IntoSAINT: Safeguarding Integrity in SAIs

IntoSAINT is an integrity self-assessment tool developed by the Netherlands Court of Audit that has become one of the most widely adopted integrity management instruments in the international audit community. Designed specifically for Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and other public sector organisations, IntoSAINT provides a structured methodology for evaluating the maturity and effectiveness of an organisation's integrity management system, identifying vulnerabilities, and developing targeted improvement plans. Its widespread adoption across OECD and non-OECD countries demonstrates both the universal importance of institutional integrity and the practical value of a standardised assessment approach.

The IntoSAINT methodology is built around a comprehensive framework that examines integrity management across multiple dimensions. These include the organisational culture and leadership commitment to integrity, the policies and procedures in place to prevent integrity violations, the systems for detecting and reporting potential breaches, the mechanisms for investigating and responding to integrity incidents, and the processes for learning from past experiences and continuously improving integrity management. By examining all of these dimensions together, IntoSAINT provides a holistic view of an organisation's integrity posture rather than a narrow focus on any single aspect.

A key feature of IntoSAINT is its participatory approach. Rather than relying solely on documentary review or external assessment, the tool engages staff from across the organisation in facilitated workshops where they collectively assess their institution's integrity management against the framework's criteria. This participatory process not only produces more accurate and nuanced assessments but also builds awareness and ownership of integrity issues throughout the organisation, creating momentum for improvement that extends beyond the assessment itself.

The OECD Auditors Alliance has supported the dissemination of IntoSAINT across its membership, facilitating training sessions, sharing implementation experiences, and helping adapt the tool to different institutional and cultural contexts. Several member countries have used IntoSAINT as the foundation for broader integrity reform programmes within their audit institutions.