CIPFA’s International Strategy Panel held its second meeting on 23 February 2007. The Panel, which is chaired by Dr. Clive Grace, received a presentation from Caroline Rickatson, Head of the Financial Accountability and Anti‑corruption (FACT) team at the DFID describing DFID’s work and how it related to the work of the Panel. The Panel also discussed a number of other issues relating to the international aspects of the Development Strategy. The panel’s next meeting is scheduled for 3 May 2007.
Over 20‑22 March CIPFA provided logistical support to two training workshops on behalf of the DFID and the Secretariat of the Public Expenditure & Financial Accountability program. The first workshop consisted of a two-day session on 20‑21 March 2007 designed to train public financial management specialists and consultants on the application of the PEFA Performance Measurement Framework (PMF). The second session, on 22 March 2007, was intended for donor staff managing PEFA processes. Delegates from nine countries attended the workshops.
More than 40 high-level policy makers and entrepreneurs from six African countries met on 6 March in Dublin Castle to discuss strategies to promote innovation in Africa. The Forum, which takes place over the next three days, is titled Innovation in the African Context: A Forum for Policymakers. Further information on the forum is available from www.irishaid.gov.ie.
CETC has been awarded a contract by the European Court of Auditors to deliver training on Performance Audit. The training course will be based on the ECA's Performance Audit Manual and will be of 4 days duration. The pilot course will be delivered in July at the ECA's training suite at its offices in Luxembourg; it will then be repeated on 12 further occasions (about once per month).
A seminar on internal audit quality assurance was held on the 1-2 February at the Ministry of Finance Conference Centre in Paris. Presentations were from a range of countries with different experiences and cultural backgrounds. Internal audit is in different stages of development in different countries. The presentations from this seminar will be included on the site: http://taiex.cec.eu.int and in the navigation on the side, click on Library.
The Eastern and Southern African Association of Accountants General (ESAAG) held its annual conference and general meeting in Maputo, Mozambique from 26‑28 February 2007. The theme of the conference was “Implementing best practice in public financial management in Africa in the 21st century”, and was attended by delegates from throughout the region.
Combating international corruption UK action plan
In July 2006, the Prime Minister asked Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development, to lead the Government's work on combating overseas corruption. The Government has published its first annual action plan. It focuses on: investigating and prosecuting bribery overseas; eliminating money laundering and recovering stolen assets; promoting responsible business conduct in developing countries; and supporting international efforts to fight corruption.
Consultation: More opportunity to participate in global issues and building support for development
DFID is committed to investing in raising the levels of awareness about global issues among the UK population. If individuals really understand just how connected we are, here in the UK, to other people around the world, they are more likely to make use of their skills and knowledge to shape the world for the better in the future. DFID are therefore seeking views on how to create more opportunities to involve more people directly in global issues and development.
Secretary of State launches £100m Governance and Transparency Fund
Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn, launched the criteria for the £100m Governance and Transparency Fund (GTF) before an audience of around 50 representatives from civil society organisations, media groups, trade unions and others. Inviting organisations to begin working on concept papers, the Secretary of State spoke about how the recent White Paper put good governance at the heart of the UK’s approach to international development.
Ghana: an island of stability in West Africa
Ghana is considered an ‘island of peace and stability’ in the West Africa Sub-Region. The country has had four consecutive free and fair elections and democracy and freedom of expression is deepening. There is rule of law, and civil society, especially “think-tanks” and the media are vocal in critiquing Government policy and demanding accountability. Parliamentary oversight is increasing but parliament as an institution requires further strengthening.
Ghana to transition to IFRS by 2009
By 2009 Ghana will switch to using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) in the preparation and reporting of the country’s financial information, as reported in the IFAC Global Digest February 2007. The changeover will mark the gradual phase out by 2009 of the Ghana National Accounting Standards, which are published by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana. The implementation of IFRSs will begin with listed companies, government business enterprises, banks, insurance companies, securities brokers, pension funds and investment bankers and public utilities by requiring the use of IFRSs for reporting deadlines beginning December 31, 2007. Small- and medium-sized enterprises, state-owned enterprises, ministries, departments and agencies will be given a transitional period of two years to enable them to begin to use IFRSs by 2009.
Indian Institute to develop local government accounting standards
To help improve the transparency and effectiveness of municipal governments, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is preparing to develop accounting standards for local government bodies. An article in the February 2007 edition of the IFAC Global Digest describes how the ICAI has established sub-groups to develop standards to help local bodies move from the cash to the accrual basis of accounting. The new standards will help revenue recognition and assist local bodies in more easily identifying where tax or service charge payments are due. The ICAI plans to help train local administration officials once the Urban Development Ministry accepts its recommendations.
IFAC seeks members for 2008 Boards and Committees
IFAC has issued a Call for Nominations for 2008 members of its boards and committees. In particular, IFAC is seeking nominations for public members for its Ethics, Education and Public Sector Accounting Standards Boards. Nominations must be submitted by April 15, 2007 using the online Candidate Information System. The Call for Nominations, which includes detailed information on qualifications and other requirements, and the online candidate form will be available at www.ifac.org/NominatingCommittee.
