Virtual INTOSAI conference on corruption prevention in times of crises

On 9 December 2020, the SAI of the United Arab Emirates held a virtual conference on a topic of particular importance in these times marked by COVID-19 and the economic challenges of the pandemic: "Challenges and approaches to prevent corruption outbreak during times of crisis". This event was staged on the occasion of the establishment of the "INTOSAI Global Expert Team".

The "INTOSAI Global Expert Team" was tasked with implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between INTOSAI and the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) in 2019. In the MoU, INTOSAI and UNODC commit themselves to cooperating in the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

The virtual conference was attended by more than 260 representatives of SAIs, Anti-Corruption Authorities and UNODC. Based on practical experiences and examples, the speakers highlighted that through their enhanced cooperation Supreme Audit Institutions and Anti-Corruption Authorities can make an essential contribution to the fight against corruption, which is particularly significant in times of crises.

INTOSAI Secretary General Margit Kraker pointed to the central importance of combating corruption in the framework of INTOSAI and underscored the opportunity to create important synergies through the practical cooperation of the INTOSAI Global Expert Group with Anti-Corruption Authorities.