SAI YOUNG LEADERS (SYL)
Cultivating Leaders, Growing Change
“I saw the garden as a metaphor for certain aspects of my life. A leader must also tend his garden; he, too, plants seeds and then watches, cultivates, and harvests the results.”
— Nelson Mandela
The SAI Young Leaders (SYL) initiative invests in the next generation of leaders who will help shape the future of their Supreme Audit Institutions. Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 cohort. Building on the success of more than 75 SYL graduates since 2017, the fifth cohort continues to support emerging leaders in driving positive change within their SAIs.
This edition also introduces new learning and engagement opportunities for SYL coaches and SAI top management, reflecting feedback from previous cohorts and strengthening the environment needed for leadership growth and organisational change.
Read the announcement to learn more about the programme, eligibility criteria, and application process.
SYLs learn theory and best practices from leadership development practitioners, IDI, INTOSAI and regional resource persons.
SYLs learn theory and best practices from leadership development practitioners, IDI, INTOSAI and regional resource persons.
The SAI Young Leaders Initiative
DISCOVER SELF
- Enhance emotional intelligence
- Build muscle to thrive in the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) world
- Continually strive for excellence
- Enhance cultural intelligence
- Enhance inclusive behaviour
LEAD PEOPLE
- Enhanced leadership skills
- Lead by example (ethical, transparent, and accountable behaviour)
- Awareness of Leadership styles
- Facilitation and coaching skills
- Negotiation, influencing and persuasion skills
- Communication and stakeholder engagement
- Growth and development
- Conflict management
- Performance management skills
DISCOVER UNIVERSE
- Appreciation of role of SAI, its stakeholders and context
- Demonstrate understanding of INTOSAI and its bodies
- Demonstrate understanding of public sector audit
- Explore trends that impact SAIs – climate change, sustainable development, digital transformation, and inequality
DELIVER VALUE
- Trace the SAI value chain
- Behave professionally in public interest
- Think future
- Innovate to find fit for purpose solutions
- Strategise for change
- Manage risks
- Deliver intended outputs and facilitate sustainable positive change
- Contribute to equal futures
How will SAI Young Leaders Grow
Professional Education
• Workshops tailored to deliver the SYL syllabus delivered by experts both online and in-person
• Memorable interactions with other SYLs and other stakeholders through discussion forums and community events
• Reading materials, videos and other materials from outside and within the SAI community
SYL Integrated Change Plan
The change plan will consist of three components:
- ME Plan –A plan outlining the SYL’s personal growth, development goals, and the path to achieve them.
- SAI Change Strategy – A strategy describing how the SYL will drive positive change in a key priority area of the SAI.
- SAI Exposure Plan – A plan enabling the SYL to better appreciate their SAI, its role, its key stakeholders, its context, and operating environment.
SYL Reflections Portfolio
The portfolio will help SYLs reflect on their learning. They will reflect on their learning for personal growth as well as for applying this learning to their local
context. The SYL Initiative will provide suitable awareness raising interactions for SAI top management and SAI coaches.
Contact Us
We’ll be announcing the new cohort soon. If you’d like to take part contact IDI’s SYL team on syl@idi.no.