Join us for a joint global webinar organised by the Working Group on Public Debt (WGPD) in collaboration with the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), exclusively for the INTOSAI community. This webinar will provide valuable insights into public debt sustainability and the pivotal roles Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) play in this domain.
The objectives of the webinar are as follows:
1. To provide an introduction and better appreciation of public debt sustainability and the roles of SAIs
2. To determine the tools or parameters used in assessing debt sustainability and the importance of having a sound debt sustainability analysis (DSA) for fiscal policy and long-term fiscal health
3. To understand the strategies and practices used to reduce public borrowings to sustainable levels, and borrowing risks, emphasizing innovative approaches and lessons learned
4. To learn from the best practices of SAIs in the audit of public debt sustainability
This is an essential opportunity for INTOSAI members to engage in valuable discussions and share knowledge on ensuring fiscal resilience.
The webinar will be offered in two sessions to accommodate participants in different time zones.
Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Session 1: 08:00 AM CET - Please registrer here
Session 2: 15:00 CET - Please register here
Format: The sessions will be in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic, French and Spanish.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Speaker Bios:
SESSION 1: 8:00 CET
Jaffar Al-Rikabi is the Senior Country Economist for the Philippines for the Economic Policy Global Practice, based in Manila. At the World Bank, he previously served as a Senior Economist in the Fiscal Policy and Sustainable Growth global team in Washington DC and as a Country Economist for Indonesia, based in Jakarta. Jaffar Al-Rikabi has degrees from Oxford, Georgetown, and Harvard universities, and his previous experience includes work in academia, in the private sector, and for the United Nations.
James Webb is a Senior Public Sector Economist at the Asian Development Bank with extensive experience in public financial management reform, revenue policy, and the Pacific region. His current projects focus on domestic resource mobilization and digitalisation in the Philippines, public financial reform in Fiji, and public sector reform and building resilience in the Cook Islands. Prior to working at the ADB, he worked within budget and planning divisions in Kiribati, the Cook Islands, and Australia.
Sally Torbert is the Policy Manager at the International Budget Partnership, leading initiatives on budget credibility and debt accountability. She has extensive experience in public financial management and governance, with past roles at the World Bank, DAI, UNCDF, and UNDP. Sally holds degrees from Princeton University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Roli Shukla Malge is presently working as an Accountant General at SAI India. She is a professional public auditor and has handled various national, sub- national as well as international audit assignments for SAI India besides working on deputation with the Union Government during a career spanning nearly two and a half decades. Presently she is overseeing the audit of receipts and expenditures of the government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Sherin Hussien Helmy Ghazy is the General Manager, ASA's Member in the INTOSAI Working Group on Public Debt, and Head of the Egyptian Team in Together Initiative.
Moderator
Martin Aldcroft is a Senior Manager at the Corporate Support, INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI). Since joining IDI in 2011, Martin has been instrumental in the IDI’s growth, focusing on corporate governance, strategic management, donor relations, and policy development. He led the development of IDI's Strategic Plans for 2024-29 and 2019-23 and has driven key initiatives, including digitalization and internal growth projects. Martin has also worked on international collaborations, such as with the IMF on SAI audits for COVID-19 funding. Previously, he served as Deputy Director General of the INTOSAI-Donor Secretariat and has extensive experience in public financial management, including roles with DFID and various international audit organizations.
SESSION 2: 15:00 CET
Jaffar Al-Rikabi is the Senior Country Economist for the Philippines for the Economic Policy Global Practice, based in Manila. At the World Bank, he previously served as a Senior Economist in the Fiscal Policy and Sustainable Growth global team in Washington DC and as a Country Economist for Indonesia, based in Jakarta. Jaffar Al-Rikabi has degrees from Oxford, Georgetown, and Harvard universities, and his previous experience includes work in academia, in the private sector, and for the United Nations.
Daniela Magalhães Prates. A Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the Division of Globalisation and Development Strategies of UNCTAD. Before joining UNCTAD, she was an associate Professor of Economics at the University of Campinas, Brazil. Her main research areas are international economics, open macroeconomics and monetary economics, with a focus on developing countries. She has published many papers in academic journals, book chapters and co-edited books.
Sally Torbert is the Policy Manager at the International Budget Partnership, leading initiatives on budget credibility and debt accountability. She has extensive experience in public financial management and governance, with past roles at the World Bank, DAI, UNCDF, and UNDP. Sally holds degrees from Princeton University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Joaquim Ramalho de Albuquerque. Auditor at the Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil (Tribunal de Contas da União – TCU), where he currently serves as Director of Public Debt and Economic Policy Oversight. He leads and takes part in audits focused on public debt management, federal credit operations, and macroeconomic policy.
Sabrina Benedetto holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Universidad Nacional de Rosario (Argentina). She also holds a Master’s degree in Development and Territorial Management, as well as a Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility. In addition to her academic background, she serves as a university lecturer. She previously worked as a supervisor in the Department of Public Credit Operations Control and Sustainability at Auditoría General de la Nación (Argentina’s Supreme Audit Institution), focusing on Economic Analysis and Public Debt Auditing. Furthermore, she has worked in various areas related to public debt and has conducted staff training for SAI Argentina. She currently serves as technical support within the Working Group on Public Debt (WGPD).
Edda Zanarello is a lawyer, university professor and holds a diploma in compliance and criminal law. She serves as an advisor and technical leader of the Vice Presidency team of the Working Group on Public Debt (WGPD) of INTOSAI. For several years, she was a team supervisor in the Department of Public Credit Operations Control and Sustainability at the Supreme Audit Institution of Argentina (Auditoría General de la Nación), where she has worked since 2004. She obtained a Master's degree in Governmental Auditing from Universidad de San Martín. With over 18 years of experience, she has worked in various areas related to public debt, including contingent liabilities, debt restructuring, subnational public debt, bilateral loans, debt strategy, and the IMF, among others.
Moderator
Cecilia Mondolo is an economist who graduated from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina). She holds a Master's degree in Risk Management (Universidad Nebrija – EALDE, Spain), a Postgraduate degree in Capital Markets (Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina), and a Master's degree in Economics from Universidad del CEMA, Argentina. She currently serves as Cabinet Advisor to Dr. Francisco Fernández and as Technical Coordinator of the Information and Communication Technologies Commission of OLACEFS, as well as Technical Coordinator of the Vice Presidency of the Working Group on Public Debt (INTOSAI). With over 20 years of experience in applied economics and finance in the public sector and she specializes in Public Debt Control (INTOSAI Development Initiative) and holds a certification in Compliance Auditing (Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability - INTOSAI). At the Argentinian Supreme Audit Institution (Auditoría General de la Nación), she has held the position of Head of the Department of Public Credit Operations Control and Sustainability and has also acted as an international liaison of the institution. She also represents the Commission on Information and Communication Technologies and SAI Argentina as a liaison to WGITA (Working Group on IT Audit) of INTOSAI.
To learn more, you can visit the WGPD webpage or email
We look forward to welcoming you to the webinar!