In June 2024, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Professional Accountancy Organization (PAO) Development Advisory Group (DAG) launched IFAC's Strategic Planning Toolkit during the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) Congress in Mauritius. Designed to empower PAOs globally, the toolkit aligns with IFAC’s Member Value Proposition and its 2025 Strategy, focusing on strengthening the capacity of PAOs to deliver value in their jurisdictions. Recognizing the diverse challenges PAOs face, IFAC organized region-specific workshops to ensure the toolkit’s effective implementation, highlighting its commitment to collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation. 

The workshops brought together PAOs from diverse regions—Francophone Africa, the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia—creating a platform for global engagement. By tailoring sessions to address region-specific challenges while introducing a universal strategic planning toolkit, IFAC enabled PAOs to strengthen their local impact while contributing to a globally unified profession. 

The workshops also facilitated peer learning, with participants sharing insights and strategies. This exchange of ideas promotes a sense of global unity, ensuring PAOs are not working in isolation but as part of an interconnected network of professionals striving toward shared goals. 

Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) Regional Workshop | June 25, 2024 | Advancing Strategic Thinking 

IFAC PAODAG Leads at the PAFA Regional Workshop: Alta Prinsloo (Network Partner & Co-Host), Zarif Ludin (Technical Advisor) 

The PAFA workshop in Mauritius on June 25, 2024, brought together a diverse group of PAOs to explore how strategic planning could address regional and organizational priorities Participants benefited from tailored support, including guidance on how to share success stories and transfer knowledge across PAOs to improve the application of the toolkit. 

Image

Resource allocation emerged as a priority, with participants requesting support in securing external funding and implementing technology tools to enhance strategy development. The workshop also emphasized monitoring and evaluation, providing participants with templates and mechanisms for stakeholder feedback. These tools aim to institutionalize quarterly reviews to ensure strategies remain relevant. 

Participants highlighted the need for adaptive strategies to navigate environmental changes, leadership transitions, and shifting organizational priorities. The workshop’s focus on agility reflects IFAC’s commitment to helping PAOs build resilience in dynamic environments. 

Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) Regional Workshop | October 7, 2024 | Overcoming Stakeholder Challenges 

IFAC PAODAG Leads at the ICAC Regional Workshop: Marsha Caballero (Member), Denise Chinpire (Network Partner & Co-Host) 

The ICAC Strategic Planning Workshop, held on October 7th in New York in collaboration with IFAC and the World Bank as a knowledge partner, welcomed 23 leaders from PAOs in the Caribbean region. The workshop focused on enhancing the strategic planning capabilities of these organizations, fostering a collaborative atmosphere for exchanging best practices. 

One key takeaway was the importance of defining and communicating a clear value proposition. This was seen as essential for engaging stakeholders and demonstrating the broader societal impact of PAOs. Participants also stressed the need for governance structures aligned with strategic goals to ensure clarity in roles and responsibilities. 

Collaboration emerged as a central theme, with participants sharing insights and building connections. For instance, PAOs from the Bahamas and Suriname agreed to work together to implement the toolkit, showcasing the value of peer learning. Monitoring and evaluation were highlighted as crucial, with many PAOs adopting results-based frameworks and mid-term reviews to track progress. 

Over 88% of attendees expressed interest in further guidance from IFAC and ICAC, particularly for smaller PAOs that require hands-on support and resources. Participants requested analytical tools, templates for governance structures, and case studies of successful implementations to guide their strategic planning journeys. 

Francophone Africa (FIDEF): Building Momentum for Strategic Planning 

IFAC PAODAG Leads at the FIDEF Regional Workshop: Mamour Fall (Network Partner & Co-Host) 

The Fédération Internationale des Experts-Comptables Francophones (FIDEF), Strategic Planning Workshop, held on October 9th in Marseille, France, in collaboration with IFAC, welcomed 50 participants from 32 PAOs during the 79th French Congress of Accountants. The Paris workshop for Francophone Africa emphasized structured, goal-oriented strategic planning, with a strong focus on knowledge-sharing and stakeholder engagement. Participants stressed the importance of foundational elements such as vision, mission, and goal statements. They also identified a need for more detailed support in completing SWOT analyses, creating strategic initiatives, and developing stakeholder communication plans. 

Image

FIDEF’s members requested a follow-up workshop to explore specific toolkit components in greater depth, such as creating progress reports, annual reports, and action plans using tools like Gantt charts. Over 90% of participants expressed interest in ongoing guidance from IFAC PAODAG, with supplementary requests for templates such as financial plans, business models for PAOs, and evaluation frameworks. 

This workshop highlighted the appetite for step-by-step guidance to implement the toolkit effectively. The strong interest in bilateral support reflects the commitment of PAOs in the region to improving their strategic planning capabilities. 

Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Strengthening Monitoring and Collaboration 

IFAC PAODAG Leads at the MENA Regional Workshop: Anas Abouelmikias (Member), Zarif Ludin (Technical Advisor & Co-Host) 

The MENA Strategic Planning Workshop, held on October 25th at the ACCA office in Dubai, UAE, welcomed a focused group of approximately 20 leaders representing 9 PAOs in the Middle East and North Africa This smaller setting allowed for tailored discussions that addressed the specific challenges faced by PAOs in this region. 

Image

Participants valued peer-to-peer learning and expressed interest in forming a “community of practice” to collaboratively work through the toolkit. This initiative highlights the importance of ongoing support and shared learning to sustain progress. 

Participants also emphasized the need for case studies and best practices to guide their efforts. For example, PAOs from Algeria and Morocco agreed to collaborate on toolkit implementation, leveraging regional partnerships to address common challenges. 

A key insight was the need to create a sense of urgency for PAOs to embrace change, echoing John Kotter’s change management theory. Participants identified tools such as SWOT analyses, financial plan templates, and risk management frameworks as essential for fostering strategic transformation. Additionally, many requested resources like a sustainability reporting framework and a change management guide to keep pace with evolving demands.