Recently, OLACEFS published a document titled “Good Communication Practices for Engagement with Citizens Focused on the Management of Supreme Audit Institutions,” which highlights the virtues of the communication of SAIs, such as the ASF. The importance of effective communication in correlation with citizen participation is emphasized, stating that this communication is not just for party members, but for all citizens.
It is essential to underline the value of effective communication for building strong public organizations. Careful and thorough communication is key to achieving the objectives of accountability policy. In the past, especially in countries with political disengagement and distrust towards the public sector, little attention was paid to the effectiveness of communication processes between state organizations and the population.
SAIs are institutions that require constant communication, in line with their responsibility in the accountability process. In addition to being technical bodies that validate their oversight work through rigorous methodologies, SAIs also generate significant public value for democratic life through their audits and the presentation of results.
It is essential to highlight the key elements of SAI communication based on international standards. These include the development of a communication policy, two-way communication, equity, transparency, a respectful relationship with the media, diversification of communication channels, and awareness campaigns about accountability and the utility of supreme oversight.
The diversification of communication methods is crucial to convey the relevance of the daily activities of oversight entities in the region. The technical work and results of the oversight must have technical, management, quality, and dissemination autonomy. SAIs play a strategic role in the accountability process, being responsible for reviewing government performance and the use of public resources entrusted by popular sovereignty in democratic regimes.
In this regard, it is fundamental that SAIs develop effective communication processes to explain the value and utility of supreme oversight.
