API Takes part in the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) Professionalisation Webinar
Introduction
On 3 October 2023, an important webinar was held to address the pressing objective of professionalisation within Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the AFROSAI community. The event, organised by the Professionalisation Working Group of the Institutional and Technical Capacity Building Committee (ITCBC) of AFROSAI, in partnership with the Regional Forum of the Capacity Building Committee of INTOSAI, the webinar aimed to promote and support the professionalisation drive within SAIs. The event brought together experts, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with enhancing professionalism in SAIs.
Speakers participating at the SAI Professionalisation Webinar
Key Highlights
In her opening remarks, the Auditor General of South Africa Ms Tsakani Maluleke emphasized the critical role Professionalisation will play in equipping SAIs with the ideal capabilities to delivery on the public interest role of carrying out public sector audits. This will ensure effective and transparent public financial management and accountability. She highlighted the importance of professionalisation in SAIs, noting that a skilled and competent workforce is essential for the successful execution of audit functions. Professionalisation enhances the credibility and independence of SAIs, leading to improved public trust and confidence.
Sharing Best Practices
Speakers participating at the SAI Professionalisation Webinar
During the webinar, various speakers shared their experiences and best practices related to professionalisation. These insights encompassed areas, among others, such as: ISSAI 150 as a new and important INTOSAI audit standard focused on Auditor Competence; Guidance 1950 and Guidance 1951; Role of the Capacity Building Committee (CBC) and partner organisations in capacitating SAIs to overcome some of the challenges they face; The role of Professional Accountancy Organizations in Professionalisation; Cooperation between SAIs and professional accountancy organisations in Africa and other parts of the world; Importance of competent audit professionals in SAIs to the broader public sector; Forming strong partnerships to facilitate pathways towards greater professional capacity.
Collaboration and Partnerships
Participants recognised the need for collaboration, partnerships and networking among SAIs and key stakeholders to facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building. The webinar provided a platform for SAIs to establish connections, share resources, and learn from each other’s experiences. The webinar highlighted existing and upcoming capacity building opportunities aimed at fostering professionalisation within SAIs. These opportunities encompassed training programmes, mentoring schemes, knowledge exchange platforms, and the development of professional certification frameworks.
Commitment to Professionalisation
The webinar concluded with a strong commitment from the participating SAIs, AFROSAI, and INTOSAI to continue promoting professionalisation within the SAIs of the AFROSAI community. This commitment included the development of comprehensive capacity building plans, the establishment of regional networks, and ongoing support from AFROSAI and INTOSAI.
The API’s Purpose (Objective)
The API 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.
The API Vision and Mission
Our Vision: An African public sector capacitated with competent, ethical and influential professionals who support accountability, transparency and good financial governance. Our Mission: To grow the capacity of accountancy professionals in the African public sector for enhanced service delivery.
The API Houses / Learning Programmes
Please choose below what may work for you and drop us an email on info@professionalisation.africa
| Houses (Learning Programmes) |
|---|
| • House 1 – Incumbents (Experienced un-professionalised accountants and auditors)-Implemented |
| • House 2 – Specialisation – Ready for occupation from 2024 |
| • House 3 – Students – Ready for occupation in 2025 |
| • House 4 – Micro credentials (e.g. Performance Audits for the Health Sector) |
| • House 5 – Continuing Professional Development (CPD) |
The API Partner Organisations
The API Learning Programmes aim to achieve the above institutional goal as 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”)).
Contact the API Team for more details: info@professionalisation.africa | www.professionalisation.africa