On 4–5 December 2025, the Chairman of the Supreme State Audit Office, Mr. Arben Shehu, together with representatives of the ALSAI, participated in the regional dialogue organized in Tirana by UNDP, in the framework of the launch of the “Smart Finance” project for Responsible Governance. This event brought together Chairmen and representatives of supreme audit institutions from Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova as well as partners from the Supreme Audit Office of Slovakia.

During the two-day meeting, discussions were held on the role of auditing in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the challenges in local governance and the importance of strengthening transparency and accountability mechanisms. Participants shared experiences on SDG audits and ways to integrate them into performance audits, emphasizing the need for a harmonized approach and use of common methodologies in the region.

The first draft of the SAI Capacity Needs Assessment was also presented, which highlights areas where technical assistance, training and exchange of experiences are required, serving as a basis for drafting the work plan for 2026. Participants were also introduced to the practices of the Supreme Audit Office of Slovakia, including the use of digital tools such as the “MUMAP” platform, which present opportunities for adaptation in the region for local auditing.

In this context, Mr. Arben Shehu praised regional cooperation and emphasized the commitment of the ALSAI in supporting audit processes oriented towards the SDGs, aiming to increase the effectiveness of public governance at central and local levels.

The activity concluded with an agreement to develop a joint work plan for the coming year, which will guide project activities and cooperation between supreme audit institutions in the region, with the aim of strengthening capacities, transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.