DAGP adopts process of its performance assessment

Islamabad

The Department of Auditor General of Pakistan (DAGP) has adopted the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) developed by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (IOSAIs) for facilitating the performance evaluation of SAIs and for the first time since its establishment, the DAGP, in collaboration with the World Bank, has started the process of self-assessment of its performance in accordance with international standards.

As a part of this initiative, the World Bank organised a one day workshop on Thursday, for officers of the DAGP, on self-assessment of the Supreme Audit Institutions by using PMF and formally started the process of performance evaluation of DAGP using the six domains of framework.

The DAGP spokesperson said that the Supreme Audit Institutions are required to clearly demonstrate to the people the present and intended progress made in their core activities, thereby fulfilling their accountability to the people.

Accordingly, it is considered important for these institutions to explain in advance to the people what outcomes they plan to achieve through the production of outputs, identify the degree of progress, they have made towards the achievement of these outcomes on a regular and continuing basis, and clearly and specifically present to the public the outputs produced and the outcomes achieved, the spokesperson added.

In addition to SAIs continuing to help their respective governments improve performance, enhance transparency, ensure accountability, fight corruption, promote public trust, and protect the interests of their citizens, the UN’s Agenda 2030 and the numerous SDG targets to be implemented require the insight of capable SAIs, Spokesperson said.

The spokesperson, while elaborating the SAIs’ Performance Measurement Framework (SAIPMF), said that it is an international framework for self, peer, or external assessment of SAIs’ performance against the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs) and other established international good practices, thereby enabling the SAIs to confidently engage internally and externally regarding its future. It has been developed under the auspices of the INTOSAI Working Group on the Value and Benefits of SAIs, with valuable support from the INTOSAI-Donor Cooperation, to be implemented under INTOSAI ownership in collaboration with the donor community, the spokesperson said.

The SAI PMF examines holistically both the SAI audit and non-audit functions in relation to its legal foundation and environment, identifying interdependencies between different aspects and root causes of SAI performance, thereby providing a strong basis for comprehensively assessing the SAIs’ needs, informing its strategic and capacity development planning, and enabling tracking of progress over time, the spokesperson added. It is relevant for those SAIs that have adopted, aspire to adopt, or wish to benchmark themselves against the ISSAIs and other international good practices, spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further said that for developing country SAIs, the SAI PMF is an invaluable tool for obtaining and maintaining support for its capacity development efforts by showing their commitment to transform, acceptance of the need to adhere to the highest international standards, and the SAIs’ commitment to increasing their value and benefits to society. Standardised assessments are vital to appropriately structuring development efforts across all INTOSAI regions and are fundamental to the SAI community demonstrating that it leads by example in promoting transparency and accountability through credible public reporting on their own performance, the spokesperson added.

The results of performance measurement exercise will not only impact the performance of DAGP but will also increase the confidence of citizens of Pakistan in the government auditing process. It will also give the SAI of Pakistan an opportunity to become model organisation, leading by example in promoting transparency and accountability through credible public reporting on its own performance, spokesperson said. The results of performance evaluation exercise will be shared with public and other stakeholders in due course of time, the spokesperson