Office of Internal Oversight

What we do

The OIO is mandated to assist the Director-General in fulfilling her oversight responsibilities in respect of management, staff and resources by conducting investigations, internal audits, inspections, evaluations and other oversight activities.

Our functions

1. Internal audit is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations. It helps an organization to accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.
2. Investigation is a formal fact-finding administrative inquiry. The purpose of an investigation is to examine and determine the veracity of allegations of misconduct and to report thereon to the Director-General. Misconduct is a failure by a staff member to observe the rules of conduct or the standards of behavior prescribed by the WTO (i.e. regulations, rules, administrative memoranda, etc.).
3. Inspection is a review conducted on an ad hoc basis whenever there is a strong indication that a wasteful use of resources or poor management of performance has occurred. The review provides a diagnosis of the issues concerned and proposes remedial measures.
4. Evaluation is a systematic, objective and impartial assessment focused on whether expected accomplishments and results have been achieved. It aims at determining the relevance, impact, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of objectives, programmes and activities.
5. Integrity risk assessment, prevention and detection activities are designed to identify, raise awareness of and address integrity concerns, including internal fraud and corruption, sexual harassment, abusive behaviours, and all other forms of misconduct. These activities include the delivery of fraud and integrity risk assessment exercises and Speak Up awareness sessions.

How we work

The Head of the OIO and other OIO staff are functionally and operationally independent from the Secretariat and from WTO members in the conduct of their duties.

The OIO reports on its activities to the Director General and the WTO Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration (CBFA).

The OIO is guided in its work by international audit and investigation principles, standards and good practice. (See below for references) Core principles that guide our work include respect for confidentiality, fairness, independence, integrity, objectivity, and safeguarding.

• The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
  • Uniform Guidelines for Investigations
  • Investigation Principles ACi Principles - ACi (my-aci.com)

Integrity Line

The OIO manages the WTO's Integrity Line, a secure online reporting portal available to WTO staff and third parties for raising concerns of alleged or suspected internal misconduct. For more information see link: Whispli

Further information

WTO documents

• Office of Internal Oversight : Role

Other resources

• WTO's External Auditor (Cour des Comptes Française)

OIO reports to the WTO Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration (CBFA)

• 2023: WT/BFA/W/626
  WT/BFA/W/651
• 2022: WT/BFA/W/612
  WT/BFA/W/586
• 2021: WT/BFA/W/557
  WT/BFA/W/545
• 2020: WT/BFA/W/515
  WT/BFA/W/517
  WT/BFA/W/532
  
• 2019: WT/BFA/W/472
  WT/BFA/W/484
• 2018: WT/BFA/W/439
  WT/BFA/W/451
• 2017: WT/BFA/W/408
  WT/BFA/W/423
• 2016: WT/BFA/W/389