The State Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development of the Republic of Somaliland, Mr. Ismail Mawliid Abdilahi, together with Director General Mr. Mohamed Hassan Salebaan, officially opened a comprehensive workshop to evaluate the knowledge levels and professional competencies of staff in the ministry’s Internal Audit Department.
Funded by the World Bank-supported Somaliland Enhancing Public Resource Management Project (SERP), the assessment is being carried out by the international firm CRAWÉ in partnership with MERIT Advisory Services. The exercise follows global best practices and standards in internal auditing to ensure a thorough and credible review.
The primary goal of the assessment is to deeply analyze the department’s current capabilities, staff skills, and specific training requirements. The findings will form the basis for developing a strategic training plan that strengthens the quality, efficiency, and overall performance of internal audit functions within the ministry.
Ministry officials underscored the critical importance of building a highly skilled internal audit team in promoting financial efficiency, reinforcing accountability mechanisms, and preventing mismanagement and irregularities. They particularly emphasized the value of professional certifications such as the internationally recognized Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation to bring the department in line with world-class standards.
This initiative forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to strengthening financial institutions, promoting transparent and accountable public resource management, and aligning Somaliland’s governance systems with international benchmarks.
