Beirut-Qatar, 8 July 2021--On 4 July, ESCWA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI) in Qatar to advance the role of the supreme audit institutions (SAIs) in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the 62nd meeting of the ARABOSAI Executive Council.
“Qatar has made positive steps towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), its audit bureau has implemented positive reforms and changes to achieve development goals and enhance the development plans,” affirmed ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti.
Work under the MoU will focus on increasing knowledge and channels of dialogue and cooperation between SAIs and government and non-government entities concerned with sustainable development, and on enhancing transparency and accountability through improved access of SAIs to information and data on SDG indicators, to support monitoring the implementation of these goals and strengthening the technical capacities of SAIs in the Arab region to raise the quality of audit reports.
The importance of this cooperation stems from the ESCWA mandate, which calls for enhancing the whole-of-government and whole of society approaches in follow-up to the 2030 Agenda; and from the pivotal role that SAIs play in the follow up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as one of the key stakeholders and accountability actors, promoting efficiency and effectiveness and transparency in the work of governments.
The MoU covers the period extending from January 2021 to December 2023.