President of the Audit Bureau, Dr. Radhi Al-Hamadeen, recently participated in a two-day Masterclass held as part of the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The event, entitled "The Role of the Leadership of Supreme Audit Institutions in Supporting Independence (SAIs)," took place in Paris from October 11 to 13, 2023.

The Masterclass delved into the significance of SAIs' independence from the perspective of the government and development partners. Discussions revolved around the intricate relationships between SAIs, ministries of finance, general budget entities, development partners, stakeholders, and donors, all with the common goals of ensuring accountability, transparency, good governance, and responsible use of public funds.

Particular emphasis was placed on how to enhance cooperation between SAIs and civil society organizations. Strategies for engaging with citizens were also discussed as a means of enhancing public accountability and achieving integration through higher-quality and more effective audit, control and accountability processes.

The public audit practice was reviewed and a general perception of oversight bodies linked to the integrity and quality of audit work was developed. In addition to variables, such as social beliefs, political context and the role of media have been discussed.

On the sidelines of the Masterclass, Al-Hamadeen met with Ms. Bianca Breteche, Deputy Head of the SIGMA Programme-OECD, and engaged with members of the Public Sector Integrity (PSI) to discuss effective means of ensuring public audit independence and enhancing collaboration while increasing transparency.

The Masterclass was attended by heads and representatives of numerous SAIs, in addition to a number of stakeholders, also include, Advisor to the Public Financial Management Division, at the International Monetary Fund, President of Transparency International in France, Senior Advisor to the Chief Financial Officer- USAID, DG European Investment Bank, President of the Council of European Energy Regulators, Chair of the Cooperation Committee between ECIIA and EUROSAI and others.

Following the event, a visit to the Jordanian Ambassador to France was scheduled, where Ambassador Leena Alhadid discussed increasing cooperation with stakeholders, particularly with the OECD.

The Audit Bureau participation is based on the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II within the framework of achieving His Majesty’s vision regarding the importance of strengthening international cooperation and partnership to benefit from the best global practices, and in support of the process of administrative modernization through adherence to international standards for transparency and improving performance.