IntoSAINT –
A tool to assess the integrity of Supreme Audit Institutions.
Workstream motto: “Keep trust safe“.
Supreme Audit Institutions cannot be effective without the trust of our auditees, parliaments and citizens. Trust needs to be earned, therefore the (perceived) integrity of the SAI is a crucial factor. That is why SAIs need IntoSAINT, a tool to assess the vulnerabilities and the maturity of the integrity controls of SAIs and to strengthen integrity in SAIs. Once the SAI sets the example, the focus can shift to integrity of the national public sector.
About IntoSAINT
Since 2017 the SAI of Mexico has chaired the CBC workstream of IntoSAINT, taking over the responsibility from the Netherlands Court of Auditors.
The CBC IntoSAINT workstream supports the global roll-out of the IntoSAINT-tool.
The objectives of the workstream are :
- Broad recognition of IntoSAINT as a capacity building and assessment tool for SAIs
- Worldwide application of IntoSAINT in order to strengthen integrity in SAIs and the public sector;
- Mainstream IntoSAINT in SAIs and regional organizations’ strategies and operations;
- Demonstrate added value by developing a monitoring system and actively promoting experiences and best practices via existing INTOSAI communications channels;
- Ensure synergies between IntoSAINT roll-out and regional activities to support ISSAI 12 and to implement SAI-PMF, ISSAI 30 and the IDI Fraud and Corruption programme.
- Continue lobbying for SAIs to dedicate own budget as well as for donor support to fund the roll-out of IntoSAINT.
Introduction to IntoSAINT
IntoSAINT The Movie
Ongoing Activitites
During the INCOSAI 2016 in December in Abu Dhabi, the Netherlands Court of Audit will be proud to hand over the chair to the SAI of Mexico. The new motto of the IntoSAINT CBC workstream will be KEEP TRUST SAFE. Over the years Mexico managed to roll-out IntoSAINT not only three times in its own institution, but also in the audit institutions of the federal states of Mexico. In addition Mexico coordinated the roll out in Latin America. This is quite an achievement and all INTOSAI-regions can learn from the good practices of OLACEFS. The Netherlands Court of Audit will remain member of the CBC workstream and keep on contributing to the goals.
Minutes of meeting
Working group meeting 1-2 June 2020
IntoSAINT working group meeting June 2020 (final)
IntoSAINT Summary Conclusions Global meeting in Mexico City 2018
Line 1: The IntoSAINT Tool
IntoSAINT: a tool to assess the integrity of Supreme Audit Institutions
The concept of integrity
Integrity is not a simple concept to define. Many overlapping and distinct definitions are used. The term integrity is derived from the Latin in-tangere, meaning untouched. It refers to virtue, incorruptibility and the state of being unimpaired. Integrity is closely related to the absence of fraud and corruption, but it also entails common decency. In this context, it is a positive and broad concept related to ethics and culture. The SAINT tool uses a broad and positive definition of the term integrity.
Integrity means more than simply observing rules and laws. The law provides a lower limit and a minimum moral starting point. An integrity policy calls for a combination of repression and prevention. On the one hand, an organization must adopt measures to take if its staff act inappropriately (repression). On the other, it must do all it can to remove temptations that might induce civil servants to act inappropriately (prevention). Priority should be given to prevention. Not only is it is more effective, but on balance the investment is many times smaller than the cost of repairing damage caused by inappropriate behavior.
The IntoSAINT tool
IntoSAINT is targeted at corruption prevention and leads to management recommendations to support the integrity of the organisation. It is a ‘qualitative tool’ that enables the user to design a tailor made integrity policy and at the same time increase the integrity awareness of employees.
The basic principles of IntoSAINT
- Self-assessment: SAINT is a self-assessment tool. The organization itself must take the initiative to test its integrity. Thus, the assessment draws on the knowledge and opinions of the staff. The organization reveals its own weaknesses and the staff make recommendations on how to strengthen resilience.
- Targeted at prevention: The self-assessment tool is targeted at prevention. It is not designed to detect integrity violations or to punish (repress) unacceptable conduct but to identify the main integrity weaknesses and risks and to strengthen the organization’s resilience in the face of those weaknesses and risks.
- Raising general integrity awareness: The IntoSAINT workshop significantly increases awareness of integrity. The participants’ collective discussions about the importance of integrity are of great value.
- Learning to think in terms of vulnerability and risk: The IntoSAINT workshop teaches the organization how to think in terms of vulnerability and risk. During the workshop, the participants identify the main vulnerabilities and risks and then make recommendations on how to minimize them.
- Concrete management report/action plan: The end product of the IntoSAINT workshop is a concrete management report/action plan. Under the expert leadership of a trained moderator, the participants formulate recommendations for their own organization. The report explains to management where urgent measures must be taken to strengthen the organization’s resilience in response to integrity violations.
Line 2: The IntoSAINT Roll Out
The IntoSAINT Roll Out
After INCOSAI in Johannesburg in 2010 the global roll-out started. The tool became available for all INTOSAI members, provided they participate in facilitator-trainings, join the regional resource pool of facilitators, co-operate to improve this instrument and exchange experiences systematically on an voluntary basis. Since INCOSAI Beijing (2013) the roll-out is done by regions with support of the CBC workstream. At INCOSAI Abu Dhabi the chair of the workstream was handed over to the SAI of Mexico. Under their leadership we will work on the roll-out in the regions and on mainstreaming the tool, sharing experiences and good practices.
Please see below how IntoSAINT has spread already. On the left is a map showing countries with certified IntoSAINT moderators, on the right is a map showing the countries that have had IntoSAINT workshops.
Interested? Please contact your regional contact and/or the chair of the CBC workstream.
Line 3: IntoSAINT Newsletters
IntoSAINT Newsletters
The IntoSAINT post keeps the INTOSAI community up to date on recent developments and initiatives. Of course this depends on the regions! Please send your contributions for the next post to IntoSAINT@asf.gob.mx.
Posts:
- April 2012
- February 2013
- July 2013
- November 2013
- April 2014
- December 2014
- November 2015
- March 2016
- December 2016
Documents - Progress reports
IntoSAINT Guides and Tools
IntoSAINT Manuals
Members
- South Africa/AFROSAI-E
- Tunisia/ARABOSAI
- Iraq/ARABOSAI
- Indonesia/ASEANSAI
- Philippines/ASOSAI
- Jamaica/CAROSAI
- Cameroon/CREFIAF
- Netherlands/EUROSAI
- Mexico/OLACEFS
- New Zealand/PASAI
- IDI
Contact information
SAI Mexico
Mr. David Rogelio Colmenares-Páramo, Auditor General
Supreme Audit Institution of Mexico
Tel. +52(55) 5449 8937.
Website: www.asf.gob.mx
IntoSAINT: IntoSAINT@asf.gob.mx
Direction of Multilateral Relations
Ms Soo Jung Koh Yoo
Email: sjkoh@asf.gob.mx
Tel. + 52 (55) 52 00 15 00 ext. 10731
INTOSAI Liaison
Mr. José Francisco De Villa Soto
Email: jfvilla@asf.gob.mx
Tel. + 52 (55) 52 00 15 00 ext. 10652
News

