As part of the implementation of Strategic Objectives 1 and 2 of its Strategic Plan, JURISAI and the Court of Accounts of the Kingdom of Morocco, organized an international seminar on the theme “Communicating Jurisdictional Activities of SAIs: Issues and Challenges”, held in Rabat on June 11, 2025.
Convened alongside the meeting of high-level representatives of JURISAI Governing Board member SAIs, this scientific event focused on the implementation of objectives 1 and 2 of JURISAI’s strategic plan. It also aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge and good practices among member institutions.
The seminar gathered in-person participants from the SAIs of Angola, Brazil, Djibouti, Spain, France, Morocco, Mauritania, and Portugal, while representatives from the SAIs of Algeria, Cameroon, Greece, and Guinea-Bissau took part virtually.
The seminar focused on two thematic panels moderated by Mr. Mohammed Kamal Daoudi, General Coordinator of the works of financial jurisdictions of the Kingdom of Morocco, and featured contributions from experts representing JURISAI member SAIs.
Panel I: Communicating Jurisdictional Activities – Institutional Foundations, and Challenges and Strategic Relevance.
This panel, led by Mr. Jesús Santa-Bárbara Rupérez, Legal Adviser to the Jurisdictional Section of the Tribunal de Cuentas of Spain, and Mr. Abdelhafid Bentahar, Senior Councilor and Coordinator of the Regional Courts of Accounts of Morocco, focused on the institutional and legal frameworks governing communication on jurisdictional work. The presentations also shed light on the strategic stakes related to boosting the impact of SAIs’ sanctioning functions and to improving public financial management through communication.
Participants were introduced to the experiences of the SAIs of Spain and Morocco in informing citizens about the jurisdictional function, with emphasis on its educational and deterrent scope, the exposure of recurring irregularities and organizational dysfunctions, and the interpretative guidance provided through case law on legislative and regulatory provisions.
Panel II: Communicating Jurisdictional Activities – Methods and Challenges
Chaired by Mr. Gilles Miller, Senior Counselor at the Court of Accounts of France, Mr. Papa Gallo Lakh, Secretary General of the Court of Accounts of Senegal, and Ms. Fatima Bouzourh, President of the Chamber for Budgetary and Financial Discipline of the Court of Accounts of Morocco, this panel addressed the main challenges linked to jurisdictional communication.
In this panel, the speakers addressed the main challenges related to communication on jurisdictional work, particularly the need to uphold the presumption of innocence and the principles of a fair trial, the protection of personal data, and the safeguarding of the confidentiality of data from jurisdictional work. They also discussed the precautions to be taken in response to technological challenges and explored how digital tools and artificial intelligence can be leveraged to enhance the educational value of issued decisions.
In conclusion, the seminar’s proceedings reaffirmed the importance of a responsible, forward-looking, and effective communication strategy on jurisdictional activities. Such an approach is increasingly recognized as essential to reinforcing a culture of accountability and contributing to the improvement of public sector governance.