THE National Audit Authority (NAA) has signed an agreement with Danida, the Danish government's development agency, for the second stage of the national audit project.

Danida's funding of 1 million Danish krone (US$192,000) until 2011 will strengthen implementation of the first phase of the project, said Luk Nhip, the NAA's secretary general.

"The first phase isn't completely finished yet because we've only shared our auditing knowledge with some provinces," he said.

He said the aim is to enhance public auditing, to improve officials' capacities, and to create greater public knowledge about the NAA and its role.

"The second phase will strengthen public financial management, especially as regards buying auditing software and training our officials to use it," he said. "We will also improve cooperation with neighbouring countries to share auditing knowledge."

The NAA received 3 million krone from Danida in the first phase from 2007 to 2008.