: a new experience for Pacific Supreme Audit Institutions
March 30, 2023
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji through the Vaka Pasifika project, funded by the European Union (EU) recently completed a baseline study on the oversight role of Pacific Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs). The survey findings were disseminated in a webinar where progress and best practices were highlighted to encourage peer learning and collaboration. Ten SAIs participated in the survey which took place between November 2022 to January 2023.
The baseline survey focused on five key areas that have a significant impact on the performance of SAIs: independence, financial audits and backlogs, performance audits, compliance audits and stakeholder engagement.
On stakeholder engagement, the survey requested that SAIs identify existing mechanisms for engaging with stakeholders. In recent years, recognition of the value of civil society engagement has been growing among SAIs as it can lead to better-informed audits, stronger oversight and more effective accountability.
The SAI Performance Management Framework (PMF) suggests best practices for Civil Society Organization (CSOs) outreach strategies. As society is becoming more aware of its ability to hold governments to account, SAIs can contribute to this behavior by reaching out directly to citizens and CSOs and developing relationships with them. More specifically, SAIs should seek collaborative, two-way engagement strategies with CSOs, the public and the media, rather than one-way strategies. The PMF also notes the importance of maintaining effective relationships with media organizations to maximize the exposure of important audit findings.
The active engagement of CSOs is new to many Pacific SAIs and many are still in a ‘discovery’ stage of their relationship with CSOs. The survey revealed that most SAIs started out with the development of a Communication or Engagement Strategy/Plan to guide their engagement with citizens and stakeholders. Five countries have developed Engagement Plans while the rest plan to develop theirs with the assistance of the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI). One-way engagement remains the prevailing form of engagement, with information being disseminated through publications on SAI websites, social media platforms, press releases, and public outreach programmes.
The survey also captured stakeholder engagement success stories from SAIs that have started work in this area. The Office of the National Public Auditor in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is currently implementing an innovative stakeholder engagement model which was of interest to many Pacific SAIs. This engagement program began in October 2022 and specifically targets remote villages, far away from the center of government. Interestingly, the program takes place after church on Sundays, as this was the most convenient time for the villagers. The outreach team disseminates information on their role, the outcomes of recent audits and investigations and encourages citizens to share their concerns on the use of public funds. The program has sparked interest amongst villagers who were previously indifferent to how government functioned or how public funds were spent.
In Tonga, the Tonga Office of the Auditor General (TOAG) participated in a forum on Public Financial Management (PFM) with the Tonga Civil Society Forum (CSFT) in May 2022, with participants from community organizations and non-government organizations (NGOs). TOAG discussed its mandate, reporting protocols, the PFM cycle and the role of key players within it. This gave participants a better understanding of the PFM system, the role of SAIs, and how each player can contribute to improving the effectiveness of PFM systems.
The Solomon Islands Auditor General’s Office also shared their plans for stakeholder engagement in 2023, beginning with an update of their Stakeholder Engagement Strategy. After participating in a UNDP organized CSO forum in 2022, the Auditor General’s Office saw the value of this engagement and plans to convene an annual forum with CSOs, with the aim of moving towards two-way engagement by undertaking briefings on the results of selected audits and seeking CSO input on possible audit areas. They also plan to deepen their engagement with the media, to raise the media’s understanding of audit reports and the role of SAIs, including plans to revamp their website and develop a social media platform.
While active stakeholder engagement is considered new territory for most Pacific SAIs, many have gained useful experiences which serve as invaluable lessons to other SAIs. The Vaka Pasifika Project has planned several activities that will facilitate mutual engagement between SAIs and external stakeholders, thereby strengthening accountability and transparency in the use of public funds.
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Eaton, L, 2022. CSO Engagement a New Opportunity for Many Pacific Island SAIs: PASAI Stakeholder Engagement http://intosaijournal.org/cso-engagement-a-new-opportunity-for-many-pacific-island-sais-pasai-stakeholder-engagement/
INTOSAI Engagement with civil society – A framework for SAIs - https://www.intosaicbc.org/download/engagement-with-civil-society-a-framework-for-sais/