Cooperation with the Office of the Auditor General in Zimbabwe
The Swedish National Audit office has had a partnership with its sister organisation in Zimbabwe since 2017. The partnership focuses on initiatives in auditing, leadership, HR, IT and communication.
Focus areas
The partnership focuses on methodological issues in the audit activities and the development of the authority’s communicative capabilities. The efforts also include leadership, skills supply and technical infrastructure in IT.
Good quality audit findings and clearer reports
The Office of the Auditor General in Zimbabwe has received high ratings for its auditing in international comparisons. However, the authority needs to develop the part of its operations related to auditing the impact of policy initiatives and reforms, which is what we are assisting their audit team with. This involves:
- Finding a process from audit idea and beginning of an audit to a finished report in which the audit findings will be used to make improvements.
- Mentors from the Swedish National Audit Office provide support as needed during the audit team’s progress.
- The appearance and content of the reports with clear and straightforward language that is understood by a wider audience is also an aspect with which we provide support to our partner.
Ability to lead and strengthen internal communication
We help managers to develop their leadership skills so that they, in turn, can support their departments and teams. This means that they are now working to enable a more inclusive approach in which the organisation better harnesses the skills of its employees.
We help managers to bridge isolated tasks and create a greater sense of community.
The right skills in the organisation
Staff turnover at the Office of the Auditor General in Zimbabwe is high. We are supporting HR within the organisation with modernising recruitment processes and skills development planning.
Stable technical infrastructure and IT environment
Today, every organisation needs a robust technical infrastructure, which is why we support our partner in
- building IT solutions that function based on the reality in which they work
- IT security
- Through support to the World Bank, our partner has been able to procure computers, servers, printers and other essential IT equipment.
Outcomes
Our cooperation has contributed to results such as:
- the work processes in auditing have been improved, which has led to faster implementation and better quality of reports.
- The auditors have improved their analytical and methodological capabilities and their writing skills.
- The authority’s governance has been developed through the management’s access to new methods and leadership tools.
- Communication between managers and employees has improved, which has led to a better working environment and greater motivation.
- A break room has been funded, which has strengthened informal relationships and cooperation between different functions.
- IT infrastructure has been improved and technical equipment upgraded. An intranet has been built and improved.
- Those affected by the audits have shown a greater interest in the supreme audit institution’s activities and are now asking for more audits. This has increased Parliament’s understanding of the need for auditing. The authority has a good reputation and the audits presented also receive media attention.
Circumstances and challenges
According to independent international organisations, the Office of the Auditor General in Zimbabwe is carrying out good audit work. Despite a lack of labour, inadequate IT support and poorly functioning premises, they deliver results.
The Office of the Auditor General in Zimbabwe faces major challenges, such as:
- The authority has a lack of financial resources, making it difficult to fully meet all international requirements for good auditing.
- The authority needs to expand its efforts to recruit and retain employees. This includes having slightly lower recruitment thresholds and training inhouse instead. It is also a matter of finding systems to reward good work efforts.
- Our partner receives payments of funds throughout the year, which sometimes means that the promised budget does not materialise. The Government decides the budget.
- Like many other supreme audit institutions in developing countries, the Office of the Auditor General in Zimbabwe finds it difficult to audit all parts of the public domain. They do not have the same independence in the choice of audit as Sweden’s supreme audit institution, for example.