The 14th Assembly of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI), which took place in Vietnam from September 19-22, has adopted the 12th ASOSAI Research Project on “Auditing the implementation of SDGs” in line with INTOSAI’s orientation on the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. According to the ASOSAI’s practice, the 12th ASOSAI Research Project has been carried out for the 2018 – 2021 period. A research team will be established in order to make plans, organize discussion meetings, develop documents guiding the implementation of audit and draft progress reports for submiting to the ASOSAI Governing Board. Currently, there are 14 participating SAIs, including Saudi Arabia, India, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Jordan, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, China and Vietnam.
As Chairman of ASOSAI during the period of 2018 – 2021, the SAV established a working group for the 12th Research Project with the desire to participate dynamically and actively in all ASOSAI’s activities, especially focus on the programs to realize the commitments on sustainable development goals (SDGs) specified in Hanoi Declaration at the 14th ASOSAI Assembly, in which Information Technology and Environmental auditing should be paid attention, and enhance the capacity of SAV’s staff involved in the state audit field. At the research project launch meeting held from 25th to 26th in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate, the SAV’s working group had active discussions with 14 member SAIs on the impact and direction of implementing the 2030 Agenda for the sustainable development goals at SAI and State Government levels. Accordingly, the participating SAIs shall have a forum to share experiences on conducting audits of SDGs or similar projects based on three main issues of policy, accountability and information management, in which the application of big data technologies in auditing should be emphasized.
On that basis, the 12th research project team shall establish a framework for member SAIs to audit the implementation of SDGs as well as reach an agreement on the working methods and arrangements in priority order in the coming time.
Tran Lan Phuong – Department of International Cooperation