DUBAI: The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Independent Evaluation Office of the New Development Bank, which was established by BRICS countries, organised a pioneering technical workshop in Dubai. This event, themed ‘Learning from Global Experiences on Approaches and Practices for Sustainable Development Projects: Evaluation, Internal Audit, Compliance and Investigation’, marks the first of its kind in the region.
According to Emirates News Agency, the workshop focused on discussing global best practices in evaluation and internal audit, along with policies and procedures related to compliance and investigations in infrastructure projects. It also explored potential future partnerships in knowledge-sharing, South-South cooperation, and capacity-building in audit and evaluation.
The event was attended by several key figures, including Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance; Ali Abdullah Sharafi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for International Financial Relations at th
e Ministry of Finance; Hamad Essa Al Zaabi, Director of the Office of the Minister of State for Financial Affairs; and Thuraiya Hamid Alhashimi, Director of International Financial Relations and Organisations at the Ministry of Finance and Board Member of the New Development Bank. Noora Ayoob, Director of the Internal Audit Department, was also present.
The workshop attracted over 100 attendees from government entities, the private sector, and professional organisations, alongside experts and specialists from the New Development Bank. International representatives from entities such as UN Women, the UN World Food Programme, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank were present, along with diplomats from the embassies of Russia, China, Bangladesh, and Algeria in the UAE.
In his opening remarks, Younis Haji AlKhoori highlighted the workshop’s aim to support the UAE’s efforts in driving sustainable development. He described it as an essential platform for strengthening partnerships and fostering knowledge
exchange among nations of the Global South. AlKhoori emphasized the UAE’s commitment to international cooperation and sustainable development goals, expressing strong support for the New Development Bank’s infrastructure initiatives.
Ashwani K. Muthoo, Director General of the Independent Evaluation Office at the New Development Bank, commented on the workshop’s broader aim to build capacity for sustainable infrastructure impact. He noted the UAE’s pivotal role within the bank and anticipated further strengthening of the partnership to contribute to the sustainability agenda through rigorous evaluation practices.
The workshop comprised three sessions. The first session provided an overview of the New Development Bank’s evaluation policies and strategies, including key methods and processes for evaluating policies, projects, and programmes. The second session discussed the bank’s internal audit methodology and global standards. The third session addressed compliance and investigation policies in infrastructur
e projects, focusing on the Uniform Principles and Guidelines for International Investigation Conference.
The workshop concluded with discussions on the challenges and opportunities in sustainable infrastructure projects, stressing the importance of transparent evaluation and audit methodologies for global success. The UAE joined the New Development Bank in October 2021, following its establishment in 2015 to support infrastructure and sustainable development in developing and emerging economies, as well as BRICS nations. The UAE is represented on the bank’s Board of Governors by Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini and Younis Haji AlKhoori, with Thuraiya Hamid Alhashimi serving as a board member.