The European Commission and the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) signed a new EU Action Grant in support of independent, professional and relevant Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI). The aim is to improve public services, enable environments of investments and strengthen public trust, good governance and transparency in developing countries around the world. Over the next 3.5 years, this action will contribute to more accountability, better societies, and improved lives.

As we navigate towards 2030 and strive towards implementing the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the importance of accountability and effective public oversight, in particular for sustainable development is clear. Through their audit work, SAIs are important players in each country’s accountability system. Their work contributes to stronger economic governance, enhanced investments and inclusive societies. There is thus a natural link to the Global Gateway, the European strategy for enhancing investment and to the Agenda 2030.

The EU-funded Action Grant builds on a previous Action Grant and complements focussed EU support for challenged SAIs. It will help SAIs in more than 140 developing countries to strengthen their capacity to act independently and professionally and to deliver high-quality and high-impact audit work. Ultimately, this will contribute to more accountability and benefit the citizens of developing countries.

Einar Gørrissen, Director General of IDI, is grateful for the renewed EU funding: “The European Union has become one of our strongest partners for more accountability and effective public oversight over recent years. We need this kind of engagement to drive forward our vision of SAIs contributing to better societies and improved lives”.

This 3.5-year EU funding of over 3 million euros is part of the thematic programme of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument and strongly links with the EU Global Gateway. It is based on IDI’s Strategic Plan 2024-2029.