Global Fund, Gavi and AFROSAI-E Come Together to Strengthen Supreme Audit Institutions in Member African Countries
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the African Organization of English-Speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E) have joined forces to strengthen the capacity of and engagement with Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in member countries of AFROSAI-E.
Through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), the three organizations will work together to coordinate and facilitate the exchange of information, experience and knowledge concerning audit and advisory activities. Together, they will strive to strengthen the relationships between the Global Fund and member SAIs of AFROSAI-E with the aim of optimizing the impact of audit and accountability arrangements in the target countries.
“We are excited to renew our partnership with AFROSAI-E and welcome Gavi as part of our partnership to strengthen the use of country assurance systems in English-speaking African countries,” said Global Fund Chief Financial Officer Adda Faye. “Through a collaborative approach, the organizations will capitalize on mutual benefits by accelerating efforts to leverage and embed the SAIs in assurance services for Global Fund grants. This will effectively reinforce country ownership and promote transparency, accountability and good governance, ultimately benefiting all stakeholders in the ecosystems of the Global Fund and also contribute to our ambition of having more SAIs auditing Global Fund’s grants.”
The partnership will strengthen 23 AFROSAI-E member countries’ SAIs.
“This tripartite MoU is an important milestone, given the role played by Supreme Audit Institutions in strengthening public sector institutions,” said Gavi Chief Financial Officer Assietou Diouf. “By signing this MoU, Gavi recognizes the integral role played by Supreme Audit Institutions in providing the confidence that controls are operating effectively and suggesting ways in which government organizations can better manage immunisation and health system strengthening programs funded by Gavi. Gavi will work closely with AFROSAI-E to upscale the involvement of Supreme Audit Institutions across a broad spectrum of countries in support of the Gavi Board’s ambition to increase the use of country systems in programs funded by Gavi to 55% by the end of the Gavi 5.0 Strategic Period.”
“The relationship between AFROSAI-E member country SAIs, the Global Fund and Gavi has gotten stronger and essential over the years. This MoU is a great show of commitment to the belief in the symbiotic relationship between good governance and good service delivery. The implementation of this MoU by all parties involved will propel this relationship to become even more effective for the benefit of citizens,” said Meisie Nkau, Chief Executive Officer, AFROSAI-E.
The MoU reflects the Global Fund and Gavi objective to reinforce the effectiveness of the external oversight system for public funds. Its aim is to have more Global Fund and Gavi grants managed through national financial management systems.