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API and USAID Advance Public Sector Professionalisation in Liberia

In a significant move to bolster the capacity of the public sector across Africa, the African Professionalisation Initiative (API) recently concluded a pivotal visit to Liberia from June 16th to 19th, 2024. In collaboration with USAID and key Liberian public sector stakeholders, this visit marked a major stride forward in advancing the development of a learning programme focused on performance audits for health sector commodities and services, as well as the cross sector-professionalisation of public sector accountants and auditors.This landmark visit, underpinned by  the MOU signed recently between AFROSAI-E, USAID and API to advance shared PFM strengthening actions, represents a crucial step towards promoting high standards in public financial management (PFM) and enhancing service delivery to citizens across Africa. The MoU aims to foster shared interventions that strengthen PFM practices, ensuring transparency, accountability, and good governance in the public sector.

Engaging with Liberian Stakeholders

The API-USAID delegation engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, initiating discussions and receiving invaluable insights to refine and enhance the ongoing development of the performance audits for health sector commodities learning programme. Key meetings included sessions with the Liberia Institute of Certified Public Accountants (LICPA), the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), the Auditor General of Liberia, and the Ministry of Health.

Promoting IPSAS Compliance

The discussions also underscored the importance of IPSAS compliance and simplifying IPSAS education for public sector professionals. This initiative aims to demystify and streamline IPSAS training, providing quality and convenient access to enhance the capabilities of public sector accountants and auditors.

Enhancing Accountability in the Health Sector

A significant portion of the discussions focused on the health sector, which receives substantial financial support from donors and the government. The learning programme on performance audits for health sector commodities is expected to enhance the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the use of donor and government funding. This will ensure better accountability and management of resources, ultimately benefiting the citizens of Liberia.

The Auditor General of Liberia emphasized the importance of including public sector internal audit agencies in the performance audits learning programme. He highlighted the need for more public sector-focused CPD opportunities which LICPA pledged to address in coming days.

Leveraging Technology for Professionalisation

The API and LICPA teams recognized the vital role of technology in enhancing the productivity of accountants and auditors. Emphasizing the need for digitalisation and offline learning capabilities, they explored various options to address the challenge of poor internet connectivity in some regions of Liberia. The commitment to leveraging technology aims to ensure all learners have convenient access to training materials and can participate effectively in the professionalisation programmes.

Commitment to Long-term Sustainability

Concerns about the need to use a sustainability mindset in implementing the professionalisation programmes. The API team assured stakeholders of their commitment to the initiative’s long-term viability, highlighting ongoing efforts to ensure quality and institutional strengthening while embracing the efficiency principles underpinning sustainability.

The visit included a series of productive engagements with the Ministry of Health, Internal Audit Agency, and the Controller and Accountant General. These discussions underscored the critical need for professionalisation to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of public sector personnel, raising their standards to be recognized as professionals.

Looking Ahead – The Power of Partnerships

The collaborative efforts of API, USAID, and Liberian stakeholders have laid a solid foundation for transformative progress in public sector professionalisation. This initiative is poised to significantly enhance accountability, transparency, and service delivery in Liberia and across Africa. The visit’s success is a testament to the power of partnerships in driving meaningful change and achieving shared goals.

As the programme moves forward, the commitment to supporting public sector professionals remains unwavering. By equipping accountants and auditors with the necessary skills and knowledge, this initiative will pave the way for a more accountable, transparent, and effective public sector, ultimately benefiting the citizens of Liberia and the broader African continent.

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.

The API Partner Organisations

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

The African Professionalisation Initiative (API) operates not as a Professional Accountancy Organisation (PAO), but as a facilitator and catalyst for the professionalisation of public sector accountants and auditors. This critical role accelerates accountability and transparency within the public sector. Consequently, it increases the number of professional accountants eligible for membership in national PAOs, thereby enhancing their effectiveness. This growth strengthens the accountancy profession at the national level through the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) on the continental level, and with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) on the international level.

The API Houses / Learning Programmes

Embark on a flexible learning journey where you can study offline and seamlessly update your progress once you reconnect to the internet. This comprehensive programme, designed to fit your schedule, typically takes 12 to 18 months to complete. Dive into a transformative educational experience that empowers you to achieve your professional goals at your own pace, anywhere and anytime.

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.

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