About the Program

The program is working with them to increase the effectiveness of their performance auditing and oversight practices, with the ultimate goal of contributing to improved transparency, effectiveness, accountability, and governance in government’s management of public resources and delivery of services for citizens.

With our program partners, we deliver a tailored mix of activities for each country, considering the unique needs and priorities of the SAI and oversight committee. These activities include:

Fellowships Performance auditors complete on-the-job learning with Canadian legislative audit offices, participate in courses, and develop a plan for a performance audit to be carried out at their SAI. As graduates, they become leaders and agents of change at their SAIs. Read More Meet The Participants

Performance Audit Training Our range of training enables SAIs to build their performance audit capacity and strengthen leadership and management practices. This includes our suite of performance audit courses, plus workshops and mentoring, all adapted to meet the SAIs’ needs. Special sessions for SAI senior managers and train-the-trainer courses help SAIs implement new practices and contribute to their sustainability. View performance audit courses

Leaders Programs Participants develop a project focused on a specific area of strategic need for their SAI or oversight committee. In each tailored program, participants meet with Canadian experts, visit audit offices, and receive mentoring and support from our staff and Associates. Learn More

Parliamentary Oversight Training Oversight committee members and parliamentary staff participate in workshops and online courses, including an orientation for newly formed committees. We also bring oversight committees and SAIs together in joint workshops to discuss how they can work more effectively together. About Our Oversight Training

To support these activities, CAAF conducts research and develops methodology on performance audit and parliamentary oversight, as well as resources for civil society organizations

We have delivered international capacity building since our founding in 1980. Learn how the program has evolved: Program History

Supporting Development Priorities

The program has a special focus on auditing gender equality, environmental sustainability, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This supports Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, the development plans of our partner countries, and the global effort to achieve the SDGs.

What is the connection between the SDGs and audit?
SAIs and oversight committees play an important role in holding governments accountable for their commitments to the SDGs and other development priorities. Their audit findings and recommendations can also help governments improve the effectiveness of public programs and services related to the SDGs, in areas such as health, education, economic development, and environmental sustainability, and help ensure such services better respond to the needs and potential of women and girls.

To support this, the program:

• Develops methodology and resources, like our Practice Guide to Auditing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality;
• Provides training, like our Auditing Gender Equality course; and
• Requires Fellowship participants to develop a plan for a performance audit, to be conducted by their SAIs, on a topic that relates to one or more of these themes.

Additionally, we support gender equality by providing equal training opportunities for women and men, leading to opportunities for career advancement for both genders, and by assisting our partner SAIs to foster women’s empowerment in their workplaces.