[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1164, 340], "category": "Text", "text": "Committee meetings that are conducive for the environment, enforce human rights, enhance gender equality and advocate against extreme income inequality. OCAG's public reports will reflect these in a recurrent section. Gender responsive public financial management, also known as gender responsive budgeting (GRB), could be tackled as an approach that explicitly considers the impact of fiscal policy, PFM, and public administration on gender equality, girls' and women's development, and specific groups of people (for example, people with disabilities, minorities). This is one of the objectives selected by the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, as stated in the GAP III Country Level Implementation Plan.¹"}, {"bbox": [85, 380, 323, 411], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 446, 234, 472], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [96, 537, 1164, 696], "category": "Text", "text": "OCAG is the SAI of Bangladesh and is responsible for auditing the annual financial statements of Government, Local Government and Statutory Bodies. OCAG comprises seventeen Audit Directorates that undertake the actual audit work; one, the Financial Management Academy (FIMA) is concerned with training. Approximately 4,000 officers and staff are working in the OCAG of which 13% are women. OCAG is a member of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) and the regional Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI)."}, {"bbox": [96, 709, 1164, 1238], "category": "Text", "text": "Under the ongoing EU-financed Public Finance Management (PFM) Technical Assistance (TA) programme (CRIS Contract 417-214), OCAG has shown great need and ambition to improve its internal processes. On a study visit to Malaysia, a country more advanced in Supreme Auditing than Bangladesh and willing to share its experiences, it has exchanged information regarding IT audits and subsequently created an IT Audit Unit in OCAG. The EU has also financed accredited audit courses (CIPFA) and specialised IT audit courses (CISA). As the programme is expiring, OCAG is willing and ready to engage in this strategic partnership with one or a consortium of SAI(s) in the European Union. The EU is a well-respected and long-standing partner and there are currently no other development partners supporting OCAG, while OCAG is the prominent national institution for enhancing public finance accountability. Via the Programme Implementation Team meetings, and other channels, OCAG has consistently been communicating with the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, throughout the whole project. OCAG maintains effective communication channels with Parliament and other government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance. In addition, OCAG has enhanced its auditing processes with the aid of the in-house developed Audit Management and Monitoring System (AMMS). In order to strengthen OCAG's internal practices and external oversight further, OCAG needs a strategic partner. In line with the objective of the Cooperation Facility stated in the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme 2021-2027, the proposed Action intends to support a strategic partnership between the Supreme Audit Institutions of Bangladesh and one or more EU Member States. As Public Financial Management (PFM) is a cross-cutting topic, support to PFM has the potential to support all MIP Priorities but given the focus on the achievement of SDG 16 (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development) and in particular 16.6 which aims at developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels, it can be best situated under MIP priority area 3 'Inclusive Governance'."}, {"bbox": [96, 1251, 1164, 1412], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action is also aligned with the Government of Bangladesh's 8th Five-Year Plan (2020-2025). The 8th Five-Year Plan is a comprehensive document whose main priorities are the development of necessary infrastructure, reducing poverty and inequality, supporting the graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026 and achieving the SDG targets. The potential of the digital transformation will be tapped into, especially to improve public service delivery as well as financial and fiscal management, building on the longstanding support of the EU to the implementation of the PFM Reform Strategy."}, {"bbox": [96, 1424, 1164, 1530], "category": "Text", "text": "The GoB considers PFM reforms essential for achieving Vision 2041 and the Eighth Five-Year Plan's objectives, which include becoming an Upper Middle-Income Country, meeting SDGs and eliminating extreme poverty by Fiscal Year 2031. The PFM Reform Strategy was approved in 2016, outlining key reform goals and priority actions. In 2018, the GoB created the first PFM Action Plan (2018-2023) to implement these reforms, with responsibilities for 14 key"}, {"bbox": [85, 1597, 1054, 1646], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹ The GAP III Country Level Implementation Plan is accessible through: https://capacity4dev.europa.eu/library/clip-bangladesh_en?listing=group_library&refgid=119528"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1681, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 13"}]