Item 5-A:Activity Report of the Knowledge Sharing and Management Committee

ITEM 5-A:ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

(MAY 2015 – JULY 2016)

INTRODUCTION

AFROSAI’s main objective is to initiate close cooperation among its members within the framework of INTOSAI and for African regional integration. One of its missions is to promote and develop the sharing of ideas and technical experience between Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of African States in their various areas of activity.

During the 13th General Assembly of AFROSAI, held in October 2014 at Sharm El Sheik in Egypt, AFROSAI members created and adopted two important technical committees i.e. Capacity Building Committee and Knowledge Sharing Committee (KSC). The main Objectives of these technical committees is to enable the organization achieve its objectives contained in its strategic plan.

The Knowledge Sharing Committee was created with a broad mandate on the following:

Create an Operational Framework to ease knowledge management Sharing
Develop best practices through research on issues of common interest
Promote technical cooperation and consultation services between member SAIs
Promote knowledge of world goods produced by INTOSAI

1st Joint Meeting of the Technical Committees of AFROSAI

During the joint technical meeting held inYaoundé, Cameroon in July, 2015, the Knowledge Sharing Committee came up with action projects for implementing the Strategic plan. These were namely:

Creation of an operational Framework for the knowledge Sharing Committee with an objective to establish channels for dissemination of knowledge within AFROSAI.

Promote Knowledge of INTOSAI Products for improving delivery of quality services and accountability within the public Service.

In order to realize the above, the KSC identified various activities to be implemented for the period August 2015 to July 2017. Listed below are some of these activities and what has been done so far.

Develop a Database of INTOSAI Products and Trained Facilitators

One of the activities within the KSC Operational Framework has been to create a sharing platform and a database for facilitators and INTOSAI products to be shared within AFROSAI. In an effort to make this happen, the KSC has held discussions with the AFROSAI-E Secretariat and the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) on possible mechanisms forinformation sharing, establishment of the platform and creation of a database for sharing such products within AFROSAI.

The IDI indicated that they are partnering with the SAI India in managing the Knowledge Sharing platform. IDI has consulted SAI India on our behalf and India gave us a password to access their Knowledge Sharing platform. In regard to having INTOSAI products to the database, it is expressed that there is need to establish a protection policy to guard against misuse of such products. As such and whereas, the KSC will provide information on what is available, the onus is on the needy SAIs to make direct requests for the products. The Knowledge Sharing platform is to be established once the AFROSAI Website becomes operational.

Working visit of AFROSAI General Secretariat with the Knowledge sharing Committee

The KSC chair hosted a meeting of representatives from the AFROSAI General Secretariat and GIZ on 23rd March 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya. The aim of the meeting was to review the level of implementation of KSC’s Action Plans, working methods with other KSC members including the AFROSAI General Secretariat and the setting of the Knowledge Sharing platform. The outcome of this meeting was adecision to hold the KSC meeting a long side the AFROSAI-E Governing Board meeting in Abuja, Nigeria in May, 2016.

Annual Knowledge Sharing Meeting a long side the AFROSAI-E Governing Board Meeting.

The KSC members were invited to a meeting a long side the 13th AFROSAI-E GB meeting that was held in Abuja, Nigeria on 9th May, 2016. Members present included the General Secretariat, Botswana, Chad, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The purpose of the meeting was to review the activities outlined in Operational Framework and sharing of roles and responsibilities for implementing these activities. The meeting resolutions were as follows:

In order to re-invigorate the AFROSAI Journal AFROSAI members were urged to contribute articles for its inclusion. The Chair pointed out that SAI Kenya has done this by sharing an article on “Performance Audit”.

The General Secretariat pointed that the AFROSAI Website was being actioned on and would be operational soon after which theKSC can liaise closely with GS in setting the Knowledge Sharing platform.

IDI informed that they were ready to share information with KSC regarding the setting of the platform.

Tanzania offered to develop a simple survey questionnaire (Excel sheet)for collecting data on products available within the SAIs that can be shared out and be of benefit to other SAIs. Kenya was to assist Tanzania in collecting such information.

The KSC Chair urged members present to collaborate and Share knowledge and products with other SAIs that require support. He gave as anexample, SAI Kenya which has signed an MOU to share knowledge and products with SAIs of Sudan and S. Sudan. Kenyan has been offering support S. Sudan in the area of Performance Audits. The SAI staff have also recently been involved in the audit of Financial Statements of SAI Liberia upon the SAI’s request.

Members agreed that Parallel and Joint Audits should be conducted within the Sub-Language groups for ease of communication. Some proposed topics include IT audits, audit of emerging issues eg, audit of sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and audit of Illegal Financial Flows (IFF).

Challenges faced by the Knowledge Sharing Committee

One of the biggest challenges facing the KSC is funding especially in implementing activities that require the KSC members to meet and work together. The expenses have to be borne by each SAI country or by the host which is an extra burden to the SAI’s budget.

Secondly, there is need for more commitment from the members if the KSC is to succeed in implementing its Action projects.