About IntoSAINT
Vision
- Make IntoSAINT a relevant part of SAI governance
- Position it as a regular integrity check for SAIs
- Support a SAI Integrity culture and leadership
- Contribute to stronger SAI credibility and trust
Revised Strategic Direction
- The Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Norway has taken over the leadership of the CBC IntoSAINT workstream from the SAI of Mexico, and previously from the Netherlands Court of Auditors. Building on this strong foundation, NAO Norway seeks to further develop IntoSAINT as both a capacity-building instrument and an integrity assessment tool that supports SAIs in leading by example.
- IntoSAINT plays a critical role in operationalising key INTOSAI principles, particularly ISSAI-P 12 (The Value and Benefits of SAIs) and ISSAI-P 20 (Principles of Transparency and Accountability). It translates these high-level principles into practical, organisation-specific reflection on what it means for a SAI to demonstrate integrity, transparency, and accountability in its daily operations.
- A core ambition is to strengthen IntoSAINT as a tool for organisational development, enabling SAIs to address not only formal systems and controls, but also the more complex and often less visible dimensions of integrity. These include organisational norms, behaviours, informal practices, and internal cultures—factors that are highly influential but not easily documented, measured, or benchmarked.
- Moving forward, we will emphasise on:
- High-quality facilitation, with well-trained moderators capable of guiding sensitive discussions
- Contextual adaptation, recognising cultural and organisational differences across regions
- Professional and safe dialogue spaces, where participants feel able to speak openly
- We do not assume that IntoSAINT can or should be rapidly rolled out at scale across all regions. Rather, we aim to build a sustainable culture over time, where SAIs increasingly see the value of systematic organisational self- reflection as part of their professional development/obligations.
IntoSAINT offers a mirror for organizational reflection
IntoSAINT provides a structured platform to surface and discuss issues that are often difficult to articulate or address, such as how:
- formal rules relate to everyday practice
- influence and decision-making work in practice
- responsibility and accountability are actually exercised
- openness and speaking up function inside the organisation
- the organisation responds to concerns and warning signs
By bringing such topics into open and constructive dialogue, IntoSAINT helps SAIs recognise and address integrity risks that might otherwise remain hidden, thereby strengthening their credibility and institutional resilience.
At the same time, we acknowledge that these conversations can be challenging and sensitive. Addressing these issues requires trust, professionalism, and cultural awareness.
Next steps for IntoSAINT
- Promote broader recognition of IntoSAINT as a strategic tool for institutional development
- Support SAIs in integrating IntoSAINT into their core operations
- Develop a strong international moderator network
- Encourage more SAIs to have IntoSAINT asssessments conducted
- Encourage more open discussion of integrity risks and organisational challenges
- Document and share common challenges, lessons learned and good practices, while recognising that many aspects of integrity cannot be standardised or benchmarked
- Foster synergies with ISSAI frameworks and related initiatives, while maintaining IntoSAINT’s unique focus on organisational culture and integrity
Documents
IntoSAINT Handbook 2026
Facilitaor’s Guide 2026 (incl toolbox)
The IntoSAINT Tool
IntoSAINT: a tool to assess the organizational integrity of Supreme Audit Institutions
The concept of organizational integrity
An organization with high organizational integrity performs in line with its core values and achieves its goals in a transparent, accountable, and resourceefficient manner.
IntoSAINT adopts a comprehensive understanding of integrity, informed by international standards and academic research. Organizational integrity, as defined by IntoSAINT, refers to an organization’s ability to carry out its tasks in accordance with its core values, while achieving its objectives in a transparent, accountable, and resource-efficient manner. It is not simply the sum of individual ethical behaviours, but a systemic quality shaped by the organization’s culture, leadership, and
institutional frameworks.
Integrity is not a standalone task; it is a systemic responsibility that must be embedded throughout the organization. This means that integrity should be reflected in leadership behaviour, integrated into daily operations, and supported by both formal controls and informal cultural norms.
The IntoSAINT tool – how it works
- A two-day facilitated self-assessment workshop
- Involves 15–20 carefully selected staff across the organization
- Led by trained, neutral moderators
- Combines anonymous questionnaires and structured dialogue
- Results in a confidential management report with key insights
Prevention: Its not about pointing fingers but pointing the way forward.
