Nauruan SOE accountants pass with flying colours

In an activity funded through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Australia and the Government of Nauru, accounting software was recently installed in Nauru’s major State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

In parallel to the installation, a beginners-level training course on use of the software was conducted in the USP Nauru computer laboratory 17 – 26 April. Participants included senior accounting staff from each of the SOEs, and representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the USP. All participants graduated from the course with impressive scores in all assessments.

The course generated considerable attention on the island, and course facilitator, Mr Ben Kingsbury (pictured here with participants at the graduation ceremony), was interviewed by the national radio station during the course.

World Wide staff form the core Nauru Program Design Team (PDT), whose role involves scoping and designing projects to operationalise available MOU funding in a range of sectors. PDT member Cathy Deane has been responsible for the design and implementation of the package of accounting assistance to SOEs, which has involved procurement and installation of accounting software, the software training course, and engaging suitable accounting support to assist each SOE in working towards opening balances, changing workflows and capturing data for the 2007-08 financial year. This program was designed to contribute to Broader Public Sector Improvement activities currently underway in Nauru.