emirates7 - The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Independent Evaluation Office of the New Development Bank (NDB), co-hosted a pioneering high-level technical workshop in Dubai titled “Learning from Global Experiences on Approaches and Practices for Sustainable Development Projects: Evaluation, Internal Audit, Compliance, and Investigation.” This workshop is the first of its kind in the region.
The event focused on global best practices in evaluation and internal auditing, as well as compliance and investigative procedures in infrastructure projects. It also explored future opportunities for knowledge-sharing, South-South cooperation, and capacity-building in audit and evaluation.
Key participants included Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance; Ali Abdullah Sharafi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for International Financial Relations; Hamad Essa Al Zaabi, Director of the Office of the Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Thuraiya Hamid Alhashimi, Director of International Financial Relations and Organisations; and Noora Ayoob, Director of the Internal Audit Department. The workshop attracted over 100 participants from government entities, the private sector, and professional organizations, along with experts from the NDB and representatives from international organizations like UN Women, the UN World Food Programme, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, as well as diplomats from Russia, China, Bangladesh, and Algeria.
In his opening speech, Younis Haji AlKhoori emphasized that the workshop aligned with the UAE's efforts to promote sustainable development, offering a vital platform for strengthening partnerships and knowledge exchange among countries of the Global South. He reiterated the UAE's commitment to enhancing international cooperation and supporting the NDB's mission to develop infrastructure that drives long-term sustainability and prosperity.
Ashwani K. Muthoo, Director General of the Independent Evaluation Office at NDB, noted that the workshop aimed to go beyond sharing best practices by building the capacity needed to ensure that infrastructure projects yield sustainable results. He also expressed a desire to further strengthen the UAE-NDB partnership to contribute to global sustainability goals through rigorous evaluation.
The workshop included three sessions: the first provided an overview of NDB’s evaluation strategies and methodologies for evaluating policies, strategies, and projects. The second session focused on NDB's internal audit standards, while the third session addressed compliance and investigation procedures in infrastructure projects, including the core principles of the Uniform Principles and Guidelines for International Investigation Conference.
The workshop concluded by highlighting the importance of applying accurate, transparent evaluation and audit practices to ensure the success of sustainable infrastructure projects worldwide.
The UAE joined the New Development Bank in October 2021 and has been actively involved in its governance, with Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini serving as Governor on the NDB's Board of Governors, Younis Haji AlKhoori as Alternate Governor, and Thuraiya Hamid Alhashimi as a Board member.
The event focused on global best practices in evaluation and internal auditing, as well as compliance and investigative procedures in infrastructure projects. It also explored future opportunities for knowledge-sharing, South-South cooperation, and capacity-building in audit and evaluation.
Key participants included Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance; Ali Abdullah Sharafi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for International Financial Relations; Hamad Essa Al Zaabi, Director of the Office of the Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Thuraiya Hamid Alhashimi, Director of International Financial Relations and Organisations; and Noora Ayoob, Director of the Internal Audit Department. The workshop attracted over 100 participants from government entities, the private sector, and professional organizations, along with experts from the NDB and representatives from international organizations like UN Women, the UN World Food Programme, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, as well as diplomats from Russia, China, Bangladesh, and Algeria.
In his opening speech, Younis Haji AlKhoori emphasized that the workshop aligned with the UAE's efforts to promote sustainable development, offering a vital platform for strengthening partnerships and knowledge exchange among countries of the Global South. He reiterated the UAE's commitment to enhancing international cooperation and supporting the NDB's mission to develop infrastructure that drives long-term sustainability and prosperity.
Ashwani K. Muthoo, Director General of the Independent Evaluation Office at NDB, noted that the workshop aimed to go beyond sharing best practices by building the capacity needed to ensure that infrastructure projects yield sustainable results. He also expressed a desire to further strengthen the UAE-NDB partnership to contribute to global sustainability goals through rigorous evaluation.
The workshop included three sessions: the first provided an overview of NDB’s evaluation strategies and methodologies for evaluating policies, strategies, and projects. The second session focused on NDB's internal audit standards, while the third session addressed compliance and investigation procedures in infrastructure projects, including the core principles of the Uniform Principles and Guidelines for International Investigation Conference.
The workshop concluded by highlighting the importance of applying accurate, transparent evaluation and audit practices to ensure the success of sustainable infrastructure projects worldwide.
The UAE joined the New Development Bank in October 2021 and has been actively involved in its governance, with Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini serving as Governor on the NDB's Board of Governors, Younis Haji AlKhoori as Alternate Governor, and Thuraiya Hamid Alhashimi as a Board member.