The five-day Experience and Lessons Learned Workshop on “Enhancing Transparency and Accountability Through Collaboration,” held from October 14-18, 2024, in Lusaka, Zambia, concluded with promising outcomes for the future of public financial management in the region.

Co-hosted by the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) and the Office of the Auditor General of Zambia, with support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, the event brought together participants from supreme audit institutions (SAIs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) to strengthen collaboration in the audit process. Key participants included the Office of the Auditor General of Zambia, Transparency International Zambia, the National Audit Office of Malawi, and the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC). Speakers from countries with successful Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) models, such as Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, joined to provide their expertise.

Workshop Focus: Building Effective SAI-CSO Collaborations

The event focused on fostering a greater understanding of how SAIs and CSOs can collaborate effectively in the audit process, with a particular emphasis on promoting transparency and accountability in public resource management. Participants explored the vital role of both SAIs and CSOs in the PFM cycle and discussed practical mechanisms for collaboration, including legal and institutional considerations.

In his opening remarks, Ola Hoem, IDI’s Deputy Director General, emphasised the importance of citizen engagement: “This workshop presents a tremendous opportunity for us to develop actionable strategies that aim at strengthening citizen participation in the audit process, particularly for Malawi and Zambia.” Hoem also acknowledged the key contributions of SAIs from Kenya and Uganda, along with CSO partners like Transparency International and PLSI, whose insights would be instrumental in enriching the discussions.The Auditor General of Zambia also highlighted the crucial role of CSOs in holding government institutions accountable, stating, “The partnership between my office and civil society organisations is not just beneficial; it is crucial in the PFM cycle. CSOs serve as the watchdogs of governance, ensuring public resources are managed effectively and transparently.”

Developing the Citizens Participatory Audit (CPA) Framework

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in interactive sessions aimed at developing a draft CPA framework, which is intended to guide future collaborations between SAIs and CSOs in Zambia and Malawi. Group work sessions led by experts from PLSI, Transparency International Kenya, and SAIs from Kenya and Uganda were pivotal in shaping the framework’s foundational elements. PLSI showcased its pioneering work in Nigeria, where it has successfully used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance civic participation in audits. The “Value for Money” case study provided good insight into how technology can drive citizen participation and accountability. PLSI also pledged to support the development of CPA frameworks in Zambia and Malawi, with an emphasis on adapting successful models to local contexts.

Commitment to Ongoing Collaboration

As the workshop concluded, participants expressed a strong commitment to refining and implementing the CPA framework. The closing discussions reiterated the importance of sustained collaboration between SAIs and CSOs, and how these partnerships could contribute to better governance across the region. The Auditor General of Zambia captured the sentiment of the event: “This workshop is a pivotal moment for us. The knowledge and strategies we gain here will feed into our goal of creating a comprehensive citizen participatory audit framework that strengthens accountability and transparency in Zambia.”

This workshop represents a step forward in IDI’s mission to empower SAIs and CSOs to work together in fostering transparency, accountability, and good governance across Africa, especially through the targeted activities featured in initiatives like SPMR ACT and the CADRE Project. The collaboration connected accountability actors from all over the continent and began building the foundation for long-term partnerships that can continue to impact public financial management positively in the coming years.