The Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK) hosted the ASEANSAI Knowledge Sharing Committee (KSC) Workshop on Advancing the Roles of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) in Reviewing Voluntary National Reviews (VNR): A Contribution to the Achievement of SDGs. The workshop, held at BPK’s headquarters in Jakarta from 29 to 30 August 2024, was opened by BPK Vice Chairman Hendra Susanto, who emphasized that reviewing VNRs can significantly enhance the effectiveness of sustainable development implementation.
Hendra Susanto stated that by reviewing VNRs, SAIs can ensure that the reported progress is credible, transparent, and accurately reflects the realities on the ground. Furthermore, the review can identify gaps, highlight best practices, and recommend corrective actions, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of SDG implementation.
Auditor General of Malaysia, Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, who also serves as Chair of the ASEANSAI KSC, highlighted the vital role that VNRs play in enabling countries to identify gaps, accelerate partnerships, and align their national development plans with the global SDG agenda. According to her, by participating in VNRs, countries can enhance their capacity to effectively and sustainably implement the SDGs.
The workshop served as a platform for ASEANSAI members to share experiences and knowledge, discussing challenges, lessons learned, and best practices in reviewing VNRs. It featured panel discussions with speakers from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Southeast Asian Network for Transparent and Accountable Governance (SEANTAG), BPK, the Ministry of National Development Planning, Statistics Indonesia, as well as sharing sessions from ASEANSAI members.
Conducted in a hybrid format, the workshop aimed to provide a broad opportunity to learn from experts and other stakeholders about how SAIs can advance their roles in reviewing VNRs. Additionally, it sought to strengthen capacities and reaffirm the commitment to advancing the SDGs through effective audit practices.
Participants included auditors from ASEAN member SAIs, such as the Audit Department of Brunei Darussalam, the National Audit Authority of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the National Audit Department of Malaysia, the Office of the Auditor General of the Union of Myanmar, the Commission on Audit of the Republic of the Philippines, the Office of the Auditor General of Thailand, the State Audit Office of Vietnam, and BPK, alongside representatives from international organizations like the United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
