The international cooperation of the National Audit Office (NAOF) supports effective and efficient audit and monitoring. In addition to attending to its binding international responsibilities, the NAOF considers it important that the international cooperation offers opportunities for the development of the national audit and monitoring activities and, thereby, for the development of central government in general.
The international cooperation of the National Audit Office (NAOF) supports effective and efficient audit and monitoring. In addition to attending to its binding international responsibilities, the NAOF considers it important that the international cooperation offers opportunities for the development of the national audit and monitoring activities and, thereby, for the development of central government in general.
The NAOF performs international duties as the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) and the Independent Fiscal Institution (IFI) in Finland. The NAOF also participates in international cooperation by engaging in an active exchange of information and dialogue with international actors, especially other SAIs and the most important stakeholders.
The NAOF pursues international cooperation mainly in the umbrella organizations of SAIs and their regional organizations, networks and working groups. Read more about the NAOF’s activities in international networks.
What is important to us?
International cooperation is an essential part of the NAOF’s work. Through determined and systematic cooperation, we strengthen our competence and contribute to the development and operating conditions of the audit sector. Sharing experiences and learning from the experiences of other SAIs support the effective implementation and development of our external audit and monitoring, as well as our other activities. Cooperation promotes a sustainable reform of public finances and administration at both national and international level.
The norms and standards drawn up in international cooperation also steer our own activities to a significant extent, and therefore it is important to influence them. The cooperation provides us with knowledge, experience, and competence, as well as new methods for our own work. Many of the issues and phenomena to be audited are common to different countries and continents, and through cooperation, we can avoid duplication of work and improve efficiency.
The NAOF monitors the development of the global operating environment and the opportunities and challenges it brings comprehensively by participating in both binding and discretionary international cooperation.
The contents of our international cooperation are steered by the following focus areas:
the societal impact of audit work and the role of SAIs in promoting general government reforms and sustainable financial management,
digitalization and data analytics,
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda,
environmental auditing,
responding to emerging issues, such as issues related to the pandemic and climate crises.
INTOSAI WGEA Secretariat
From 2020 to 2025, the NAOF holds the presidency of the Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) of the International Organization for Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). The Secretariat of the working group is located at the NAOF. Read more on the NAOF website.
Targets of the NAOF’s international activities
You can read more about the topic in the section on international activities in the audit plan 2020–2024.