A policy dialogue in Tirana brought together Supreme Audit Institutions and Ministries of Finance from seven countries to strengthen public finance management, improve SDG auditing, and reduce corruption risks. The event was hosted by UNDP as part of a new Slovak-funded Smart Finance for Accountable Local Governance project.
Western Balkan countries and Moldova continue to face governance inefficiencies, gaps in public financial management, and persistent corruption risks that limit their progress towards EU accession. The Smart Finance for Accountable Local Governance project, supported by Slovakia, responds to these challenges and was officially launched during the two-day regional dialogue in Tirana.
Held on 4–5 December 2025, the event brought together General Auditors, representatives of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), and senior officials from Ministries of Finance from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, along with counterparts from Slovakia.
H. E. Albín Otruba
“Slovakia believes that, alongside bilateral support to individual countries, regional cooperation is vital and can contribute to improving governance systems. The Supreme Audit Office of Slovakia has achieved significant results in auditing the SDGs, which have been recognized by international partners. We are therefore confident that Slovakia’s experience will bring meaningful benefits to all participating countries,” said Albín Otruba, Ambassador of Slovakia to Albania, in his opening remarks.
“In a time of declining trust and rising corruption risks, Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) have become essential pillars of transparency and accountability. Their work goes far beyond compliance. They ensure that public resources are managed with integrity and deliver real results for people,” added Biljana Cvetanovska Gugoska, Local & Urban Development Specialist at UNDP.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Audit Capacities
Over the two days, participants engaged in strategic discussions on current audit challenges, shared their experiences and needs in SDG auditing, and contributed to the development of the work plan to guide capacity-building efforts for the coming year.
The high-level policy dialogue also examined opportunities for cooperation with the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic to facilitate knowledge transfer and peer learning. These exchanges reinforced the value of coordinated regional efforts and practical steps to strengthen institutional capacities and align audit practices with international standards.
The dialogue concluded with several strategic takeaways for advancing SDG-aligned public financial management. Participants emphasized the importance of clear public communication about how public funds are used, stronger reporting to identify inefficiencies and corruption risks, and improved coordination among institutions. They also highlighted the need for greater support to local governments, to ensure that SDGs are fully incorporated into long-term development planning doucments and consequently better reflected in future audits, along with the introduction of SDG budget tagging, and the expansion of gender-responsive auditing. Additional priorities included strengthening performance audits, improving data and indicators, and ensuring more transparent monitoring processes. Regional cooperation was reaffirmed as a key driver of progress.
“By applying the good practices on transparency established in GUID 9040, the Principles of Transparency and Accountability outlined in INTOSAI–P 20, and the INTOSAI framework on the Value and Benefits of SAIs, these institutions play a crucial role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and responsibility in the management of taxpayers’ money. They are expected to serve as model institutions, act as credible sources of information, promote learning and knowledge sharing, and contribute to the achievement of SDGs. It is our pleasure and honor to be part of this new project, and we hope that we will be able to establish an effective platform for sharing knowledge and experiences, as well as conducting joint performance audits with the other SAIs, drawing also on the experience of the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic,” stated Auditor General of the State Audit Office of North Macedonia Maksim Acevski.
About the Project
UNDP’s Smart Finance for Accountable Local Governance project supports effective SDG auditing, enhances audit institution capacities, promotes regional collaboration, strengthens corruption prevention, and advances transparency innovations, including internal audit and control systems. It is supported by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic under the Public and Private Finance for Development project.
More information can be found here: https://publicfinance.undp.sk/en/regional-project-smart-finance/.