15th General Assembly Of ARABOSAI Concludes With Key Decisions For Enhanced Governance And Audit Practices

The 15th General Assembly of the Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI) wrapped up in Jeddah. The event, hosted by Saudi Arabia and represented by the General Court of Audit (GCA), took place from November 30 to December 1. Heads of supreme audit institutions from 22 Arab countries, along with regional and international representatives, participated in the assembly.

During the assembly, several decisions were made to boost operational efficiency and governance within member SAIs. These decisions aim to enhance institutional capacity building and improve audit performance across the region. A significant announcement was Saudi Arabia's second term as Chair of the Governing Board, represented by GCA, continuing its hosting duties until 2028.

The assembly included the 69th and 70th meetings of the governing board. These meetings reviewed progress on ARABOSAI's strategic plan and discussed committee reports. Decisions were made to support both main and subcommittees' work. A technical symposium also took place, featuring experts from Arab SAIs discussing best practices in institutional capacity building.

The symposium concluded with recommendations for enhancing staff capabilities and maximizing training program impacts. This initiative supports Arab SAIs in improving their operational effectiveness through shared knowledge and practical experiences.

On the sidelines, Dr. Hussam Alangari, President of GCA, presented a Peer Review Report to Vugar Gulmammadov, Chairman of Azerbaijan's Chamber of Accounts. The report assessed compliance with international standards set by INTOSAI, following Peer Review Guidelines (GUID 1900). This is part of ongoing peer review assignments by GCA with other SAIs.

Dr. Alangari also met with heads of peer SAIs from various nations to discuss cooperation opportunities. These discussions focused on exchanging expertise and knowledge in areas of mutual interest, aiming to strengthen collaborative efforts among member countries.

Certified Arab Auditor Fellowship Program Graduation

The assembly concluded with the graduation of 20 auditors from the Certified Arab Auditor Fellowship Program's first cohort. This program is a key initiative by GCA’s Saudi Center for Financial and Performance Auditing for ARABOSAI. It aims to develop professional competencies in accounting and auditing across Arab nations.

Member SAIs are tasked with translating meeting outcomes into actionable programs and partnerships with relevant bodies. These efforts focus on improving audit results and enhancing their overall impact through practical collaborations.

With inputs from SPA