2007 Auditing and Public Sector handbooks now available
The 2007 editions of the Handbook of International Auditing, Assurance, and Ethics Pronouncements and the Handbook of International Public Sector Accounting Pronouncements are now available free-of-charge in PDF format in the bookstore on the IFAC website. Print versions of both handbooks were also scheduled for delivery in March.
IFAC celebrates 30th anniversary of its founding
Throughout 2007, IFAC will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding at special events organised in conjunction with key forums, meetings and the IFAC Council. In addition, the week of December 2-8 2007 will be designated World Accountancy Week. During this week IFAC will hold a special event, such as a press briefing and/or accountancy forum, in New York City on Thursday, December 6. Additional information on upcoming events will be distributed in the coming months. As part of its 30th anniversary, IFAC will honour its past and present volunteers and publish a short history of the organization. Professors Christopher Humphrey and Anne Loft have been commissioned to write this short history as well as a longer history of IFAC. If you have information regarding IFAC’s historical development, please contact the historians at history@ifac.org.
The Developing Nations Committee (DNC) of IFAC met in Manila on 5‑6 February 2007. Included on the agenda was an update on the work of the Africa Focus Group, which was formed as a consequence of the Nairobi Declaration, made at the Africa Region Learning Workshop in Nairobi in September 2006. The DNC also considered plans for an addendum to the Toolkit on developing an accountancy profession, that will help to make the case to senior public officials for a strong accountancy profession in developing countries. CIPFA is represented on the DNC by Deborah Williams.
The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board will hold its next meeting in Accra, Ghana from 20‑23 March 2007. The agenda and background papers for this and other IPSASB meetings may be downloaded from here.
President of the World Bank Paul Wolfowitz addressed an international conference on Improving Governance and Fighting Corruption in Brussels on 14 March 2007. Read the full text of his speech here.
The World Bank’s Governance and Anti‑Corruption strategy, first presented to the Development Committee at the Bank’s 2006 Annual Meetings in Singapore, has been the subject of an extensive consultation process, culminating in a revised version of the strategy, which was launched by World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz at a press briefing on 20 March 2007. The Bank is now working on an implementation plan for the strategy, which they intend to have ready by July 2007. The updated version of the strategy document is available here.
www.worldbank.org
The 7th Annual OECD Public Sector Accruals Symposium took place in Paris from 5‑6 March 2007. The agenda included a debate on the recognition of social policy obligations as liabilities, as well as a report by the International Task Force on Harmonisation of Public Sector Accounting. The agenda for the meeting is available here.
The OECD has launched a new working paper series on public governance. The first paper, titled “Towards Better Measurement of Government”, brings together a set of recent comparable OECD data on revenues, inputs, and public sector processes and proposes a way forward in data collection.
www.oecd.org
Survey finds 80% of countries have adopted accrual accounting in whole or in part
A report published by the Fédération des Experts Comptables Européens (FEE) reveals that 80% of respondent countries have adopted some form of accrual accounting, and that the most common approach to making the change is to effect the transition at the local level first of all before attempting to do this for national government.
www.fee/be
| 9-11 May |
Center of Excellence in Finance, Workshop on Policy Co-ordination and Financial Stability, Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| 21‑25 May |
The International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management "New Developments in Governmental Financial Management Bringing Together the Tools, Talent, and Technology”, Miami, Florida, USA. |
| 31 May – 16 June |
OECD, Annual meeting Of OECD Senior Budget Officials, organised by the Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate, Istanbul, Turkey. |
| 11‑12 June |
IFAC – Developing Nations Committee, Mexico City.
Latin American and Caribbean Regional Workshop, facilitated by the DNC of IFAC, 13‑14 June 2007.
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| 12-14 June |
CIPFA Conference, Bournemouth. |
| 13-15 June |
Joint FEE Public Sector Committee CIGAR Meeting, Coimbra University, Portugal |
“Accrual accounting in the public sector”, published by the Public Sector Committee of FEE.
“Towards better measurement of government”, published by the OECD.
“Public sector integrity: a framework for assessment” (OECD)
“Integrity in public procurement: forthcoming report on good practices” (OECD)
“Managing conflict of interest in the public sector: a Toolkit” (OECD)
“Collaborative Africa budget reform initiative” – a special issue of the OECD journal on budgeting
“Making Supreme Audit Institution Twinning Successful: A Good Practice Guide” (OECD, November 2006)
“Governance Reform: Bridging, Monitoring and Action by Brian Levy, February 2007 ISBN 0-8213-7032-4.
“Decentralising service delivery?”, IDS Bulletins, Vol 38 No 1
“Aid that works: Successful Development in Fragile States” by James Manor, 2007, ISBN 0 8213 6201 1
Click on the link below to access previous editions of the International Development E-newsletter:
2007 - Q1
2006 - Q4
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