Chile concluded its six-year term on the United Nations Board of Auditors on July 23rd. In her final address to the Board's 78th Regular Session in New York, Chilean Comptroller-General Dorothy Pérez presented a report detailing the main audit findings and conclusions of the eight institutions it oversaw.

Following Chile’s departure, representing Brazil, Minister Bruno Dantas, President of the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), assumes a seat on the Board for the first time. The country will hold this position for a six-year term, partnering with France and China until 2030. On July 24, Dantas delivered a speech on the second day of the meeting to mark the beginning of the tenure.

During its mandate, Chile conducted 76 audits, identified over 700 findings, visited 110 offices in 54 countries, and issued over 900 recommendations to the UN administration. The Comptroller-General of Chile highlighted the intense work carried out by her team to strengthen communication with the audited institutions. She also emphasized how this effort resulted in the evolution of the implementation rate of audit recommendations: the global average increased from 50% to over 60%.

Transition

According to Pérez, there are significant opportunities to enhance the budgeting techniques used by the monitored institutions. She emphasized the need for greater precision in identifying actual resource requirements and strengthening management mechanisms.

" We are confident that our Brazilian colleagues will successfully continue the work initiated, ensuring a smooth transition and the continued strengthening of processes and controls within the United Nations," concluded the Chilean Comptroller-General.

During its tenure on the UN Board of Auditors, Chile oversaw the following entities: United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), United Nations University (UNU), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT)).

Support from the UN Under-Secretary-General

During the session, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Catherine Pollard, quoting UN Secretary-General António Guterres, reiterated her confidence in the need for a culture of learning and evaluation, seeking continuous improvement in deliverables and results.

"Your perspectives are essential to this process, and we take them very seriously. Therefore, we assure you, your representatives on the Audit Operations Committee, and your auditors of our full support and commitment to achieving our common goal: that audit processes result in balanced and high-quality reports of maximum value to Member States,” concluded Pollard.