Tribunal de Contas da União
President Bruno Dantas attends INTOSAI meeting and releases open letter to audit institutions
The meeting took place on September 5 in Washington, D.C., United States, with the participation of authorities from the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) that make up the committee. The Dean of the Court of Accounts, Minister Walton Alencar, also took part.
Among other things, the purpose of the annual meeting is to review and approve the budget, monitor the implementation of INTOSAI's Strategic Plan, discuss aspects to ensure that INTOSAI's organizational structure, dissemination, communications, and decision-making processes operate efficiently, effectively, and economically for the benefit of SAIs.
Dantas and INTOSAI Secretary General Margit Kraker presented the work of the INTOSAI Communication Task Force. The initiative was launched during the XXIV International Congress of Supreme Audit Institutions (INCOSAI) last year. The aim is to increase the visibility of the organization and its members on the international stage, expanding INTOSAI's global voice.
Based on an analysis of documents such as the communication policy and guidelines, the task force has been holding meetings and workshops to develop an updated communication strategy, to strengthen the visual identity and use of the brand, the relationship with target audiences, key messages, and communication channels.
The work is co-chaired by the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), as chair of INTOSAI, and by the Austrian Court of Audit, as the organization's General Secretariat. The task force also includes the SAI of Egypt, the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), the general secretariats of the Regional Organizations, the chairs of the Goals Committees, the INTOSAI Journal and other SAIs with expertise in communication.
Supervisory Committee on Emerging Issues
The president also presented the report of the Supervisory Committee on Emerging Issues (SCEI). Brazil, as chair of INTOSAI, leads the SCEI. The committee plays a crucial role in dealing with critical issues and emerging challenges - such as financial crises, natural disasters, environmental issues - and in overseeing corporate risk management efforts for INTOSAI. Issues such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the impact of science and technology on auditing and Covid-19 are also among the aspects monitored by the SCEI.
In his presentation, Dantas stressed that the committee members have been holding meetings and in-depth discussions on the plan to launch a Center for Advanced Studies. The center will encourage researchers and academics to further their studies in SAIs or areas of interest to the institutions, to brin INTOSAI closer to society.
Letter from the Chair of INTOSAI
Also, on September 5, Dantas released the first Letter from the Chair of INTOSAI, in which he reinforces the relevant role of SAIs in the implementation of the SDGs. The article highlights budget credibility and financial supervision as essential tools for achieving the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda.
The president mentions the launch of the document "Strengthening Budget Credibility through External Audits: A Manual for Auditors", coordinated by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and the Public Institutions and Digital Government Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DPIDG/UNDESA) and developed with the collaboration of auditors from Argentina, Brazil, Georgia, Indonesia, Morocco, the Philippines, Uganda and Zambia. The manual provides technical guidance on the oversight of public finances, emphasizing the role of SAIs in promoting integrity and transparency in the budget process.
The letter was sent to SAIs around the world and shared with INTOSAI partner institutions.
Read the first Letter from the Chair of INTOSAI here