On July 15th, the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), chaired by the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), held a technical meeting during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at the Brazilian Consulate in New York.

This year's theme focused on the contribution of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in promoting effective, accountable, and inclusive public organizations for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Experts from various fields and SAIs from different countries discussed aspects related to hunger eradication, climate action, and key processes for SDG implementation.

The meeting was organized by the INTOSAI General Secretariat, the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), the Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA), the TCU, and the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN, in partnership with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA).

TCU Minister Walton Alencar Rodrigues represented INTOSAI's presidency at the meeting. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the role of audit institutions in overseeing the implementation of the SDGs by governments.

“Through independent audits, we significantly contribute to identifying gaps, promoting improvements, and ensuring that sustainable development efforts are carried out effectively and efficiently. It is essential to emphasize the contributions of SAIs in auditing climate action, food security, and poverty eradication. These areas are crucial for the well-being of our societies and the health of our planet," said the minister.

Rodrigues mentioned the Coordinated Audit of Protected Areas by the Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (OISC-CPLP). This initiative is the first of its kind in countries such as Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste, paving the way for future joint performance audits on the SDGs.

Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, a member of the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN, also participated in the meeting's opening. He emphasized that Supreme Audit Institutions undeniably contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda, particularly the targets of SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Danese stressed that, as established in SDG 17, working together is the way to achieve the SDGs. He also noted that Brazil presented the 2nd Voluntary National Review at the HLPF, regarding the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, encompassing the 17 SDGs.

Ronald Roedl, Director-General of the INTOSAI General Secretariat, recalled that INTOSAI has launched initiatives to support SAIs worldwide in implementing the SDGs and conducting high-quality and impactful audits.

Roedl cited the ISAM, the IDI's SDG audit model, which contributes to the execution of high-quality audits on SDG implementation. According to him, the presented results will show the path to the success of the SDGs.

Debates

Archana Shirsat, Deputy Director-General of the IDI, and Aránzazu Guillán Montero, Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer at UN-DESA, presented the latest updates on ISAM and audit frameworks.

Pamela Monroe-Ellis, President of SAI Jamaica, and José Alfredo Gomes, Representative of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the INTOSAI WGEA, discussed audits to strengthen public institutions for climate action in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Following the discussions, Rebecca Vassallo, Representative of the Maltese audit institution, and Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and Professor at the University of Oxford, explained how audits can strengthen public institutions, contributing to poverty eradication.

Bathiar Arif, Secretary-General of SAI Indonesia, Petra Bayr, Representative of the Austrian Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Claire Schouten, Senior Programs Director at the International Budget Partnership (IBP), addressed the central role of SAIs and their partners in implementing the SDGs.