IntoSAINT brings together a diverse group of staff from across the organization- representing different roles, levels, genders, and lengths of service—to identify integrity vulnerabilities within the institution’s structures, systems, and culture.
The premise is that staff are best placed to recognize the organization’s vulnerabilities and assess specific integrity challenges. The focus is on identifying weaknesses that may hinder the institution’s ability to uphold its core values.
IntoSAINT offers a structured, collective reflection on how the organization functions and where improvements are needed. While the workshop may result in recommendations for improving integrity management, its core value lies in helping the organization identify potential vulnerabilities, raise awareness, and develop a shared understanding of key integrity issues.
Why IntoSAINT matters for SAIs
- SAIs are expected to lead by example
International standards emphasise that SAIs should demonstrate good governance in their own organisations. How we are governed and managed internally is part of our professional responsibility. - Internal conditions affect what we deliver
The way an organisation actually works influences independence, professional judgement, and the quality of audits. IntoSAINT helps examine and understand these internal dynamics. - Many risks arise internally, often influenced by external pressures
Governance risks typically emerge in daily routines and practices, but are often shaped by expectations and pressure from outside the organisation. They are usually known internally, yet rarely discussed openly. IntoSAINT helps make these risks visible. - Risks grow if they are not addressed
When challenges are ignored, they do not disappear. Instead, they become part of normal practice—making them harder to recognise and change over time. - IntoSAINT is cost-effective
The approach requires limited time and resources, builds on the organisation’s own experience through structured workshop discussions, and is supported by professional peers from the SAI community. - The cost of inaction is high
Loss of trust, criticism, and reputational damage are far more difficult to address than early reflection and timely adjustments.
Get In Touch With IntoSAINT
Contact Jorild or Gry using the following email address:
News
Summary conclusions from IntoSAINT Global Meeting
The 2018 IntoSAINT Global Meeting was held on July 4–6, 2018, in Mexico City. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the latest developments and achievements undertaken by the IntoSAINT workstream members regarding the regional and global implementation of the...
Tempus fugit or how to make friends and keep them while peer-reviewing a SAI
According to history, Publius Vergilius Maro (also known as Virgil to the English-speaking world) spent substantial time in the years 37–29 BC on a long didactic hexameter poem called Georgics (from Greek, "On Working the Earth"). The themes of the Georgics were...
PASAI Bulletin July 2018 issue
Please find below the July issue of the PASAI Bulletin. We particularly recommend the article on IntoSAINT assessments on page 9-10 "Investigating tools to strengthen integrity in SAIs and the public sector in Mexico" by Sarah Markley, PASAI's deputy...
ASEANSAI newsletter volume II 2018
Please find below the latest newsletter from the ASEANSAI region, for your reading pleasure. ASEANSAI Newsletter, 2018, Volume II
First ever INTOSAI-Regions Platform held in Oslo
25-28 June representative (from the secretary general, presidency, and CBC/Training Committee) from INTOSAI's seven regional organizations, AFROSAI, ARABOSAI, ASOSAI, CAROSAI, EUROSAI, OLACEFS and PASAI, and three subregional organizations, AFROSAI-E, ASEANSAI and...
Peer reviews uniting the world of INTOSAI
The slogan in the conference opening slide was bold and gutsy, but the symbolism was fulfilled – the conference attendance by almost one hundred participants from 47 INTOSAI member organisations and some twenty participants from the host SAI served as proof. The...
2018 IntoSAINT Global Meeting approaching
The 2018 IntoSAINT Global Meeting is approaching very fast, and the Chair, SAI Mexico, is excited to receive the working group in Mexico City very soon. Please find below relevant meeting information, the same information can also be found on the IntoSAINT separate...
The latest PASAI Bulletin
Please find below the latest PASAI bulletin! PASAI April 2018 Bulletin
Final report from Forum for SAIs in fragile situations
The CBC workstream in support of SAIs in fragile situations invited Auditors General, Deputies Auditors General and some staff from Zimbabwe, South Africa, South Sudan, Palestine and Rwanda, and CEO and staff from AFROSAI-E, to a forum in Johannesburg, South Africa,...
YouTube videos on INTOSAI standard setting
The INTOSAI Professional Standards Committee has developed a number of videos, now available on YouTube, in order to explain INTOSAI’s work related to standards. We encourage you to watch and share these videos to gain a better understanding of both INTOSAI’s standard...