SAI PMF Lite Project, Phase II Kick-off meeting // Mr Ihlen Joseph

Transcript for Mr Ihlen Joseph, Public Auditor State of Pohnpei in FSM

Hi, My name is Ihlen Joseph and I’m the Public Auditor for the State of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. I’m also the Chairman of the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions.

I am doing this in Guam. I’m attending the PMF workshop for the Northern Pacific. Based on this week’s SAI PMF workshop learning process and the experience, I must say that I am very happy that our Pohnpei OPA Office is excited to participate in the project. I think that if properly planned, implemented and with better _________________ understanding of the project, it will be a very very useful tool for big or small SAIs in the Pacific.

I am looking forward to the peer review report that would be assessing my SAI. The plan is, the results, the report, will be anything document that my small SAI can use for many purpose. Basically or primarily I plan to use the assessment report for my leadership especially the lawmakers, to improve the legal mandate. I think in every SAI in the Pacific, and most especially in the North Pacific, Federated FSM, our legal mandate are not really clear in some areas and I’m hoping that PMF review and assessment will identify those areas so we can amend them, our enabling legislations, to clarify and be transparent on what we can do.

The other ways that I look forward to using the assessment report in pursuant to looking for either financial or technical assistance. I think it would be more effective and productive when you’re using an independent review to assist in your proposals for technical or financial assistance from the donor community. And of course, as a training tool for the Pohnpei staff of the SAI employees.

So these are some of the things that I’m really looking forward to and I’m very very pleased that this workshop has explained the purposes, the reasons and what is the anticipated outcome of the project and how each SAI can adopt it and utilise it to support improvement in their services.

I also like to take this opportunity to extend on behalf of the PASAI members, our appreciation to IDI. I think they have been instrumental and helpful in this exercise. And I also thank the PASAI Secretariat and management for bringing this project to the Northern Pacific.

ICDL update

The number of PASAI members using ICDL has increased during 2016, with the roll out of ICDL to the YAP State Office of the Public Auditor and the GUAM Office of Public Accountability.  This follows the successful use of ICDL in the Tuvalu Audit Office from 2013-2015. 

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PASAI Member ICDL Participation

2013-2015

TUVALU – 7 Staff:  The Tuvalu Audit Office undertook the ICDL programme through the Tuvalu Treasury Accredited Testing Centre, and were the first PASAI member to utilize ICDL to develop staff capacity in general computer usage.

2016

YAP – 7 staff:  Yap State Office of the Public Audit Office enrolled in the ICDL programme, and primarily undertook the ICDL Databases (Access) and Presentation (Powerpoint) modules.

GUAM – 13 Staff:  Guam Office of Public Accountability Staff enrolled in the ICDL programme and are undertaking a range of modules including Databases, IT Security, Advanced Spreadsheets, Advanced Databases, and others.

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ICDL Training & Result Progress - Yap

The YAP office staff commenced ICDL training in the first quarter of 2016, with the majority of training being conducted using ICDL’s online e-courseware through March and April 2016.  Three staff undertook the Database module, and four staff the Presentation
Module.

On average, staff spent a total of 18 hours progressing through the Database Courseware, compared to an average of 8.1 hours to complete the Presentation Courseware.   Upon completion of study, all staff received their internationally recognized ICDL Certification by achieving a pass mark of 75% or above in the supervised ICDL Certification Assessment.  The average pass mark for the Databases Module was 93% and Presentation 89%.

IDI and PASAI Co-operation growing in strengths

PASAI’s co-operation and partnership with the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) is growing.

Speaking at the PASAI booth during the XXII-INCOSAI 2016, Mr. Einar Gorrissen, Director-General of IDI praised the PASAI efforts toward strong and better performance SAIs and also PASAI’s co-operation with IDI.

 “I am particularly proud of the co-operation between IDI and PASAI… Our co-operation has been growing from strength to strength. We work together in co-operative audits and other work programs,” said Mr. Gorrissen.

He also acknowledged ‘the very good support from the PASAI Secretariat’ and that small SAIs have made good progress. In particular, the strong regional support provided by PASAI to its member SAIs.

In conclusion, Mr. Gorrissen congratulated PASAI “on its achievements to date” and reassured PASAI “that IDI stands by as your partner for the SAIs going forward and ultimately for the citizens of the Pacific.”

PASAI and IDI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2016 to co-operate and work in partnership with each other in the development and delivery of their respective initiatives and programmes in the Pacific, to the benefit of Pacific SAIs.

Many relevant matters for PASAI members from the XXII-INCOSAI 2016

At the close of the XXII-INCOSAI 2016 held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 5 - 11 December 2016, Mrs Lyn Provost, Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand and Secretary-General of PASAI reflected on the deliberations during the congress that were relevant to PASAI members.

“I am particularly pleased that the PASAI region has been given the privilege of chairing the Professionalisation theme,” Mrs Provost said.  Theme II of INCOSAI was on Professionalisation and the related session was chaired by New Zealand.

In her reflection on the congress, Mrs Provost stated that “There are so many relevant matters that were raised in those discussions that affect our PASAI members. For example, the growth and support of our public auditors, the implementation of ISSAIs, the use of information technology and data in SAIs, and other important matters.”

INCOSAI was attended by more than 600 delegates from all over the world representing the 194 country members of INTOSAI and their stakeholders. Seven heads of SAIs from the Pacific attended the INCOSAI,  four of them for the first time.  Mrs Provost commented that “One thing that I think is very relevant to PASAI was the development of our future and young leaders and I commend the programmes to you all.”

Mrs Provost will complete her term of office in January 2017. Her great contributions to the INTOSAI community and its development, and to the PASAI region was duly recognised and deservedlyso at INCOSAI.  “This will be my last international event so I really appreciate the support that the PASAI community have provided me. Farewell.”

The Samoa SAI has replaced the New Zealand SAI as the PASAI representative to the INTOSAI Governing Board. The Controller and Auditor-General of Samoa, Mr Fuimaono Camillo Afele attended his first INTOSAI Governing Board meetings during INCOSAI.

PASAI again farewelled Lyn Provost and will really miss her esteemed leadership and professional guidance provided to the SAIs of the region during international and regional forums.

Happy retirement Lyn and all the best to you, Paul and family in your future endeavours.