AMMAN — The Audit Bureau of Jordan (ABJ) and the United Kingdom’s National Audit Office (NAO), in cooperation with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening public financial oversight and advancing audit reforms.

 

The agreement was signed in Amman by Audit Bureau President Radhi Hamadeen, while Comptroller and Auditor General of the UK Gareth Davies and British Ambassador to Jordan Philip Hall joined the ceremony virtually.

 

Officials said the partnership aligns with Jordan’s ongoing political, economic and administrative modernisation efforts, in which the Audit Bureau continues to play a key role in promoting governance, transparency and accountability.

 

According to the bureau, recent reforms have focused on upgrading audit methodologies, enhancing institutional capacity and producing reports that meet international standards.

 

Under the MoU, the NAO, recognised internationally for its leadership in public audit, will conduct a comprehensive “peer review” of the ABJ. The review will assess performance auditing practices and recommend improvements to strengthen compliance with global standards.

 

“Over the past two years, the Audit Bureau has undertaken a number of reforms, addressing its work mechanisms, methodology, institutional capacity, development of human resources and the use of technology in audit fieldwork,” Hamadeen said during the signing ceremony. “These efforts reflect our commitment to aligning the bureau’s progress with Jordan’s broader political and administrative transformation.”

 

British Ambassador Hall said the agreement “will support Jordan’s commitment to greater transparency and accountability”.

 

Joining virtually, Davies said the partnership represents “a shared commitment to improvement, innovation and stronger oversight,” adding that both sides will “share expertise, learn from each other and work together to strengthen public audit and accountability”.

 

The MoU expands the UK’s ongoing support to the ABJ by enhancing its performance audit function and strengthening its national and international credibility through high-quality, issues-focused reporting.

 

Peer review

 

Speaking to The Jordan Times, Hamadeen described the peer review as one of the most effective international practices used by Supreme Audit Institutions. “The main goal is to check that audit procedures, methodologies and reporting comply with international best practices and high standards,” he said.

 

Improving these processes, he noted, will enhance the credibility of the bureau’s reports, increase transparency and support accountability. The review is also expected to positively influence donor confidence and improve the quality of reports submitted to Parliament, creating a “long-term impact on audit quality”.

 

Hamadeen further highlighted the importance of “value for money” audits, which assess whether public funds deliver real benefits to citizens. “We will advance implementation through capacity building, training and intensive review, preparing our staff to meet performance audit requirements,” he said.

 

He stressed that the initiative was proposed by the bureau itself. “This cooperation is not imposed by any external party, inside or outside Jordan, other than His Majesty’s vision,” Hamadeen said.