Mozambique's Audit Institution visits TCU for technical cooperation
The president and a judge counsellor from Mozambique's audit institution were received by Minister Benjamin Zymler, where they learned about TCU initiatives focused on citizen participation, the environment, and the use of technology
By Secom / Serint
On December 8, the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) welcomed the President of Mozambique's supreme audit institution (SAI), Ana Maria Bié, and Judge Counsellor Ana Maria Maela for an institutional and technical cooperation visit. During the meeting in Minister Benjamin Zymler's office, Ana Maria Bié emphasized the SAI's interest in strengthening the training of its technical staff and expanding cooperation with the TCU. We want to make the most of this partnership because we have much to gain, especially by training more teams and accelerating the institutional strengthening of our Court .
Zymler presented the Brazilian model of government auditing and explained the TCU's unique position within the State structure. The Court of Accounts is not part of the Judiciary, and our decisions are not final, he noted. From a practical standpoint, however, there is great respect for the TCU's conclusions, he added, highlighting the influence of the Court's decisions on public administration.
The delegation then participated in a meeting with representatives from technical departments, who presented the administrative structure, innovation projects, and strategies for public engagement. Topics included the ClimateScanner project, the Clima Brasil Panel, the use of artificial intelligence in solutions such as CoPilotTCU and ChatTCU, as well as youth engagement initiatives like the TikTok video contest for university students.
Aurélio Toaldo Neto, head of the Citizen Participation Unit, highlighted the Court's shift in approach toward the public. We have always asked citizens for input, but now we are seeking a relationship, not just communication. It is essential to ensure clarity and objectivity and to show citizens the results of their contributions, he explained.
Cynthia Berberian, deputy head of the department for sustainability, spoke with the visitors about incorporating public participation into audit planning and the integration of communication and technical areas. Fernando Simões, director of the environmental department, presented the TCU's experience with audits on deforestation, climate governance, and environmental financing. The specialization of our departments allows us to explore complex issues in depth and deliver work that better serves citizens and public managers, Simões noted.
At the end of the visit, the delegation attended the final full court session of the year, where they observed the dynamics of collegiate decision-making and the transparency mechanisms adopted by the TCU. This was the fourth visit this year by representatives of SAI Mozambique to the Court of Accounts.