In light of the INTOSAI WGEA initiative to establish regional working groups on environmental auditing, the ASOSAI set up its Working Group on Environmental Auditing (ASOSAI WGEA) in 2000. At the first meeting of the ASOSAI WGEA, SAI China was elected as Chair.

 

I. Mission and Objectives

 

The mission of the ASOSAI WGEA is to encourage the member SAIs of ASOSAI to actively carry out environmental audit in order to enable each SAI to contribute actively to more effective environmental management in the public sector and to enhance its role in promoting environmental protection in its own country and in the region

 

In order to fulfill the mission, the ASOSAI WGEA will seek to accomplish the following objectives:

-- to facilitate the exchange of information and experience in the field of environmental auditing to improve capacity to conduct environmental auditing;

-- to strengthen communications with the INTOSAI WGEA and other regional working groups on environmental auditing;

-- to promote the development of cooperative environmental auditing to help address cross-boundary issues or environmental issues of common concern.

-- to build relationships with other organizations and institutions concerned with environmental auditing in order to improve knowledge and methodologies in this field.

 

II. Governance

 

The ASOSAI WGEA is a professional working group under the ASOSAI and a regional wing of the INTOSAI WGEA. The governance structures are:

 

A. Chair---To be responsible for the management of major issues of the ASOSAI WGEA, such as leading and overseeing the drafting of work plan, delivering work plan progress report at relevant meetings, and considering and approving applications for membership.

 

B. Secretariat---To manage day-to-day work of the ASOSAI WGEA, such as maintaining the website, preparing the work plan, conducting the survey/questionnaire on environmental auditing, and maintaining contacts with the INTOSAI WGEA, and other regional working groups on environmental auditing. 

 

C. Members---any member SAI of ASOSAI can join the ASOSAI WGEA by submitting an application to the Chair on a voluntary basis (the application form is available on the website). All members of the ASOSAI WGEA are encouraged to establish effective measures to actively carry out environmental audits, participate in the activities of the ASOSAI WGEA, and provide to the Secretariat relevant information on environmental auditing activities, including case studies, where relevant.

 

III. Work Program

 

While sharing the strategic objectives of the INTOSAI WGEA, the ASOSAI WGEA conducts relevant activities based on the conditions of the Asian region. To support the achievement of its objectives, the ASOSAI WGEA undertakes a range of activities, including:

 

A. Work Plan—The work plan is prepared on a triennial basis, aligns with the INTOSAI WGEA practice, and shares the identical activities in the work plan of the INTOSAI WGEA. The Work plan is subject to the approval of the Chair after the considerations of comments and recommendations provided by the members. The ASOSAI WGEA is responsible for the coordination of work plan activities and monitoring progress to implement the work plan.

 

B. Work Report—ASOSAI WGEA will report on its activities to the INTOSAI WGEA and Governing Board of ASOSAI as well as Assembly on a regular basis.

 

C. Seminar on Environmental Auditing—ASOSAI WGEA will hold seminars on environmental auditing on topics of common interests to member SAIs of ASOSAI and/or issues requiring further examination.

 

D. Working Meeting—ASOSAI WGEA will organize the working meetings to discuss the work of the ASOSAIWGEA, when necessary. These meetings can be scheduled during the seminars on environmental auditing as part of INTOSAI WGEA meetings, or arranged separately.

 

E. ASOSAI WGEA also provides necessary assistance to the conduct of cooperative audit among member SAIs.