In its quest to reduce staff vacancy rate from 47% to 20% by 2021, the Central Internal Audit Unit has promoted 15 Internal Auditors to different grades during the 2018-2019 financial year. The promoted auditors are 1 Deputy Director (Grade E/P3), 7 Assistant Directors (Grade E/P4), 3 Principal Internal Auditors (Grade G) and 4 Internal Auditors (Grade I). The promotions have reduced the vacancies at senior grades.

Central Internal Audit Unit (CIAU) facilitated a workshop on standardizing audit procedures for Internal Auditors in Local Councils at Ryalls Hotel in Blantyre from 13^th to 14^th November, 2018. The workshop was organized by National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) as one way of building capacity of Internal Auditors in Councils. Nineteen (19) Internal Auditors from different Councils attended the workshop that covered areas on audit planning, undertaking an audit engagement and communicating audit results. The training will assist Local Council Internal Auditors in undertaking audits in a consistent and professional manner thereby improving the quality of audit work which was highlighted as a challenge by the Acting Executive Secretary for NLGFC during the official opening of the workshop. In his closing remarks, the Director of CIAU urged the Internal Auditors to continuously develop their skills and knowledge by attending such kind of workshops, reading Internal Auditing Publications, becoming members of the Institute of Internal Auditors Malawi and obtaining relevant professional certificates such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).

The Central Internal Audit Unit (CIAU) organized an orientation workshop for key stakeholders of Inspectorate of Finance on 23^rd January 2019. The workshop was held to create awareness to Accounting, Procurement, Administration and Internal Audit personnel on the functions and roles of the Inspectorate of Finance.

 The workshop was attended by 65 officers from nine Ministries namely: Civic Education Culture and Community Development; Defence; Local Government and Rural Development; Homeland Security; Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development; Industry, Trade and Tourism; Gender Children, Disability and Social Welfare; Accountant General and Information.

 The workshop was presided over by the Director of the Central Internal Audit Unit on behalf of the Secretary to the Treasury

Central Internal Audit Unit (CIAU) has completed the audit of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the following nine Councils; Nkhatabay, Ntchisi, Mchinji, Dedza, Mulanje, Phalombe, Kasungu Districts, and Cities of Zomba and Blantyre.

The audits were conducted in December 2017 and covered transactions for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 financial years. It was a continuation of the previous audits which were conducted in 16 Councils between October and November 2017. Plans are under way to audit the remaining 6 Councils in the 2018-2019 financial year.

The exercise also provided a platform to share knowledge and skills with internal auditors from the Councils because 9 internal auditors from various Councils were part of the auditors that undertook the exercise.