Action learning to set up an internal inspection system

The Republic of Gabon has, over several years, entered into an ambitious process of reforming the State and modernising its institutions. The setting up of an internal inspection system within the Gabonese civil service is one of the strong bases for this reform process. An Inspectorate General of Services (IGS) was formed in each ministry, with the role of providing impetus in the development and setting up of the internal inspection system and then in the performance of inspection audits.

Within this context, the Ministry of the Budget, Public Accounts and the Civil Service is now equipped with an IGS containing fifteen inspectors. However, the setting up of the ministry's internal inspection system has been made difficult since the appointed inspectors are mainly technicians who are not specialised in the internal inspection methods and tools.

The IGS of the Ministry of the Budget, Public Accounts and the Civil Service has asked the Forhom Institute to assist in the setting up of the internal inspection system. The first stage of this assistance is to provide basic knowledge in terms of internal inspection and by defining the priority directions and actions in order to efficiently set up the ministry's internal inspection system.

To do this, the Forhom Institute implemented two priority training courses:

• A general training course on "The internal inspection approach and tools," aimed for inspectors and directors and with the purpose of acquiring the essential knowledge base on internal inspection.
• Action learning on "Setting up and practising internal inspection relating to the budgetary implementation and preparation processes," aimed for the inspectors involved in these processes and for the directors of the three directorate generals involved (Directorate-General for Budget (DGB), Treasury Department (DGST) and Directorate-General for Financial Control (DGCF)).

The objectives included:

• building the capacities of the ministry's inspectors general of services;
• defining, alongside them, the main bases for establishing the ministry's internal inspection system.

For both of these action learning courses, the Forhom Institute provided the following services:

• Mobilisation and management of the expert trainer.
• Preparation of the training courses.
• Preparation and delivery of the evaluation reports, certificates and documents in electronic format.
• Drawing up of a report on the recommendations for setting up the internal inspection system within the Ministry.