Doha: A specialized session held as part of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption discussed ways to strengthen oversight of public funds by expanding citizen participation, deepening cooperation between Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and civil society organizations, and leveraging technological innovation as a tool to support accountability and transparency.
According to Qatar News Agency, the session focused on two parallel tracks: the role of SAIs within the anti-corruption framework, and the importance of innovation in developing mechanisms for cooperation between these institutions and external stakeholders-particularly civil society organizations-in a manner that enhances the protection of public resources and improves the efficiency of public spending and service delivery.
In this context, speakers emphasized that SAIs constitute a cornerstone of anti-corruption systems, not only by uncovering individual violations but also by highlighting structural weaknesses in governance systems and offering recommendations that address the root causes of problems, thereby contributing to sustainable institutional reform.
In its opening intervention, the Community Development Initiative noted that the session was held against the backdrop of growing pressures facing SAIs worldwide. These include restricted access to government financial information, interference in audit planning, and the erosion of institutional independence in some countries-factors that threaten their ability to fulfill their constitutional role as guardians of public funds and public trust.
The Initiative explained that global assessment results have shown that some SAIs in regions such as Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa face severe constraints in accessing the information necessary to conduct audits. It stressed that the absence of information and independence undermines effective oversight and increases the risks of corruption and the misuse of resources.
For its part, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) underscored that SAIs are indispensable partners in anti-corruption efforts, even though this is not their primary mandate. It explained that their central position within accountability systems gives them a unique capacity to prevent and deter corruption. The IMF noted that the mere possibility of being subjected to independent audit alters behavior and curbs the misuse of public resources, while the publication of audit reports enhances transparency and confronts the culture of opacity that is one of the main drivers of corruption.
The Fund added that SAIs help strengthen the balance of powers by providing parliaments and citizens with objective and reliable evidence, free from politicization or exclusive reliance on law enforcement agencies. In addition, their role in improving the efficiency of public spending and the quality of services has positive implications for public financial governance and macroeconomic stability, as clearly demonstrated during crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Transparency International focused on the importance of cooperation between SAIs and civil society organizations, considering such cooperation increasingly urgent amid the global contraction of civic space, with more than 70 percent of the world's population living in contexts characterized by restrictions on civic activity. It noted that individuals involved in exposing corrupt practices are directly targeted in a number of countries, underscoring the need to strengthen partnerships to safeguard accountability systems.
Transparency International argued that, despite the emphasis in international decisions and declarations on the pivotal role of SAIs, insufficient attention has been paid to engaging civil society organizations as complementary actors. It stressed that combining the legal mandates and technical capacities of audit institutions with the field expertise and community outreach channels of civil society organizations can significantly enhance the impact of audit processes and transform their findings into effective tools for public accountability.
The organization presented practical examples of such cooperation, including initiatives to track the implementation of audit recommendations, simplify and disseminate audit findings to the public, and monitor government responses-thereby increasing societal pressure to ensure reform.
In the innovation track, the Accountability and Leadership Support Initiative in Nigeria showcased its experience in harnessing technology to enhance cooperation between SAIs and civil society. The initiative explained that it had developed a digital platform to analyze government audit reports, disaggregate their data, and link them to parliamentary and executive follow-up mechanisms, enabling citizens to trace the flow of public funds from the audit stage through to the implementation of recommendations.
It noted that the platform has enabled Nigerian citizens to compare the findings of the Auditor General's reports with realities on the ground and to report shortcomings, contributing to the recovery of public funds and the accountability of contractors and entities involved in mismanagement. The initiative also highlighted the introduction of artificial intelligence-based tools that allow users to automatically generate oversight petitions based on audit data and submit them to relevant authorities within minutes, easing the burden on civil society organizations and broadening public participation.
The session concluded by reaffirming that strengthening oversight of public funds requires a comprehensive approach grounded in the independence of SAIs, close cooperation with civil society, and the effective use of technological innovation-measures that enhance transparency and accountability, protect public resources, and help rebuild citizens' trust in public institutions.