Published: 25 June 2021
The International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Working Group on Public Debt (WGPD), led by the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of the Philippines, and the World Bank teamed up to successfully organize a series of events as part of the ”Debt Management Auditors Week” from 14 to 18 June 2021. The objective of the events is to enhance outreach to auditors and strengthen debt management.
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The first event was a five-day virtual training on Regional Debt Management Performance Assessment (DeMPA) Workshop for Debt Managers and External Auditors. The training was designed to provide an understanding of the rationale, scope, coverage, and application of the revised DeMPA methodology to debt management practitioners and external auditors. WGPD member-SAIs Brazil, Egypt, North Macedonia, and Bhutan participated in the training.
Meanwhile, public debt auditors and debt managers participated in the webinar on the Role of External Audits in Improving Public Debt Management held on 18 June 2021. The said webinar included a presentation from WGPD Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo who talked about the importance of audits of debt management, collaboration between DMOs and the SAIs, and the challenges and opportunities faced by SAIs in audits of debt management. Providing complementary views to such presentation were WGPD members, Ms. Dawn Simpson of the US Government Accountability Office and Mr. Branko Smilevski of the SAI of North Macedonia.
Capping off the week-long event was a special virtual session for public debt auditors on How INTOSAI Builds Capacity of Auditors. The session aimed to foster a candid exchange on the challenges experienced in the conduct of performance audits for public debt management (PDM) and uncover insights on additional support and capacity-building needs towards strengthening PDM outcomes. Mr. Anibal Kohlubher of SAI Argentina, in his presentation, tackled the INTOSAI capacity building programmes and initiatives and how these efforts impact the audits performed by SAIs. Meanwhile, Ms. Jonna Carlson of SAI Finland shared her experience in the performance audit of public debt in their country. Participants to the said event mostly included public debt auditors from WGPD member-SAIs.
Future collaborations are in sight to provide more venues for knowledge-sharing in keeping with the mandate of the WGPD to support SAIs in developing knowledge and skills in performance audits through exchange of experience and knowledge as well as collaboration among WGPD members, its partners and stakeholders. # (Contributed by the Professional and Institutional Development Sector; edited by the Public Information Office)