Pro PALOP-TL SAI was formulated under the economic governance sub-area of the 2008-2013 10th European Development Fund (EDF) for the PALOP countries & Timor-Leste (PALOP & TL), which allocates EUR 33.1 million to supporting governance initiative projects in the PALOP & TL. This project in particular was formulated on the basis an EU-UNDP partnership allocating 6.4 million Euros in support of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI), Parliaments, Parliamentarians &Civil Society Organizations in the PALOP & TL in the domain of external control of public accounts, legislative oversight of public expenditure and public involvement in budget cycles.

This project aims at promoting economic governance in the PALOP & TL by strengthening technical and functional skills of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), National Parliaments and Civil Society in the six beneciary countries. Pro PALOP-TL SAI is consistent with the beneciary countries’ national strategies for poverty reduction and national development plans, with UNDP Country Programmes and Assistance Plans, and the 2008-2013 10th EDF for the PALOP & TL. These policies and strategies are adapted to the specificities and priorities of each country, but converge to promote good economic governance as an important trigger for human development and economic growth. The project’s contribution for this common goal is pursued through capacity development of the above referred actors for (i) more efficient legislative budget oversight, (ii) better management systems of public finances based in more efficient external control practices and institutions, and (iii) a more informed and active public participation in budgetary process and cycles.

The project’s overall objective is to promote economic governance in the PALOP and Timor-Leste (TL) strengthening technical and functional skills of SAIs, Parliaments, Parliamentarians and Civil Society (including media). The specific objective is to improve the efectiveness of external political, judicial and civilian control of public finances in the PALOP and TL for a more efficient use of public resources. SAIs and Legislatures, as well as the public in general, play an important role in preventing mismanagement and corruption. Therefore, whenever possible, the project will also help strengthen the links between SAIs, Parliaments, CSO and other oversight agencies, in particular anti-corruption and procurement agencies.

The High Level Seminar on Budget Legislative Oversight & External Control of Public Expenditure in the PALOP and Timor-Leste is the first of the foreseen project multi-country activities putting forward inter-institutional south-south cooperation and peer learning as a fundamental tool to enhance the beneciaries’ capacities. The seminar is promoting exchanges and synergies among the different countries’ institutions based in their respective legal frameworks, practices and  institutional/corporate culture. Not less important, the seminar is also using this multi-country platform to promote exchanges and synergies between the dierent stakeholders within each beneciary country.