Congratulations!

Outcomes: Trends in ReformNetwork activities are influencing member PACs in multiple areas of parliamentary oversight. Three top areas of reform include:

1. Increased use and attention paid towards VFM audits• Encouraging the AG to issue VFM audits and the PAC to review

them2. Stronger relationships between the PAC and AG

• Improved communication between the PAC and AG3. Supporting the independence of the AG

• Lobbying for legislative changes to support the independence of the AG

Trend #1: VFM Audits

• Malawi: Through good working relations, PAC and AG work closely in determining the VFM report topics – two 2012 VFM audits should be reviewed in 2013.

• Namibia: PAC and sectoral committees well underway in clearing up backlog of 15 VFM audits. PAC will start training Nigerian PAC on performance audits.

• Uganda: Increased interest and review of performance audits – 2 this year & 43 planned. Liaised with AG Office to build capacity to review VFM audits.

Trend #2: PAC & AG Relationship• Botswana: Increase in consultation rate as OAG officer became part

of PAC Secretariat on a permanent basis, assisting and guiding PAC members in examinations and compilations of reports.

• Lesotho: Improved communication and working relations between PAC and AG; AG officer and Accountant General are present at PAC meetings.

• Mozambique: The first simplified, more user-friendly version (both in terms of format & language) of the Report and Opinion of the Court in relation to Government Annual Accounts has been made and published.

• South Sudan: Improved relationship between PAC and AG (AG clarifies audit reports, PAC members/staff and AG staff attend common workshops, PAC can suggest audit topic to AG)

Trend #3: AG/SAI Independence

• Swaziland: PAC leads effort for independence of AG by supporting drafting of Finance & Audit Act amendment to be tabled in 2013 through which the AG will control the budget and its implementation & recruit its own staff.

• Tanzania: PAC is lobbying for the CAG to be excluded from the Civil Service Act in order to recruit own staff.

• Zambia: PAC is lobbying for the AG to recruit its own staff & for the PAC to allocate budget to OAG (rather than MoF). PAC engaging the Commission on Constitutional Change in order to influence institutional reform.

Additional Outcomes• Ethiopia: Beginning in 2012, the PAC instituted in Parliament

routine hearings twice a week, open to the media.• Kenya: Parliament approved a new provision to send audit

reports to Parliament in order to fulfill its oversight function.• Rwanda: The Rwandan parliament established a PAC and the

PAC released its 1st review of state finances (reporting billions lost) in 2009-2010.

• Seychelles: Through network KE, PAC are eager to adopt best practices in PAC reinforcement of recommendations.

• South Africa: The number of clean audits increased in some agencies and decreased in others. The PAC has reaffirmed that clean audits will be fully implemented by 2014 – the MoF, Office of the Accountant General & local gov’ts are to report twice a year on progress.

Forthcoming Network Initiatives

1. Peer Assist Mechanism• South Sudan & Zambia• Peer review framework• Benchmarking

2. Clerk Community of Practice• Good Practice Guide• Training of Trainers• Clerk Attachments (Pilot)

1. Peer Assist MechanismGOAL: To build a shared understanding both of the challenges that impede implementation of mutually agreed goals and the possible measures that could be instituted to promote implementation.

Constructive, persuasive and non-adversarialRooted in a learning and facilitative approach, and avoids a

“faultfinding” mode of analysis and inquiry, which would be counter-productive.

Shared commitment to mutual respect and equality of all partiesCommon desire to implement mutually agreed goals effectively

through the assistance and guidance of peers.

# 2: Clerks regional community of practiceTo support the role of Public Accounts Committees in Eastern and Southern Africa

Clerks who ....• can clearly articulate the challenges and opportunities they

face in practice

• engage collectively in deciding what kind of expertise or peer support they need to improve their practice

• have high expectations of their own learning

• develop activities and resources that will make them top of their field e.g. a good practice guide, clerk attachment process, training of trainers

• develop resources and a support network they can leverage in their everyday work e.g. when writing reports

• have the confidence to facilitate learning - their own, the learning of colleagues back at home, and others in the regional clerk community of practice

A shared vision for clerks

Support needed from MPs• maintain an interest in what clerks are doing

• help align the learning of the clerk community with the

needs of the country PAC

• expect value for time spent in the community

• champion the results of the community

Timeline of Activities

Sept–Dec Jan-Mar April-June 2013 2014

OCTOBERWorkshop for Small

Jurisdiction PACsSwaziland – Lesotho -

Seychelles

NOVEMBERWorkshop on Procurement

OversightKenya – Tanzania -

UgandaEAAPAC AGM

South Sudan Host

FEBRUARYProject Review and Evaluation

Meeting

TBCLusophone Workshop

Mozambique - Angola

MAYSADCOPAC/EAAPAC Joint-Accountability

Conference

SEPTEMBERSADCOPAC AGM

Tanzania Host

Peer Assists South Sudan

& Zambia-----------Clerks

Community of Practice