API and USAID Advance Public Sector Finance Management Strengthening in Zimbabwe

Introduction

The African Professionalisation Initiative (API) has undertaken a mission to transform the public sector in Africa by developing competent, ethical, and influential professionals dedicated to fostering accountability, transparency, and good financial governance. A recent API-USAID stakeholder consultation and engagement event in Zimbabwe, held from May 13 to 15, 2024, underscored this commitment. This report summarizes the key outcomes of the country visit and the strategies API is implementing to achieve its vision. The backbone of this country visit is the MOU signed recently between AFROSAI-E, USAID and API to advance shared PFM strengthening interventions.

IFAC MOU Partners

This initiative paves the way for a comprehensive joint engagement involving IFAC, PAFA, GAVI, Global Fund, USAID, and API, with initial pilot initiatives set to roll out in select countries. The expansion of these interventions will be driven by country interest and funding availability, promising a concerted effort to drive positive change and ensure accountability within the public health sector. As stakeholders unite under this collaborative framework, the stage is set to drive meaningful impact and usher in a new era of accountability in public health.

Objective of the Country Visit

The purpose of the visit was to engage with key API stakeholders and gather their insights for the development of the learning programme on performance audits for health sector commodities. The API team held meetings with various stakeholders in Zimbabwe, including the regulator of the accountancy profession, PAAB; the Auditor General; the Accountant General; CEOs of Professional Accountancy Organizations such as CGAIZ and ICAZ; health sector NGOs; private sector tuition providers; and government training institutes like MTB. Additionally, the visit served as an opportunity for the API to conduct an induction session for the inaugural group of participants in the API incumbents Professionalisation programme in Zimbabwe.

API’s Vision and Mission

API’s vision is “An African public sector sustainably capacitated with competent, ethical and influential professionals who support accountability, transparency and good financial governance”. Our mission is “to grow the capacity of public sector finance management professionals in the African public sector through high quality, relevant and future fit learning programmes”

Highlights from the Zimbabwe Engagements

Broad Support for Learning Programmes: Stakeholders strongly endorsed the Performance Audits (PA) for Health Sector Commodities Learning Programme. This initiative is praised for its role in enhancing the effectiveness and scope of funding interventions, with a notable commendation for USAID’s role in initiating and supporting this innovative educational effort.

Expanding the Scope of Audits: There was a consensus on the need to expand the (PA) learning programme to include governance audits, which would tackle both compliance and administrative challenges across more sectors. Stakeholders showed a willingness to support measures that integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles to bolster governance and environmental efforts.

Practical and Inclusive Learning Approaches: The engagement emphasized practical learning through real-world case studies and competency-based education. It highlighted the importance of including diverse groups within the learning cohorts and tailoring content to both audit and non-audit staff to ensure comprehensive understanding and preparation for audits.

Digital and Accessible Learning: The programme’s digital delivery mode was outlined, enabling flexible, anytime-anywhere learning. This approach not only facilitates broad participation but also ensures that learning is continuous and assessed through competency badges and exit assessments.

Policy Integration and Professional Ethics: The inclusion in the learning programme topics on performance audits of donor and government policies related to ethics, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, gender equality, and more was identified as crucial. These components are essential for enhancing the effectiveness of health sector initiatives.

No Exemptions to Ensure Quality: To maintain high standards among graduates, the programme does not allow exemptions. This policy ensures that all participants meet the same rigorous criteria, which is vital for the integrity and impact of the training.

Funding and Support Needs: There was a significant call for increased sponsorship and funding, particularly from organizations like USAID, to support the Professionalisation of learners within various government and non-government sectors in Zimbabwe.

Clear Target Audience and Entry Requirements: The programme is specifically designed for a broad audience including SAI staff, audit firms, internal auditors, and health sector professionals. This ensures that the training is relevant and accessible to those who can most benefit from it.

Complementary Role with AFROSAI-E: API’s initiatives are designed to complement existing AFROSAI-E trainings, focusing on practical implementation and competency-based education that culminates in the issuance of recognizable certificates.

Enhancing Capacity

The API country visit in Zimbabwe is a testament to the initiative’s dedication to enhancing the capacity and capabilities of public sector professionals across Africa. By fostering an environment of comprehensive, practical, and ethical training, API not only contributes to individual professional growth but also to the broader goal of improved public sector governance and accountability. The continued collaboration with stakeholders and partners like USAID will be crucial in advancing these objectives and ensuring sustainable impact.

About The API

The African Professionalisation Initiative is an independent non-profit organisation whose primary objective is to strengthen the capacity and knowledge base of accounting and auditing professionals in the African public sector to enhance accounting and auditing service delivery to the citizens of Africa.

 

Our Vision: An African public sector sustainably capacitated with competent, ethical and influential professionals who support accountability, transparency and good financial governance.

Our Mission: Grow the capacity of public sector finance management professionals in the African public sector through high quality, relevant and future fit learning programmes.

About The API

The African Professionalisation Initiative is a partnership between the accountancy profession (represented by the Pan African Federation of Accountants (“PAFA”)), accountants general or their equivalent (African Association of Accountants General – “AAAG”)), and supreme audit institutions or courts of auditors (represented by the English (“AFROSAI-E”) and French (“CREFIAF”) language sub-groups of the African Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (“AFROSAI”)).

API is not a PAO

API is not a PAO but rather an enabler or a catalyst for professionalisation of public sector accountants and auditors to realise acceleration of greater accountability and transparency in the public sector. This will lead to growth or increase in the number of professional accountants eligible for membership in country PAOs thus making those PAOs more effective in delivering value to governments through a stronger accountancy profession within the country, continentally (through PAFA) and at the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) level.

The API Houses / Learning Programmes

You can learn offline and update your records the next time you have access to the internet.  Learning takes 12 to 18 months to complete.

Please choose below the house that works for you and drop us a mail – info@professionalisation.africa

Houses (Learning Programmes)	Careers / Jobs for API Graduates
House 1 – Incumbents (Experienced un-professionalised accountants and auditors)-Implemented	✔ Government Accountant ✔ Budget Analyst ✔ Financial controller ✔ Government Auditor ✔ Tax examiner ✔ Public Financial Management Consultant ✔ Non-profit Accountant ✔ Financial Analyst ✔ Grants and Contracts Manager ✔ Compliance Officer ✔ Public Sector Financial Reporting Specialist✔ Sector specific accountants, auditors, advisors e.t.c.
House 2 – Specialisation – Ready for occupation from 2024
House 3 – Students – Ready for occupation in 2025
House 4 – Micro credentials – Unique Areas of need by governments: E.g. The Public Sector Ethics Certification that is available for all government accountants, auditors and other officers etc.
House 5 – Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – Book an event here
House 6 – Sector specific learning programmes or certifications or Micro credentials e.g. Learning Programme on performance audits for health sector commodities.