ASOSAI Working Group on Regional and Municipal Audit

Local government is the closest public administration level to the people primarily responsible for solving everyday problems of citizens. While SAIs traditionally focus on scrutinizing state budgets and evaluating in-country public policies, achievement of national development goals and effective public management requires control at all levels.

Following ASOSAI Strategic Goals, on September 21-22, 2023, during the 59th meeting of the ASOSAI Governing Board, the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation (SAI Russia) proposed to create a new ASOSAI Working Group to unify and improve audit approaches at the regional and municipal levels.

Subsequently, in December 2023, a Special Committee led by SAI Russia was formed to assess the feasibility of creating a new formation. Collaborating with 14 SAIs, the Committee conducted a comprehensive analysis of regional audit practices within the ASOSAI community.

The study findings, presented at the 16th ASOSAI Assembly held from September 21–27, 2024, in New Delhi, India, confirmed a collective interest in strengthening professional cooperation on regional auditing. The Assembly approved the formation of the WGRMA, appointing the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation as its Chair.

There is no universal approach to the audit of local government. Therefore, we see WGRMA mission as promoting the role of public audit as an essential tool enhancing accountability, transparency, and governance at all levels while offering a platform for developing local audit approaches.