Home > About us > What we do > International Activities > Technical co-operation

Technical co-operation - strengthening audit capacity internationally

One of the NAO’s strategic aims for its international activities is to help promote better governance and accountability in public financial management through the capacity building capability which it can provide.

In this regard, the NAO is committed to sharing skills, information and advice with other public sector audit bodies across the world.

Our particular focus is on those countries targeted by the UK's Department for International Development and countries in the EU neighbourhood.

The NAO has an extensive programme of externally funded work mainly with Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) but also embraces work with Parlaiments, in particular Public Accounts Committees (PACs) .

The staff who undertake this work are experienced auditors who seek to develop practical solutions for our partner SAIs and Parliaments.

In undertaking these types of projects, we aim to build strong relationships over a long term period with our partner organisations, so that we can better understand their particular issues and needs and develop personal trust and understanding.

We are practical and open minded in our approach and make sure that solutions are tailored to the local context. For example, when we suggest new auditing techniques, we work closely with our partners as they apply new skills and then refine our advice, training and manuals on the basis of local feedback.

The NAO operates this service on a cost recovery/non profit basis and we bid for funding from donors, such as the European Union and the World Bank.

In addition the NAO has worked closely with colleagues in other SAIs to help prepare a range of material intended to help develop and strengthen audit capacity internationally.

For further information about the NAO’s international technical cooperation work please contact David Goldsworthy via the NAO enquiry desk.