United Nations Panel of External Auditors

Professor Mussa Juma Assad
Chairman of the Panel

Mr. Didier Migaud
Vice-Chair of the Panel

I have the honour of being recently elected the Chair of the Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations and welcome this opportunity to facilitate experiences and information sharing among the panel members on emergent issues in the audit of the United Nations. I would like to extend my gratitude to the former Chair of the Panel, Mr. Michael Ferguson, the Auditor General of Canada for his exemplary work.

I acknowledge that the United Nations and the specialized agencies face expanding mandates, budget reductions, increasing dependence on earmarked resources, and thereby respond by taking a number of measures including business transformation and the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards as a new reporting framework.

It is in the interest of UN entities and all stakeholders that the emerging challenges are properly managed and initiatives realize the intended benefits.  The Panel as auditors of these entities is therefore an important platform for sharing best practices in working with different UN entities. We seek to contribute to the process by working with the Administration and providing independent audit opinions besides our audit recommendations that can improve transparency, efficiency, promote accountability, and strengthen governance.

I take this opportunity to thank all members of the Panel for electing me a chair and I am looking forward to continue working with you as one team.

Professor Mussa Juma Assad
Controller and Auditor General of the United Republic of Tanzania
Chairman of the United Nations Panel of External Auditors