NEW INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS ARE EXCITED TO BE IN CANADA

As the Fellows' departure dates for Canada drew closer and closer, each Fellow became a little nervous and extremely excited about their participation in the International Fellowship Program. The program is formally called the International Assistance Program for Improved Governance and Accountability. Before the first week was concluded, formality relaxed into friendship and a new team began to develop.

The Office of the Auditor General of Canada, Vérificateur général du Québec, Canadian International Development Agency and CCAF-FCVI extend a warm welcome to our new friends; Benoît Azodjilande and David Sohinto of Benin, Pauline Kane Fortune of Cameroon, José Alpizar Fallas of Costa Rica, Grace Mugyabuso and James Ryoba of Tanzania and Sirintorn Phankasem of Thailand.

During their first week here, the Fellows visited their Embassy or High Commission, were introduced to Mrs. Sheila Fraser, toured the Library and Archives Canada, took out a City of Ottawa library card, enjoyed the Sound and Light show on Parliament Hill, received some historical and cultural orientation and became a little familiar with our nation's capital.

	Benoît Azodjilande (Bénin) received his management diploma (business management option) in 1988 from the Institut National d'Économie of the Université Nationale du Bénin. After holding senior positions within the Department of the Interior and the Department of National Education, he became, in 2001, an auditor at the Chambre des Comptes of the Cour Suprême du Bénin. In that capacity, he monitors the performance reports of the Department of Technical Education and Professional Training, and participates in control activities pertaining to the implementation of the general budget of the State and its territories. His interests include soccer.
	David Sohinto (Bénin) is an auditor at the Chambre des Comptes of the Cour Suprême du Bénin since 2001. He holds an agroeconomic engineering degree and a post-graduate diploma in environmental economics, and is currently working on his Ph.d. in agricultural economics (project management). Before joining the Chambre des Comptes, he gained eight years experience managing rural development projects in Benin. During the past four years, he has followed numerous Chambre des Comptes training sessions on financial audit techniques and procedures, and in 2002 participated in an IDI workshop held in Dakar on financial audit and fraud detection. He enjoys soccer, as well as music and meeting people.
	Pauline Kane Fortune (Cameroon) graduated from the University of Yaounde with a law degree in 1985 and is a Contrôleur d'Etat at the Contrôle Superieur de l'État du Cameroun. She became a financial auditor in 2000 and is interested in performance audit techniques, planning audits and fraud detection. Historically, her responsibilities included performance and compliance auditing. Upon returning home Pauline will provide training, leadership and will continue to lead audit teams. Her bilingual abilities will be of great value to her while in Ottawa and she will try skating at least once.
	José Alpizar Fallas (Costa Rica) has been involved in complex studies related to financial, operational and compliance issues. He has written several concept papers and articles and delivered several training courses. José has been with the Superior Audit Institution for Costa Rica since 1990. Currently he is contributing with the Technical Secretariat as a member of the IT audit group. His interests include sharing his knowledge through teaching at several local universities, sports, reading and spending high quality time with his two daughters and wife.
	Grace Mugyabuso (Tanzania) received an advanced diploma in Certified Accountancy in 1998 and has been a financial auditor with the Office of the Controller and Auditor General of Tanzania since 2001. Grace has only one subject to complete before receiving her Certified Public Accountancy. While in Canada, she would like to learn how to use computer assisted audit techniques in planning and executing reporting. Amongst her many interests, Grace likes reading, singing cooking and gardening.
	James Ryoba (Tanzania) is a performance auditor with Office of the Controller and Auditor General of Tanzania. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 2003 and looks forward to becoming a key person / team player in the Performance Audit Unit upon returning home. James has worked on audits related to donor-funded projects (DFP's) as well as the National Television of Tanzania. Interested in football, travelling and meeting people, James looks forward to learning about Canada.
	Sirintorn Phankasem (Thailand) is responsible for managing financial audits and evaluates the economic, efficiency and effectiveness of client projects that have a large budget and high impact on the public. She is a senior auditor with the Office of the Auditor General of Thailand and will be responsible for performance audits upon her return home. Sirintorn has her Master of Accountancy and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1995. Reading and listening to pop music are a couple of her favorite pass times, along with travelling and occasionally cooking. Once the snow arrives, she looks forward to skiing.

The object of the International Fellowship Program is to help National Audit Offices in developing countries that desire to improve the quality of public sector auditing and are prepared, within their capacities, to institute measure toward the achievement of this goal. The program is achievement-oriented and based on the principles and techniques of performance / value-for money / comprehensive auditing.

Each year the Fellows arrive mid-August to begin a variety of cultural orientation sessions, computer and in-class training. From the first day in September that they arrive at either the Office of the Auditor General of Canada or Vérificateur général du Québec, their calendar is booked solid with courses, topical sessions, practicums, audit team placements and hands on learning, and a variety of culturally diverse activities.

Throughout the duration of their placement each Fellow will be mentored in the development of a Strategy Paper. The Auditor General of each National Audit Office approves the individual topic selected by the fellows. The production of a Strategy Paper is an integral part of their learning and skills development and the Fellows are expected to implement their special project within two years of their return home.

In continued support to the Fellows, each is encouraged to network world wide through a CCAF electronic bulletin board, IGradNet, thus facilitating an exchange of lessons learned. CCAF posts the Strategy Projects annually on its website for an additional interchange of knowledge.

Having just completed the 25^th year, the program has trained 168 Fellows from 48 countries. Many graduates hold senior positions in their offices. Gender equality continues to be an active component of the Program. CCAF is pleased to report that the participation of women for the first 10 years was 12%, in the second 10 years 25% and is currently running at 38%.

The International Fellowship Program partners are pleased to extend our great Canadian hospitality, especially by giving tips on how to cope with the great white north. Firstly though, we are pleased to help each Fellow settle into their new surroundings, meet new colleagues, and become familiar with our great Canadian culture.

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