News
9th Batch of "Capacity Building and Training of Members of Local Councils and Women's Development Committee and Staff of Local Government Authority" Successfully Concludes
02 June 2025
The "Capacity Building and Training of Members of
Local Councils and Women's Development Committee and Staff of Local Government
Authority" training program successfully concluded in Hyderabad, India,
under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the National
Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) and the Local
Government Authority (LGA) of the Maldives. This was the 9th batch of the
training program and marked the first session under the MoU dedicated
specifically to internal audit.
The training program took place from May 19 to June 2,
2025, and included a total of 30 participants, comprising 22 members from local
councils and 8 staff members of the LGA.
Throughout the training, participants gained enhanced
understanding of internal audit processes and practices, with a focus on
strengthening audit functions within the Maldives’ decentralized governance
structure. They explored key concepts such as:
- <b>Overview of Internal Auditing</b>: Understanding the definition, core principles, and importance of internal auditing in the public sector.
- <b>Internal Audit Standards</b>: Familiarization with international internal audit standards (IIA), the internal audit framework of the Republic of Maldives, and the competency framework for internal auditors.
- <b>Audit Techniques and Tools</b>: Training on audit sampling methods, risk assessment tools, and the use of data analytics in internal auditing.
- <b>Practical Exposure</b>: Field visits to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) allowed participants to apply internal audit concepts in real-life scenarios.
- <b>Use of IT in Internal Auditing</b>: Participants were introduced to the automation of audit processes through various platforms and audit portals, including <b>GRIP, NREGASoft, Awassoft, and OMMAS (PMGSY)</b>.
This training significantly contributed to building the
participants’ capacity in council management, while promoting transparency,
accountability, and efficiency in internal audit practices.
