Crisis and Risk Management for SAI Performance – or CRISP – aims at supporting SAIs to develop and strengthen their risk and crisis management systems, thereby helping them to perform under varying circumstances.

CRISP is a new IDI initiative that came as a direct response to the needs of SAIs brought up by the COVID-19 pandemic. CRISP has a two-fold approach to supporting SAIs, offering materials, self-study courses and webinars to all the INTOSAI community while focusing on a more limited number of SAIs for direct support in developing their risk and crisis management systems. 

Rationale and objectives

Since March 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that many SAIs were not adequately prepared for large-scale disruptions and crises. Some had no business continuity plans in place, others had plans that were not functional and little tested. This made disruptions to their work more pronounced than they had to be and potentially undermines their role in the ensuring accountability in crises. Implementable and relevant crisis management plans will enable SAIs to face future disruptions more successfully.

The COVID-19 pandemic also meant new risks emerging for SAIs and necessitates updated risk management procedures. On the operational level, many were and still are faced with an increased risk of delays in their work due to staff sickness, lacking digitization of processes, and varying and changing regulations put in place by national governments. On the strategic level, SAIs face an increased risk to their perceived relevance as accountability institutions, as well as financial concerns.  

These challenges to SAIs have led IDI to develop and roll-out a new initiative, focusing on establishing and improving risk and crisis management processes that help SAIs face future disruptions and strengthen their position in the accountability system of their respective countries.  

Implementation approach

While risk, business continuity and crisis management are closely interlinked aspects of organizational management, they are distinct processes designed to address distinct challenges. SAIs may thus, in many cases, participate in interventions on all topics, but some may also choose to focus on one or two of the three.

CRISP has a two-fold approach to supporting SAIs, offering materials, online webinars and in-person courses to all the INTOSAI community while focusing on a more limited number of SAIs for direct support in developing their risk and crisis management systems.

The first outputs for the initiative were the sensitization webinars on the topic, offered in English and French in September 2021, which also served as a chance for the community to provide input to the methodology.

Further, within late 2022, draft guidance material on risk and crisis management will be made accessible in English and French, with the final versions available in 2023 after receiving comments from SAIs.

Both outputs will be available in Spanish and Arabic in 2023. A first course on risk management will be offered in 2022 in English and in other languages in 2023 and 2024.

Courses on business continuity and crisis management will also be developed and delivered in 2023 and 2024.

Based on demand, SAIs will also be supported, beyond online courses, in developing and implementing risk, business continuity and crisis management procedures.

View and download the CRISP information brochure in your chosen language below, and for more information please contact us at [email protected]