Can audits drive real reform? In Somalia, a first-of-its-kind workshop brought together key oversight actors from four Federal Member States to tackle that question. The result: new momentum for turning audit findings into action—through collaboration across institutions and donors alike.

For the first time, representatives from Somalia’s Ministries of Finance, Offices of the Auditor General, and Parliamentary Budget and Finance Committees sat together to confront one of the country’s biggest public finance challenges: how to turn audit findings into real reform.

In a joint workshop convened by the Public Resource Management in Somalia (PREMIS 2) programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the European Union-funded Somalia Financial Accountability (SFA) Technical Assistance for Advancing Financial Accountability in Somalia, oversight actors from Jubbaland, Galmudug, South West, and Hirshabelle States spent three days mapping out a way forward. The workshop focused on strengthening financial oversight by clarifying institutional roles, tackling recurring audit findings, and developing practical, state-specific action plans to improve follow-up.

This marked a breakthrough in coordination—not just between institutions, but also between two separately funded donor programmes working in partnership. For many participants, it was the first time all three oversight institutions engaged in joint problem-solving—moving beyond institutional silos to build shared understanding and mutual accountability.

The workshop sessions examined systemic challenges in audit implementation, explored international lessons, and supported participants to chart a path toward better use of audit findings in policymaking and budgeting. Small group discussions by state helped teams develop tailored, actionable plans.

By creating space for honest dialogue and hands-on planning, the initiative helped lay the groundwork for longer-term collaboration—an essential step in translating oversight into action, and audits into accountability.

This is just the beginning. As one participant put it:

“Working together and understanding how our roles connect is essential. This was a valuable start.”