Madagascar – TANTANA Project

The Court of Accounts of the Republic of Madagascar is implementing a capacity building project to improve the management of public funds. The project, called TANTANA, is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is supported by the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) and by the SAIs of France, Morocco and Norway. 

The Project will be implemented between 2020 and 2025 with a budget of 4 million dollars contributed by the American people. The Project aims to strengthen the governance and control capabilities of the Court of Auditors, which is looking to become more professional and accessible to citizens. The Court of Accounts wants to contribute more effectively to the promotion of integrity and transparency in the management of public funds. The Court has already tackled the audit of management of the COVID-19 crisis and the assessment of Grand Tana’s sanitation policy.

A first preparatory Webinar was held on 9, 10 and 11 December 2020.

The project will be officially launched in February 2021 in Antananarivo, with a training seminar for Court staff, followed by a symposium with representatives from Parliament, Government and civil society.

In November 2020, Mr Jean de Dieu Rakotondramihamina, First President of the Court of Accounts of the Republic of Madagascar, Mr Nathan Piper from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Mr Einar Gørrissen, Director General of the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) signed cooperation agreements for implementation of the “Project for strengthening the Court of Accounts of Madagascar 2020-2025.”

The Project stems from the Strategic Plan adopted by the Court in early 2020 and aims to transform the Institution with a view to contributing more effectively to promotion of the integrity, accountability and transparency of public spending. The Court’s goal is to become a model institution: credible, effective, responsible and accessible to the general public.

Over the coming years, the Court will commit to strengthening its governance and management capabilities. In this process, it will be supported by IDI and peer institutions, such as the Court of Accounts of France, the Court of Accounts of Morocco and the Office of the Auditor General of Norway. 

To affirm the Court’s independence and ensure its financial autonomy, the Project will provide proposals to strengthen the Court’s institutional position. To improve the Court’s work, its departments will be reorganised, its management procedures reviewed and its audit methodology upgraded. Furthermore, to enhance its professionalism, the Court will establish staff training and development measures. It will also promote gender equality.

TANTANA is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Court of Accounts and enabling it to successfully implement its Strategic Plan and achieve its outcomes:

1. The Court of Accounts promotes the integrity, accountability and transparency of public bodies taking into consideration the State priorities.
2. The Court of Accounts´ actions are credible, visible and accessible to the general public.
3. The Court of Accounts promotes a transparent and performance culture in order to become a model institution.

The project shall as such contribute to Sustainable Development Goal SDG16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which aims for effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. It shall also foster SDG 5 (Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment) through its gender mainstreaming approach. Finally, it will also seek alignment of the Court of Accounts with the INTOSAI Principles, Standards and Guidance of Supreme Audit Institutions.

TANTANA is expected to ultimately benefit the Malagasy citizens as better audits shall lead to stronger public financial management and government services.

Auditors from the Madagascar Court of Accounts checking effectiveness of social programs launched by the Malagasy Government following the COVID-19 pandemic. (June 2021)

“The Malagasy people deserve an independent, visible, and credible Court of Accounts. Today, we are strengthening our institution, so that the country can be confident in the management of public money.”

Mr. Jean de Dieu Rakotondramihamina. President of Madagascar’s Court of Accounts.

“The Court of Accounts must act with promptness, rigor, accountability, effectiveness and integrity in the fight against corruption and poverty reduction. It will thus contribute to the ongoing improvement in the daily lives of citizens.”

Mr Olivier Ernest Andriantsoa Herison. Commissioner General of the Public Treasury of Madagascar.

The Project forms part of the broader and long-term programme Partenariat d'Appui Accéléré par des Pairs - Accelerated Peer-Support Partnership (PAP-APP), aimed at improving Supreme Audit Institutions in challenging contexts.

Documents and information for the 2018-2020 Madagascar Peer-support project can be found here.

• Lalaina RAMIANDRISOA  lalaina.ramia@gmail.com – Court of Accounts of the Republic of Madagascar
• Eduardo RUIZ GARCIA  eduardo.ruiz@idi.no - INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI)