Résumé de cet article disponible en français au bas de la page.
In today’s volatile global landscape, marked by democratic backsliding and growing calls for accountability, the role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) is more vital than ever. This is especially true in Sub-Saharan Francophone Africa, where SAI leaders must navigate political complexity, institutional constraints, and rising citizen expectations, all while upholding integrity and oversight.
From 28 to 30 May 2025, Heads of SAIs convened in Senegal for a high-level gathering focused strengthening their leadership skills and adapting to shifting realities. Far from a routine meeting, the event marked the expansion of IDI’s redesigned Mastery Initiative into the Francophone region, following its successful launch earlier this year for English and Spanish-speaking audiences.
Oversight leaders from Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Senegal, and Chad—members of the Regional Council for Training of Supreme Audit Institutions of Sub-Saharan Francophone Africa (CREFIAF)—came together to exchange ideas, tackle shared challenges, and explore the demands of bold, future-focused leadership. Hosted by the Cour des Comptes of Senegal (SAI Senegal), the Masterclass gave Francophone SAIs a platform to take centre stage.
A Venue Full of Experience and Aspiration
In Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, where governance challenges reflect shared history and institutions, peer collaboration is vital for stronger public oversight. As participants arrived in Dakar for the Leading in a Global Context Masterclass, a sense of familiarity grew—from past exchanges and the common challenges uniting them.
The Masterclass brought together a distinguished group of high-level leaders and experts, reflecting IDI’s strong strategic relationships across the public oversight and development community. Present were regional leaders representing the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Secretariat of CREFIAF, whose participation reinforced the collaborative spirit driving progress in Francophone Africa.
Additionally, panellists from institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, European Investment Bank, European Court of Auditors, and the International Budget Partnership Senegal guided and enriched discussions throughout the event.
Their insights underscored a key reality: while national contexts differ, both threats and solutions cross borders.
SAI leaders also play a critical role in upholding transparency and accountability in such complex environments. Opening the event, Mamadou Faye, First President of SAI Senegal, emphasised the importance of this engagement, saying: “This is a unique platform for peer learning amongst SAI leaders in the region, who often face similar institutional and organisational challenges.”
To enhance CREFIAF’s leadership capacity, the event’s success depended on vital international support made possible by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Representing Switzerland, Pablo Padrut, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the Swiss Embassy in Senegal, reaffirmed this commitment: “Switzerland proudly supports strengthening SAIs and their leaders, who are essential to safeguarding public resources and reinforcing public trust.”
Redefining Leadership in an Increasingly Connected World
In today’s climate of growing public doubt, institutions face a crisis of trust. SAIs are among the few that still hold credibility, but that trust cannot be taken for granted.
To meet this challenge, leadership must evolve.
But what does it mean to lead globally when your mandate is grounded nationally? For these SAI heads, it meant reimagining leadership itself by looking beyond domestic boundaries to engage with regional realities and global trends.
Throughout the week, a range of expert speakers and facilitators offered fresh perspectives that challenged participants to reflect critically on their leadership roles. Topics like corruption, political instability, and slow-paced reform were not abstract concepts—they were lived realities for many in the room prompting candid, engaging and thought-provoking discussions. Sharing these experiences created space for genuine connection, grounded in mutual understanding and professional solidarity.
Ismahan Mahamoud, First President of the Court of Accounts of Djibouti (SAI Djibouti) and Chair of CREFIAF, confirmed the importance of this dialogue, saying: “The issues tackled during the Masterclass and the perspectives shared among heads of SAIs will equip us with precious insights in our roles as defenders of accountability.”
Key Takeaways for SAI Leaders: Institutions Must Meet the Moment
As conversations deepened, broader questions emerged about key topics for SAIs in the region: digitalisation, citizen engagement, and public trust.
Digital Transformation Expert and former representative from the European Court of Auditors, Magdalena Cordero, addressed the need for institutional adaptation head-on. A long-time contributor to public sector digital reform efforts, she identified the perceived tension between transformation and tradition.
Rather than calling for a disruptive revolution, she emphasised that digital transformation for SAIs should be about pragmatic adaptation— meaning, meeting institutions where they are and building their capacity in context-sensitive ways.
Participants also engaged with expert thought leadership from outside the SAI community, including insightful presentations from the World Bank and the International Budget Partnership (IBP). On the topic of citizen engagement, Aissatou Diop, Manager of IBP Senegal’s Public Policy Department, emphasised rising public demand for transparency.
While many SAI leaders in the CREFIAF region remain cautious about partnering with civil society due to political pressures and institutional sensitivities, IBP encouraged a shift in perspective. Importantly, civil society should be seen not as a threat, but as a strategic ally—one that can amplify oversight and strengthen public confidence when engagement is approached thoughtfully.
Additionally, in a region where trust in public institutions is fragile, SAIs remain one of the few oversight bodies still seen as credible by the public. Drawing on two decades of governance data across Sub-Saharan Africa, Saidou Diop, Lead, Public Sector- Western and Central Africa, from the World Bank offered a broader regional perspective.
To strengthen institutional trust, SAIs, particularly in Francophone Africa, must continue investing in performance, leadership, and resilience. From managing public debt to ensuring accountability in how public funds are used, capable and trusted SAIs are essential to tackling both long-standing development issues and emerging global risks.
Guiding the Way: Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions
Facilitating the Masterclass were INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI)’s Senior Managers, Alain Memvuh, Eduardo Ruiz Garcia, and Abdelhakim Ben Lazreg. With their vast experience from capacity development and public financial management, they helped participants navigate complex issues and reflect on their leadership roles.
Unique to the Masterclass experience, their professional backgrounds from working directly within or with Francophone SAIs from the Sub-Saharan region, enabled them to insightfully address many of the shared challenges and solutions at hand.
As CREFIAF Regional Manager at IDI, Alain Memvuh shared: “This Masterclass was not just about knowledge-sharing—it was about empowering leaders to think critically, act strategically, and drive meaningful change within their institutions and beyond.”
Combining regional and global expertise, these expert-led conversations are the heart of IDI’s Mastery Initiative. Going beyond theory, the topics discussed reflect the core demands of leadership today. Particularly for SAI leaders in complex settings, success requires more than maintaining the status quo. The Masterclass challenged participants from the region to rethink not just the institutions they lead, but how they lead them in a constantly changing world.
What's Next for Francophone Collaboration? Leading Institutional Change
This Masterclass was just the beginning for Francophone leaders looking for inspiration. As the event ended, the energy in the room was palpable. Participants left not just with new ideas, but a renewed sense of direction and a network for further collaboration.
In a time when trust in public institutions is increasingly fragile, the commitment of these SAI leaders to strengthening accountability, embracing innovation, and adapting to new challenges may well be one of the region’s most valuable assets.
Having experienced the power of Mastery’s specialised dialogue and peer learning, Kanvaly Diomande, President of the Court of Accounts of Côte d'Ivoire (SAI Côte d'Ivoire) said: “The greatest benefit of the Masterclass approach is that it brings us, as SAI leaders, together to openly share our personal experiences. We were grateful to IDI for creating such a vital platform.”
IDI is already preparing a follow-up Masterclass for CREFIAF SAI heads, this time focusing on Leading Institutional Change. If leadership in a global context is about vision, then institutional change is about action: turning ideas into impact.
Are you leading a Supreme Audit Institution? With upcoming events in Spanish, English, Arabic and French, learn more about how you can join our next event.
Résumé en français
Pendant trois jours à Dakar, les dirigeants des ISC membres du CREFIAF ont partagé leurs expériences et exploré ensemble les défis du leadership stratégique. Cette Masterclass a permis d’enrichir la vision collective, de renforcer les capacités, et de bâtir des alliances pour une gouvernance publique plus transparente.