Asian Development Bank Technical Assistance

The National Public Auditor and the Asian Development Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a proposed $300,000 Technical Assistance in Strengthening the Public Sector Audit Function.

Palikir, Pohnpei - On September 9, 2004, Mr. Haser Hainrick; National Public Auditor and Mr. Nick Andon; Secretary of Finance and Administration, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of the Federated States of Micronesia with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), represented by Mr. Kideta Kawada; ADB Senior Country Programs Specialist, for a proposed Technical Assistance (TA) in strengthening the public sector audit function.

The goal of the TA, with a total amount of $300,000, is to assist the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia in increasing accountability and transparency of all FSM governments. To achieve this goal, the TA will focus on enhancing the audit, investigative, and administrative processes necessary to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the National and State audit offices. The main outputs of the TA include the development of viable strategic plans, performance audit tools such as audit manuals, and FSM resource sharing programs among the National and State auditor offices.

A team of international consultants will be engaged by the ADB. The team will comprise of a team leader with extensive experience in audit management and a human resource management specialist. These consultants will be individually selected and engaged, with input from the Office of the National Public Auditor, in accordance with ADB's guidelines on the use of consultants.

The Office of the National Public Auditor will be the pilot office for this project. Once this project is fully implemented at the Office of the National Public Auditor, the desire is to replicate the positive initiative and results at the State Public Auditor Offices.