BRATISLAVA, 7–9 October 2026 – The timely identification of risks faced by local authorities in public procurement and the prevention of irregularities require effective control mechanisms, strong institutional cooperation, and the timely exchange of information.
These issues were at the centre of a regional study visit held in Bratislava, Slovakia, from 7 to 9 October. The visit brought together 50 participants from Slovakia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
For the first time, the participating countries launched a joint process aimed at identifying concrete opportunities for regional cooperation in auditing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthening integrity in public procurement, and enhancing transparency and oversight of public finances.
Representing the Supreme Audit Office of the Republika Srpska Public Sector, the study visit in Bratislava was attended by the Auditor General, Ms Božana Trninić, and Senior Performance Auditor, Mr Bojan Dragišić.
The study visit aimed to familiarise participants with the mechanisms and practices used by the Slovak Republic to oversee and prevent irregularities, while exploring opportunities to apply relevant experience in national and local contexts.
Key topics addressed during the visit included performance auditing and auditing the Sustainable Development Goals, the use of data and digital tools in auditing, and oversight and integrity in public procurement.
An important part of the visit was a presentation of MuMap, an innovative web application developed by the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic for audit planning and risk assessment. The tool enables the systematic use of data to identify areas of risk and direct audit resources to where they are most needed.
The visit also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences from audits related to the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on the local level and municipal waste management, as well as experiences in preparing pilot audits of municipalities’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The regional study visit was part of the “Smart Finance for Responsible Local Governance” project, implemented by the UNDP Regional Hub in Istanbul (IRH), UNDP North Macedonia, and UNDP country offices in Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Moldova, with financial support from the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, within the framework of the “Public and Private Finance for Development” project.
The project contributes to strengthening institutional capacities for transparent, accountable, and efficient management of public resources.
