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
Successful Restart of the CBC Workstream on Auditing in Complex and Challenging Contexts (ACCC)
In 2015, a pressing need was articulated during the CBC annual meeting in Stockholm to form a dedicated group to address the unique auditing challenges faced by Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) operating in what were then termed fragile states. This initiative marked...
INTOSAI week in Bucharest – CBC going from plan to action
The INTOSAI Capacity Building Committee (CBC) the INTOSAI-Donor Cooperation (IDC), the Policy, Finance and Administration Committee (PFAC) and the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), held a significant series of meetings in Bucharest, Romania, on 16-20 September -...
AFROSAI-E Technical Conference coming up
Join us in Charting the Course for future-ready Supreme Audit Institutions! The annual Technical Conference will take place from 29 October to 1 November 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. In an era marked by rapid change and increasing complexity, it is imperative for...
Celebrate Global Ethics Day with IntoSAINT
Strengthening Integrity and Trust in the Public Sector As we join the international community in celebrating Global Ethics Day on October 16th, 2024, it’s a perfect moment to reaffirm our commitment to fostering ethical conduct within public sector...
Enabling impact of public oversight through better understanding and use of audit results in parliament
IPU-IDI webinar series 2024 The webinar series soon to be carried out by IDI and IPU in October and November does link to the Goal 2 OP 2023-25 results areas 5 and 6 (page 8), and is thus a great opportunity for many to join. The events are targeted towards SAI...
Farewell from CBC vice chair Helena Lindberg
Dear CBC colleagues, dear friends, After seven years in the rewarding position as Auditor General of Sweden and five most inspiring and exciting years as the CBC vice chair, the time has come for me to bid farewell to these important roles - and to all of you. ...
PASAI new strategy 2024-2034 now available
The PASAI strategy 2024–2034 sets out the region's strategy for the 10 years to 2034. This strategy, which builds on the success of the previous strategy, was developed using feedback from development partners and comprehensive discussion with, and feedback from, SAI...
Citizen Participation in Government Audits through Digital Tools: Overview of Initiatives from Supreme Audit Institutions
Inter-American Development Bank publication: Please find below a recently developed publication by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), titled "Citizen Participation in Government Audits through Digital Tools: Overview of Initiatives from Supreme Audit...
Netherlands Court of Audit publishes online course on integrity in public sector
We are pleased to inform you that the Netherlands Court of Audit has published an e-learning course that may be of interest to you. The course covers IntoSAINT, a tool designed to facilitate the self-assessment of integrity within Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs)....
Blog: Four Essential Skills for Auditors in the “Next Normal” Era
The role of auditors is rapidly evolving due to technological advancements, regulatory changes, and global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. As we enter the "Next Normal" era, auditors need to be equipped with key skills to effectively operate in this complex...