Experts from the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of Russia and France has met via videoconference to discuss the specifics of the UN Family Organizations external audit.

On October, the 7^th the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation held a bilateral knowledge-sharing seminar with the French Cour des comptes on the topic “Audit of International Organizations”.

The participants of the seminar were the Head of the International Organizations External Audit Service of SAI France Ms. Ouardia Ali Bey, the Director of External Audit of the World Food Programme Mr. Richard Bellin and the Head of Financial Audit Group Mr. Christophe Chapuis. From the Accounts Chamber the participants were the Director of the Financial Audit Department Ms. Elena Boitsova, the Director of the Department for International and Regional Cooperation Mr. Timur Makhmutov and the Deputy Director of the Financial Audit Department Mr. Denis Strizheusov.

During the seminar the current trends of the external audit development were discussed, namely, the challenges of International Standards on Quality Management (ISQM) implementation, carrying out auditing activities in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, conducting audits in the field of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).

The French Cour des comptes has been chosen as a partner for this seminar for a reason. The SAI has gained a significant experience in external audit of international organizations: its portfolio includes the audits of the UN Family Organizations, International Trade Organization, INTERPOL, the Council of Europe.

The External Auditor of the World Food Programme Mr. Richard Bellin has commended the innovative practices of the Accounts Chamber, in particular, in the field of ISQM implementation and transition to the new system of quality management.

Both parties have agreed to maintain an active dialogue in the framework of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

In summer 2021 the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation has carried out an external audit of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The auditors have examined the financial statements of the international organization as well as the effectiveness of its business processes. New external audits of UNIDO have been planned for the year 2022, meanwhile the applications for the external audit of a number of other organizations have been submitted.