Audit teams from the Department of External Control for the United Nations (SecexONU) participated in a training session at the Serzedello Corrêa Institute for Capacity Building (ISC) from August 12 to 16, to deepen their understanding of two Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems used by UN agencies: Quantum and Vision.

Through these tools, auditors will have access to information on planning, financial management, procurement and logistics, and human resources management at UN agencies. This new capability comes as a result of the TCU joining the UN Board of Auditors in July of this year.

The United Nations utilizes a variety of management systems to oversee its operations. UNICEF employs Vision, while UNFPA, UN Women, UNU, and UNITAR use Quantum. Additionally, Umoja ERP is employed by numerous UN agencies and peacekeeping missions, including IRMCT, UNODC, UNOV, and those in Kosovo, Cyprus, and Lebanon. The TCU, responsible for auditing these agencies, provided training on Umoja ERP to SecexONU auditors in June and July of this year.

Jorge Carvalho, auditor from the São Paulo State Court of Accounts (TCE-SP), evaluated the training positively and emphasized its relevance. "The course provided an overview of the implementation process and a demonstration of the main modules, such as budgeting, procurement, and accounting processes. Even without being an IT specialist, the overall impression of the Quantum system was good, especially due to the amount of information available, which will be valuable in future audits," he said.

The auditor commended the instructors from New York, United States, for their affability and expertise. He remarked that the training was a significant milestone in comprehending the United Nations’ operational procedures and system frameworks. Carvalho concluded by emphasizing the importance of this training for the Court’s team.