How to promote citizen participation in government audits using international best practices?

Despite the representation crisis highlighted in the 2023 Latinobarómetro‘s report, where support for democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean has dropped from 63% in 2010 to 48%, there has been a notable increase in citizen participation in audit oversight led by Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) over the past 20 years, with digital innovation playing a key role.

The creation of citizen participation commissions by the Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (OLACEFS) and the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) has contributed to this growth, promoting collaborative work with civil society.

A recent study by OLACEFS shows that 56% of SAIs are collaborating with civil society on activities related to the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this context, integrating a more open and inclusive model of accountability and social control over public management is crucial. This model would engage more committed and demanding citizens for better public services. This involves technical oversight by specialized agencies who are shifting their sometimes skeptical view of the value of citizen participation.

Citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) can pinpoint areas where public spending might be misused, inefficient, or corrupt. They contribute valuable insights to the audit process, particularly in their areas of expertise such as environmental protection, gender equality, diversity policies, and reproductive health.

We’ve identified over 60 cases of digital citizen participation in fiscal oversight globally.

These cases are organized by the phases of the audit cycle: (i) Planning; (ii) Execution; (iii) Dissemination; and (iv) Follow-up.

1. Planning: In this stage, citizen participation helps identify priority areas, programs, or policies for auditing. For example, the Austrian Court of Audit invites citizens to submit proposals by email, Facebook, or postal mail.
2. Execution: The execution phase focuses on gathering relevant information and evidence for audits, enhancing efficiency by utilizing external resources, and improving findings and recommendations. For instance, the Philippines Commission on Audit conducts participatory audits that blend in-person and virtual involvement.
   A lesser-known example comes from the Netherlands Court of Audit on school infrastructure auditing. Between 2012 and 2016, the SAI audited school facilities across the country and set up a platform to collect data following recurring complaints about the quality, size, and age of school buildings. The exercise found a lack of factual and technical information on the state of school buildings and a lack of regular monitoring.
3. Dissemination: This phase involves creating user-friendly content that is accessible to diverse audiences, enhancing the awareness of audit results through various formats and communication channels. A notable example is the UK National Audit Office, which disseminates summary videos of audit findings on platforms like X and YouTube, showcasing key data. An example of this initiative is an audit showing that while some children with special educational needs and disabilities in mainstream primary and secondary schools receive high-quality support, many others do not receive the help they should.
4. Follow-up: This phase strengthens the call for accountability and encourages compliance with audit recommendations. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) maintains an online database listing outstanding recommendations, with priority items highlighted for immediate attention.

The path to enhancing citizen participation in fiscal oversight is filled with challenges that demand ongoing attention and effort. At the Inter-American Development Bank, we promote cutting-edge knowledge generation and the development of dialogue spaces to seek comprehensive solutions based on regional and international experiences and cases.

We invite you to explore a series of recommendations and practical actions in our new publication “Citizen Participation in Government Audits through Digital Tools” which presents 60 different best practices of citizen participation in fiscal oversight through digital means.

These experiences could pave the way for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to analyze and adapt to their specific contexts and needs to empower citizens and strengthen accountability in the different phases of the audit cycle.

This work not only provides new ideas for the region’s SAIs but also serves as a valuable educational resource for citizens interested in the participatory development of open government policies.