LocationsFSM focus on increasing impact of public audits and the role of artificial intelligence
April 19, 2023
Group photo of participants from SAIs from FSM (national and state level), Kiribati, Nauru, RMI, Palau and UNDP.
Pohnpei, FSM - The impact of public audits and strategies for increasing their effectiveness was discussed at a recent workshop by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under its Vaka Pasifika project, funded by the European Union (EU) and the Office of the National Public Auditor of Federated States of Micronesia. The workshop brought together 30 representatives including nine women from Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders to discuss and explore ways to systematically map the actors, barriers, and interests linked to implementing audit recommendations and tracking results.
Audit reports are the primary output produced by SAIs, but there are challenges in the Pacific region regarding how these reports are actioned and recommendations are implemented. The workshop specifically focused on how to effectively track audit recommendations and use the results to enhance the independence and stakeholder relationships of SAIs, including the potential for leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The workshop highlighted the opportunities for automatisation and the possibilities linked to newly released artificial intelligence tools in the practice of public audits.
Group discussion about the importance of SAIs work.
"Effective implementation of audit recommendations is crucial for the Office of the National Public Auditor to fulfill its mission of promoting transparency and accountability in government operations. As the Supreme Audit Institution in our jurisdiction, we are committed to providing high-quality audit services that add value to the government's activities and improve the lives of our citizens,” said Mr. Haser Hanrick, the National Public Auditor for FSM.
The UNDP Vaka Pasifika project has partnered with the International Budget Partnership (IBP) to support Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the Pacific region in their efforts to enhance the impact of public audits and share best international practices and innovative solutions in the field of audit recommendations tracking during the workshop.
Further, preliminary research conducted by the UNDP Vaka Pasifika project indicates that automated audit recommendation tracking can lead to increased visibility of audit impact compared to manual systems. The tool will also allow for aggregation of key information for communication purposes and the uploading of reports.
Mr Kevin Petrini, Deputy Resident Representative for the UNDP North Pacific Office said that the integration of artificial intelligence in the practice of public audits can greatly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of audit processes. “UNDP, with support from the EU, supports this important area of work to strengthen effective governance and advance the Sustainable development commitment, offering cutting-edge thoughts and bringing together the knowledge and experience in the Pacific context,” said Mr. Petrini.
The workshop which took place from 18-20 April 2023 included bilateral meetings with SAI representatives from Federated States of Micronesia (National and States level), Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and Nauru.
The UNDP Vaka Pasifika project, funded by the EU, aims to support SAIs in the Pacific to build their capacity, relationships, and connections with key stakeholders, and demonstrate the impact of their work.
For more information, please contact:
Marine Destrez, Project Manager, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji | Email: marine.destrez@undp.org
