Earlier this year, IFAC and DFID extended their programme to include (i) a regional project to strengthen African PAOs’ use of ICT systems, and (ii) a project in which the Irish Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA Ireland) will prepare study materials for the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, particularly those supporting improved PFM and the development of accrual-based international accounting standards (IPSAS). IFAC and DFID also agreed to support the development of public sector accountancy capacity in Zimbabwe, working with the country’s Public Accountants and Auditors Board as well as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe. CIPFA has undertaken an initial scoping visit in Harare to meet all the key stakeholders - http://www.publicfinanceinternational.org/news/2016/05/cipfa-chosen-boost-zimbabwes-public-sector-accounting-capacity. The aim is to finalise a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen public sector accountancy capacity in Zimbabwe by the end of 2016. As with all the IFAC/DFID projects, the intention is to leverage the learning from one country to support others.
Meanwhile the MOSAIC group is not standing still. At its meeting in Autumn 2015, following a request from donors, the MOSAIC partners agreed to focus their capacity building work on the development of foundational level training in finance, in ways that will particularly benefit the public sector. MOSAIC agreed to explore the feasibility of adopting a regional approach to delivering such training that could then be adapted by individual PAOs. An initial feasibility study will focus on three Anglophone and three Francophone countries in Africa. The findings of the study will be reported at the next MOSAIC meeting in Autumn 2016.
All of this important new project work sits alongside IFAC’s global campaign to improve public financial reporting entitled Accountability. Now. This campaign is designed to underline the global accountancy profession's commitment to accrual-based public financial reporting, as well as the importance of transparency and accountability. IFAC is working closely with PAOs around the world to showcase how stronger financial reporting would enhance public service outcomes. You can see more about Accountability. Now. on this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDjjlS8mVwM&feature=youtu.be
All of this new energy and investment that is being put into PAO development and financial training, together with the Accountability. Now. campaign, should begin to yield significant benefits soon.
[1] Chair, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Development, London, United Kingdom.
[2] The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
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