Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Outcomes: Trends in Reform Network activities are influencing member PACs in multiple areas of parliamentary oversight. Three top areas of reform include: • Increased use and attention paid towards VFM audits • Encouraging the AG to issue VFM audits and the PAC to review them • Stronger relationships between the PAC and AG • Improved communication between the PAC and AG • Supporting the independence of the AG • Lobbying for legislative changes to support the independence of the AG

Trend #1: VFM Audits • Malawi: Through good working relations, PAC and AG work closely in determining the VFM report topics – two 2012 VFM audits should be reviewed in 2013. • Namibia: PAC and sectoral committees well underway in clearing up backlog of 15 VFM audits. PAC will start training Nigerian PAC on performance audits. • Uganda: Increased interest and review of performance audits – 2 this year & 43 planned. Liaised with AG Office to build capacity to review VFM audits.

Trend #2: PAC & AG Relationship • Botswana: Increase in consultation rate as OAG officer became part of PAC Secretariat on a permanent basis, assisting and guiding PAC members in examinations and compilations of reports. • Lesotho: Improved communication and working relations between PAC and AG; AG officer and Accountant General are present at PAC meetings. • Mozambique: The first simplified, more user-friendly version (both in terms of format & language) of the Report and Opinion of the Court in relation to Government Annual Accounts has been made and published. • South Sudan: Improved relationship between PAC and AG (AG clarifies audit reports, PAC members/staff and AG staff attend common workshops, PAC can suggest audit topic to AG)

Trend #3: AG/SAI Independence • Swaziland: PAC leads effort for independence of AG by supporting drafting of Finance & Audit Act amendment to be tabled in 2013 through which the AG will control the budget and its implementation & recruit its own staff. • Tanzania: PAC is lobbying for the CAG to be excluded from the Civil Service Act in order to recruit own staff. • Zambia: PAC is lobbying for the AG to recruit its own staff & for the PAC to allocate budget to OAG (rather than MoF). PAC engaging the Commission on Constitutional Change in order to influence institutional reform.

Additional Outcomes • Ethiopia: Beginning in 2012, the PAC instituted in Parliament routine hearings twice a week, open to the media. • Kenya:Parliament approved a new provision to send audit reports to Parliament in order to fulfill its oversight function. • Rwanda: The Rwandan parliament established a PAC and the PAC released its 1st review of state finances (reporting billions lost) in 2009-2010. • Seychelles: Through network KE, PAC are eager to adopt best practices in PAC reinforcement of recommendations. • South Africa: The number of clean audits increased in some agencies and decreased in others. The PAC has reaffirmed that clean audits will be fully implemented by 2014 – the MoF, Office of the Accountant General & local gov’ts are to report twice a year on progress.

Forthcoming Network Initiatives • Peer Assist Mechanism • South Sudan & Zambia • Peer review framework • Benchmarking • Clerk Community of Practice • Good Practice Guide • Training of Trainers • Clerk Attachments (Pilot)

1. Peer Assist Mechanism GOAL: To build a shared understanding both of the challenges that impede implementation of mutually agreed goals and the possible measures that could be instituted to promote implementation. • Constructive, persuasive and non-adversarial • Rooted in a learning and facilitative approach, and avoids a “faultfinding” mode of analysis and inquiry, which would be counter-productive. • Shared commitment to mutual respect and equality of all parties • Common desire to implement mutually agreed goals effectively through the assistance and guidance of peers.

# 2: Clerks regional community of practice To support the role of Public Accounts Committees in Eastern and Southern Africa

A shared vision for clerks • Clerks who .... • can clearly articulate the challenges and opportunities they face in practice • engage collectively in deciding what kind of expertise or peer support they need to improve their practice • have high expectations of their own learning • develop activities and resources that will make them top of their field e.g. a good practice guide, clerk attachment process, training of trainers • develop resources and a support network they can leverage in their everyday work e.g. when writing reports • have the confidence to facilitate learning - their own, the learning of colleagues back at home, and others in the regional clerk community of practice

Support needed from MPs • maintain an interest in what clerks are doing • help align the learning of the clerk community with the needs of the country PAC • expect value for time spent in the community • champion the results of the community

Timeline of Activities Peer Assists South Sudan & Zambia ----------- Clerks Community of Practice • OCTOBER • Workshop for Small Jurisdiction PACs • Swaziland – Lesotho - Seychelles • SEPTEMBER • SADCOPAC AGM • Tanzania Host • TBC • Lusophone Workshop • Mozambique - Angola Sept–Dec Jan-Mar April-June 2013 2014 • NOVEMBER • Workshop on Procurement Oversight • Kenya – Tanzania - Uganda • EAAPAC AGM • South Sudan Host • FEBRUARY • Project Review and Evaluation Meeting • MAY • SADCOPAC/EAAPAC Joint-Accountability Conference

Congratulations!