X OLACEFS-EUROSAI Joint Conference – Audits for resilient futures
On July 9 and 10, 2024, the X joint conference of OLACEFS-EUROSAI (The Organization of Latin American and Caribbean Supreme Audit Institutions and European Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions) was held in Mexico City on the topic "Audits for a resilient futures". Auditor General of the Republic of Croatia, Ivan Klesic, took part in the conference with his colleagues.
The topic of the conference was inspired by the various challenges that countries have been facing in the last few years. At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the governments of many countries decided on radical moves and the allocation of unprecedented public funds, in order to protect the health of citizens. Other phenomena, such as war events, climate changes and the weather disasters, continued in the following years, transforming the world. Stopping economic growth, rising inflation, armed conflicts, climate change and the development of new technologies, especially the appearance of artificial intelligence, have created an environment in which the uncertainty factor has increased on a global level.
Two key issues were highlighted at the conference. The first one concerns the effects of climate change, for which INTOSAI and its regional organizations have already developed a comprehensive program, dealing with specific issues such as severe droughts, rising temperatures and various other aspects that SAIs institutions should devote. The second issue relates to disaster management, the increasing frequency of which is documented by, among others, the United Nations, and on the basis of which OLACEFS developed a comprehensive disaster prevention plan. The supreme audit institutions of Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean have gained experience and knowledge in recent years in the auditing of public resources intended to solve priority issues related to the safety and well-being of citizens.
The goal of the conference was to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among participants, as well as exchange experiences and strengthen institutional and professional capacities. The topics discussed at the conference will contribute to the further improvement of work methodology and digitalization of work processes in the State Audit Office, as well as the selection of relevant and current audit topics.
The topic of the conference was inspired by the various challenges that countries have been facing in the last few years. At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the governments of many countries decided on radical moves and the allocation of unprecedented public funds, in order to protect the health of citizens. Other phenomena, such as war events, climate changes and the weather disasters, continued in the following years, transforming the world. Stopping economic growth, rising inflation, armed conflicts, climate change and the development of new technologies, especially the appearance of artificial intelligence, have created an environment in which the uncertainty factor has increased on a global level.
Two key issues were highlighted at the conference. The first one concerns the effects of climate change, for which INTOSAI and its regional organizations have already developed a comprehensive program, dealing with specific issues such as severe droughts, rising temperatures and various other aspects that SAIs institutions should devote. The second issue relates to disaster management, the increasing frequency of which is documented by, among others, the United Nations, and on the basis of which OLACEFS developed a comprehensive disaster prevention plan. The supreme audit institutions of Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean have gained experience and knowledge in recent years in the auditing of public resources intended to solve priority issues related to the safety and well-being of citizens.
The goal of the conference was to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among participants, as well as exchange experiences and strengthen institutional and professional capacities. The topics discussed at the conference will contribute to the further improvement of work methodology and digitalization of work processes in the State Audit Office, as well as the selection of relevant and current audit topics.
