July 1–4, 2025

From July 1 to 4, 2025 a training session focused on “Rapid Preparation for ARABOSAI Mentors” was held in the city of Hammamet, Tunisia. This activity was organized by the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) in cooperation with the World Bank, as part of a project supporting the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of Tunisia and Algeria in establishing and implementing an Audit Quality Management System (SoAQM), in accordance with the revised ISSAI 140 standard.

This training represents a significant step in capacity building for mentors who will provide technical and methodological assistance to the respective SAIs throughout the cycle of establishing the new quality management system. The participation of experts from various countries across the ARABOSAI region brought an international dimension and facilitated a valuable exchange of experiences.

The Supreme State Audit was represented in the capacity of an IDI “resource person” by Ms. Xhuljeta Çelaj, who shared her practical experience in implementing the quality system, thereby contributing to capacity building through clear and structured interventions.

The training was structured into seven thematic sessions covering all essential components of SoAQM and addressing the following topics:

1. The new approach to Quality Management, focusing on the new philosophy of the ISSAI 140 standard;
2. Quality objectives and quality risk management, highlighting the importance of defining clear objectives and anticipating risks;
3. The monitoring and remediation process, to ensure continuous improvement;
4. The SoAQM evaluation, as a tool to measure the system’s effectiveness;
5. Engagement Quality Review (EQR), a key element for quality assurance at the audit engagement level;
6. Needs analysis, as a basis for planning necessary interventions;
7. The SoAQM package and next steps, which guide practical implementation in each institution.

Participants actively engaged in discussions, practical exercises, and the exchange of experiences, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment. The training not only strengthened the mentors’ individual capacities but also established a regional collaborative network for the implementation of SoAQM.

This experience served as a solid foundation for future engagements within the framework of SoAQM. The collaboration among IDI, the World Bank and the respective SAIs creates a favorable environment for the further development of audit quality management mechanisms. The subsequent phase will involve an in-depth needs analysis, the drafting of internal quality policies, and the establishment of sustainable implementation structures, with mentors playing a key supportive role for the SAIs of Tunisia and Algeria.