The INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) and the United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs (UNDESA) jointly organized a Supreme Audit Institution Leadership and Stakeholder Meeting on “Auditing preparedness for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, which was held from 20 to 21 July 2017, at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York.
The meeting objective was to generate discussions on critical issues related to preparedness for SDG implementation, including the integration of the 2030 Agenda in national contexts, securing means of implementation for the 2030 Agenda, and monitoring, follow-up, review and reporting on progress on the 2030 Agenda. Discussions highlighted some of the specific challenges SAIs face for auditing SDGs. It also revealed that SAIs are moving fast ahead and making significant progress in planning and conducting SDG-related audits and assessing the preparedness of governments for SDG implementation. Ideas about adopting new approaches and methodologies to audit, focusing on issues of inclusiveness, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and improving capacities were also discussed as part of the way forward.
The meeting was attended by around 100 participants from 39 SAIs (mostly represented by the AGs) and other relevant stakeholders like the Ambassador from Ireland and representatives from World Bank, International Budget Partnership (IBP), UN Women, UN Statistical Commission, CAAF (Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation), Undersecretary General for the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight (OIOS) and Ministries of Finland, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka.