By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
The National Audit Office of
Malawi (NAO) has launched its Strategic Plan for 2026–2031 alongside the
dissemination of its Supreme Audit Institution Performance Measurement
Framework (SAI PMF) Report, using the findings of the performance assessment to
guide the institution’s future priorities.
The launch, held on Tuesday,
brought together public sector officials, development partners and other
stakeholders involved in strengthening public financial management,
accountability and institutional performance in Malawi.
Auditor General Thomas
Makiwa said the SAI PMF assessment provided the National Audit Office with an
opportunity to assess its current performance, while the new strategic plan
sets out the institution’s direction for the coming five years.
The SAI PMF report evaluates
the performance of supreme audit institutions and provides evidence that can be
used to identify institutional strengths, address weaknesses and improve audit
effectiveness.
Speaking at the event, Chris
Mwale, Director of Administration at the Office of the President and Cabinet,
emphasised the importance of partnerships between public institutions and
development partners in strengthening performance, accountability and the
effective management of public resources.
The launch also highlighted
the importance of ensuring that the new strategic plan translates into
measurable action rather than remaining a policy document.
Lukas Fischer, Team Leader
at the GIZ Public Financial and Economic Management (PFEM) Tikuze Malawi
Programme, said the decision by NAO to subject itself to external assessment,
publish the findings and use the evidence to inform its strategy demonstrated
the institution’s commitment to accountability.
Effective coordination
between the National Audit Office and its development partners will be critical
to implementing the strategic plan and ensuring that recommendations from the
SAI PMF assessment are translated into coordinated institutional improvements.
NAO continues to work with
GIZ PFEM-Tikuze Malawi to strengthen transparency, accountability and integrity
in the management of public resources.
The programme is supported
financially by the Government of Germany and the European Union as part of
broader efforts to strengthen public financial management and institutional
accountability in Malawi.
