From 8 to 12 May 2023, the five SAIs from Sub-Saharan Africa that are participating to the SPMR initiative gathered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for the closing activity organised for the French-speaking group under the 1st round of the intervention, launched in CREFIAF region in 2019. The objective of the workshop was to provide an opportunity for SAIs to reflect on the outcomes of their participation in this long-term initiative aimed at improving SAI governance for increased performance. The workshop was based on interactive exchanges on participating SAIs’ achievement through the received support, how did it affect positively their strategic management practices, and what could be considered for improving the delivery and the impact of such an initiative in the future. 

The workshop combined plenary discussions with group work sessions in SAIs teams. A significant focus was put on having a multiple – perspective conversation on the outcomes, the challenges and the perspectives related to applying the different stages of the SAI strategic management cycle and framework throughout the SPMR initiative.

Compared to previous SPMR events which they attended under the same intervention, during this final workshop the SAIs of Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, and Chad had a more active role. Participants generously shared their own perspectives and reflections on the process followed throughout the initiative and its results. SAIs teams expressed and demonstrated a particular engagement in sharing their experiences with e.g., assessing their current situation based on the SAI PMF, developing strategic and operational plans, and building robust implementation, monitoring, and reporting processes as per the SPMR methodology, in light of their different constraints and institutional arrangements.

The workshop was also the opportunity to factor in the perspective of other capacity development providers that are engaging with the same SAIs in the region in different areas that also have implications on the SAIs’ strategic management process. The intention was to get their perspectives on the SPMR approach, and to hear their own experience on critical questions such as seeking alignment of the support offered with SAIs’ priorities and context, etc.

The Court of Accounts of Côte d’Ivoire offered a wide media coverage of the event, and of the SPMR initiative in gerenal. 

The SPMR initiative supports the whole strategic management cycle of the participating SAIs over the course of four years and is supported by the Swiss Secretariat for the Economy (SECO). Based on available resources, needs and interest, CREFIAF SAIs will be offered participation in another round of the SPMR initiative from the end of 2023. IDI will then seek to factor in relevant lessons learned from implementing the first round in the region.