On May 20, 2021, a joint webinar "Government Technologies" was held with the participation of experts from the World Bank, the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, Regional Audit Institutions of the Russian Federation and SAIs of the CIS countries.

Renaud Seligmann, World Bank's Country Director for the Russian Federation, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He pointed out the special role of SAIs in reducing poverty and promoting the well-being of the population:

“A responsible and inclusive approach to audit plays a key role in improving the quality of public financial management, increasing public confidence and strengthening the business climate. Faced with a pandemic and a global crisis of trust in government institutions, SAI need to change and tasks are evolving. Using modern digital technologies, SAIs are able to improve the lives of ordinary people”.

Zohra Nooryar and Mona El-Hami, co-Chairs of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) community of practice group of the World Bank, presented findings of the use of SAIs of new technology tools, highlighting successes of SAIs of USA, China, Brazil, India in the field of data analysis and implementation of digital products. However, as noted by World Bank experts, differences in the level of technical equipment, funding and training limit the opportunities for development.

“To make a qualitative technological breakthrough, it is necessary to develop technical competencies of experts, use advanced practices in the use of new technologies, and collaborate within INTOSAI and colleagues from the private sector for mutual learning and knowledge-sharing,”

– said Zohra Nooryar.

Pavel Anjan and Ksenia Krusser shared successful cases of using digital technologies in the Russian office of Ernst & Young. Automation of processes made it possible to reduce the time for performing routine labor-intensive operations and switch to more creative, analytical tasks. According to the experts, this has led to increased productivity and profitability and strengthened customer confidence.

Alexander Shpirak, Deputy Director of the Department of Digital Transformation, presented the experience of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation. An integrated digital platform, a data management service, an institute of data stewards, own training courses for employees are part of the projects implemented by the ACRF as part of its digital transformation effort.

During the discussion, the participants of the seminar agreed to continue exchanging experience in using information technologies in auditing. As a result, a casebook of achievements in public sector digitalization could be released. Such a document would raise awareness among SAIs of the existing technological opportunities to improve audit effectiveness.