The ClimateScanner project – How Pacific SAIs can help address climate change
In a recent blog Jane Rogers (Sector Manager, Office of the Auditor-General, New Zealand) shares with us how SAI New Zealand is part of a group of 18 SAIs from across the world that have been working with SAI Brazil on the ClimateScanner project. The ClimateScanner is...

CBC reported to the 77th INTOSAI Governing Board
The 77th INTOSAI Governing Board took place in Vienna on 19-22 November, where the CBC chair Ms Tsakani Maluleke presented the CBC report for 2023. The report gives an overview of the CBC commendable accomplishments, and the CBC was also given a grant to...

AFROSAI-E Bulletin “Move 2023” issue now available
Please find below the AFROSAI-E Technical Conference issue of the Bulletin. Read about this year's technical conference on a constantly changing, evolving, and advancing world, where staying ahead of the curve is essential. This is why the main theme of the conference...

PASAI develops its first Competency Framework
While international frameworks were available, there was still a need for a framework that reflected the learning and development requirements of the Pacific region and was tailored to that context (including existing capacity, job descriptions and resourcing...

JAMP: Citizen Oversight & Technology adding value to the PFM chain
By Jeanette A Calder, Executive Director, Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) "Citizens are not only citizens, but they are also shared owners of all public resources, assets and liabilities. They are not mere taxpayers but contributors to the...

e-SAI PMF application available to support SAIs
e-SAI PMF is an online application that will support SAIs and SAI PMF assessors to conduct rapid, high-quality, and efficient assessments through all the key stages of an assessment process. E-SAI PMF is currently available in English, Spanish and French. To learn...

ACCC webinar recording available: Visit to SAI Ukraine
In a very strong and moving ACCC event our colleagues at the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine (ACU) shared how they manage to stay strong and maintain their work operations and everyday life through the extremely challenging times of an ongoing war. The webinar received...

Professional Trajectories: A New Approach to SAI Capacity Development at TCU
The Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil (TCU) has recently launched a new initiative to enhance the competencies and skills of its auditors. The Professional Trajectories are learning pathways that guide the development of auditors in different areas of expertise,...

ACCC webinar: A visit to SAI Ukraine – registration open now!
Wednesday, 27 September, at 10-11 am CET. The CBC workstream for Auditing in Complex and Challenging Context - ACCC - invites you to a webinar with the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine (ACU), "Visit to SAI Ukraine". Our colleagues at the Ukrainian SAI will share how they...

Save-the-date 27 September: ACCC webinar – “A virtual visit to SAI Ukraine”
Join CBC for this special event, arranged by the workstream ACCC (Auditing in Complex and Challenging Contexts) in close cooperation with SAI Ukraine (Accounting Chamber of Ukraine - ACU). Date: Wednesday 27 September, 2023. Time: 10.00 am CET. Please find the details...