Enhancing the integrity and governance of 400 government employees annually
- Nada Al-Suhli: The Financial Supervisory Authority contributed to safeguarding KWD 1.5 billion of public funds
- Abdulrahman Al-Hadeeb: The program enhances the efficiency of public spending and improves the business and investment environment
The Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) launched its development plan through the “Enhancing Integrity, Transparency, and Governance in Financial Performance of Government Entities” program. Spanning four fiscal years from April 2026 to March 2030, the program aims to annually enhance the efficiency and capabilities of 400 government financial staff through 20 specialized applied workshops, while also providing advisory services for the development of five legislative amendments per year.
Finance Minister Dr. Yaqoub Al-Rifai, during the opening ceremony of the FSA’s workshops for state entities, affirmed that elevating the government financial management system and enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness are fundamental pillars in the reform and development journey. He noted that this reflects the state’s commitment to strengthening the principles of integrity, transparency, and governance, and to ensuring the optimal use of public resources and the protection of public funds.
Al-Rifai stated that the role of the FSA is a core component in supporting this system, through its supervisory and financial responsibilities, reinforcing compliance with legislation and regulations, and providing advice and guidance to government entities. This contributes to improving the quality of financial performance and enhancing the efficiency of the state’s resource utilization.
He added that the launch of the development plan translates the ongoing drive to develop government performance, invest in national competencies, and keep pace with changes and developments in financial management and supervision, in line with the objectives of the Kuwait Vision 2035.
The Minister emphasized that the success of efforts to develop financial performance requires the integration of roles among the various state agencies and institutions, and working with a unified team spirit. He confirmed that developing financial performance is a shared responsibility, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the efficiency of state institutions, protecting their assets, and supporting their developmental trajectory.
For her part, Nada Al-Suhli, the Acting Head of the Financial Supervisory Authority, affirmed that the launch of the program represents a significant milestone in the FSA’s journey. She noted that the program aims to shift from a concept of procedural oversight to a broader framework focused on capacity development, strengthening prevention, disseminating knowledge, and embedding sound financial practices.
Al-Suhli stated that the program spans four fiscal years, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2030, providing a timeframe for gradual and sustainable work, measuring results, and developing tools and practices in accordance with evolving trends in the government work environment.
She explained that the program is linked to two key pillars of the development plan: “Effective Government Administration,” through building institutional capabilities characterized by efficiency, governance, integrity, and transparency in managing public funds; and “Creative Human Capital,” by investing in government financial staff and preparing them to keep pace with recent developments in financial management, supervision, and governance.
She added that the program is also aligned with the concept of the knowledge economy, by enhancing specialized financial knowledge, leveraging best practices, and utilizing financial and technical analysis tools, thereby supporting the quality of financial decision-making and improving the efficiency of public spending.
Al-Suhli pointed out that the initiative’s goal is not limited to conducting workshops, but rather to building a sustainable institutional impact that reflects on the daily practices of employees in financial sectors, the quality of procedures and systems, the level of compliance with legislation and directives, and the efficiency of public resource management.
It revealed that the Financial Supervisory Authority, since its establishment approximately 10 years ago, has contributed—through the prior and preventive oversight exercised by financial supervisors—to preventing or correcting erroneous financial procedures before their execution, thereby helping to preserve approximately 1.5 billion dinars of public funds.
It clarified that detecting financial irregularities after disbursement often necessitates corrective measures and may lead to the recovery of funds, accountability proceedings, or legal disputes, imposing additional financial and administrative costs on the state. In contrast, prior oversight helps identify flaws before disbursement or commitment is finalized, preventing waste before it occurs.
It emphasized that this achievement underscores the value of preventive oversight and its role in enhancing the efficiency of public spending and achieving optimal use of resources. It noted that the upcoming phase aims to continue this role with more advanced tools, broader partnerships, and greater investment in knowledge and human capabilities.
Al-Hadeeb explained that the program targets the annual enhancement of the efficiency and capabilities of 400 financial employees from various government entities, through the implementation of 20 specialized applied workshops in financial and supervisory fields, in addition to providing consultancy services for the development of five pieces of legislation annually.
He stated that the program aims to measure the impact of the workshops in a practical manner, by achieving an improvement of at least 30% in the results of financial performance evaluations of employees after participating in the workshops, compared to pre-participation evaluation results. This makes training a tool for creating tangible and measurable development in knowledge, skills, and practice.
He indicated that the first-year plan for 2026–2027 includes 20 specialized workshops covering topics such as addressing observations and objections noted in the Authority’s reports, procurement committee operations, practices, and tenders; financial and governmental accounting; artificial intelligence and its applications in accounting and auditing; internal audit; risk management; budget preparation; monitoring of government contracts; financial investigations; and anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, among other related subjects.
Al-Hadeeb affirmed that the program aims to enhance financial performance in government entities, strengthen governance and compliance with financial regulations, and build qualified national cadres capable of applying best practices. This supports transparency and financial discipline, and contributes to improving the efficiency of public spending and enhancing the business and investment environment.
