Regional : Implementing the Pacific Regional Audit Initiative

Sovereign Project | 41190-012

Building the capacity of Pacific supreme audit institutions (SAIs) is fundamental to improving regional governance. Public auditing in the Pacific region overall has advanced substantially in the past decade. Numerous audit backlogs have been cleared, and both audit quality and the performance of almost all Pacific SAIs have improved. These gains have been made in the face of intimidating challenges. Sustaining such gains is difficult in smaller country settings because auditing in tight-knit social and cultural environments involves significant political, professional, and personal pressures. In addition, Pacific SAIs are at different stages of development and, for some, much more remains to be done to reach uniformly high standards.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Everett, Hayden B.
    Pacific Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Regional
  • Modality
  • Sector
    • Public sector management
Project Name Implementing the Pacific Regional Audit Initiative
Project Number 41190-012
Country / Economy Regional
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 7794-REG: Implementing the Pacific Regional Audit Initiative in Pacific Island Countries
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific US$ 1.30 million
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Governance and capacity development
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Public sector management / Public administration - Public expenditure and fiscal management

Gender No gender elements
Description Building the capacity of Pacific supreme audit institutions (SAIs) is fundamental to improving regional governance. Public auditing in the Pacific region overall has advanced substantially in the past decade. Numerous audit backlogs have been cleared, and both audit quality and the performance of almost all Pacific SAIs have improved. These gains have been made in the face of intimidating challenges. Sustaining such gains is difficult in smaller country settings because auditing in tight-knit social and cultural environments involves significant political, professional, and personal pressures. In addition, Pacific SAIs are at different stages of development and, for some, much more remains to be done to reach uniformly high standards.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

In October 2005, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders endorsed for further study and analysis the Pacific Plan initiative 12.1, which included the Pacific Regional Audit Initiative (PRAI). The PRAI design was subsequently developed by the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), under the coordination of the PIF Secretariat. The August 2008 PIF Leaders' meeting endorsed the PRAI design. Following this endorsement, ADB, AusAID, and the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Development Initiative supported the successful initial implementation and delivery of PRAI outputs from 2008 to 2010.

The proposed regional capacity development technical assistance (TA) will support the continued implementation of the PRAI in Pacific island countries and has been developed in consultation with the PASAI secretariat and development partners

Impact

Public entities in Pacific island countries improve transparency and accountability in managing and using their public resources.

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Supreme audit institutions (SAIs) operate in accordance with uniform standards at a measurably higher level.

Progress Toward Outcome ADB's Independent Evaluation Department has been working with AusAID and the New Zealand Aid Program to undertake an independent review of PASAI and the PRAI. The final report confirms that the PRAI was highly relevant, effective (on major outputs), and efficient, and is likely to be sustainable.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Regional cooperation and coordination of audit activities between SAIs is strengthened.

SAIs' organizational capacity is enhanced.

SAIs' technical ability to undertake financial and performance audits is strengthened.

SAIs collectively advocate transparency and accountability.

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Output 1: Regional cooperation and coordination of audit activities between SAIs is strengthened

Under this output: (i) four manuals covering human resource management, quality assurance guidelines, reporting guidelines, and performance audit have been produced and are being used by audit institutions in the region; (ii) three regional cooperative performance audits, covering solid waste, access to safe drinking water, and management of sustainable fisheries, have been completed; and (iii) annual PASAI Congresses have been held to support regional coordination on audit issues.

Output 2: SAIs organizational capacity is enhanced

Training workshops on auditing fundamentals; intermediate auditing; supervisory auditing; and audit management; have been developed, piloted, and then conducted with a total of 101 staff trained from 17 audit institutions in the Pacific. A total of 15 coordinators from within the region have been involved.

Output 3: SAIs technical ability to undertake financial and performance audits is strengthened

Under this output the SAS program has been completed. The SAS program is using an innovative model to deal with public auditing challenges in small island states by the pooling of resources on a subregional basis. The program is working to raise the quality of public auditing in Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu, through the establishment of a team of secondees from each of the participating countries, supported by specialist audit expertise.

Output 4: SAIs collectively advocate transparency and accountability

A second report on the state of accountability and transparency in the Pacific was published by PASAI in July 2012. The report is being used as a basis for communication with governments and regional organizations; and broader advocacy about the role of SAIs and associated governance mechanisms in achieving the accountable and transparent use of public resources.

Geographical Location Regional
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design ADB has been working with AusAID and the INTOSAI Development Initiative in supporting the design and implementation of the PRAI.
During Project Implementation As above.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services The TA will require international consultants (estimated 31 person-months of inputs) with skills and expertise in public auditing, performance auditing, and undertaking peer reviews. All consultants will be engaged as individuals. The consultants will be engaged by ADB in accordance with the Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2010, as amended from time to time).
Procurement Disbursements under the TA will be made in accordance with ADB's Technical Assistance Disbursement Handbook (2010, as amended from time to time).
Responsible ADB Officer Everett, Hayden B.
Responsible ADB Department Pacific Department
Responsible ADB Division Urban, Social Development & Public Management Division, PARD
Executing Agencies
Asian Development Bank
Timetable
Concept Clearance 13 Aug 2010
Fact Finding 08 Nov 2009 to 12 Nov 2009
MRM -
Approval 29 Mar 2011
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 24 Sep 2013

TA 7794-REG

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
29 Mar 2011 - 29 Mar 2011 31 Aug 2013 31 Dec 2013 09 Apr 2014
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
0.00 1,300,000.00 200,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,500,000.00 17 Jun 2022 1,107,209.63

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Title Document Type Document Date
Implementing the Pacific Regional Audit Initiative TA Completion Reports Jun 2014
Implementing the Pacific Regional Audit Initiative Technical Assistance Reports Mar 2011

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

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The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

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Contracts Awarded

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Procurement Plan

None currently available.