USAID Transitions CIPA Program to Local Partners
On June 5, 2008, USAID’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Support through Financial Sector Development Project held a certificate award ceremony and transition presentation as part of its continued support of the Certified International Professional Accountant (CIPA) Program in Azerbaijan. The event brought together representatives from Azerbaijan’s Chamber of Auditors, the Ministry of Finance, the Azerbaijan Micro-Finance Association, banks, and international and local media.
![USAID/Azerbaijan economist, Dr. Paul Davis (right) poses with newly awarded Certified Accounting Practitioners.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081108025003im_/http://www.usaid.gov/locations/europe_eurasia/images/success/2008-07-21.jpg) |
USAID/Azerbaijan economist, Dr. Paul Davis (right) poses with newly awarded Certified Accounting Practitioners.
Photo Credit: ACDI-VOCA |
Two program participants received their Certified Accounting Practitioner (CAP) certificates and three additional candidates who had recently passed all three required examinations were announced. CAP is the first of two certification levels within the CIPA program. Following the award presentation, a project representative delivered a presentation, “Past, Present and Future of CIPA,” and elaborated on plans to transition the program from project support to local organizations in Azerbaijan.
USAID/Azerbaijan Mission Economist, Dr. Paul Davis emphasized USAID’s role as the primary sponsor of the internationally-recognized CIPA program from its inception and expansion into 11 countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). A world-class, International Federation of Accountants-compliant accounting training, examination, and certification program, CIPA is the only comprehensive Russian-language program for professional accountants, financial managers, and auditors. More than 9,500 accounting professionals have received CIPA certification. The CIPA certification was established with USAID support in 2001 with the formation of the Eurasian Council of Certified Accountants and Auditors (ECCAA) which is now the governing body promoting CIPA in all countries.
Davis congratulated the successful Certified Accounting Practitioners and thanked the two local certification bodies—the Chamber of Auditors of Azerbaijan and the Association of Certified Accountants of Azerbaijan—for their active support in making CIPA sustainable in the country. In turn, the representative of the Chamber of Auditors expressed his gratitude to USAID and implementing partner ACDI/VOCA for their support of the CIPA program in Azerbaijan.
Since 2007, USAID has provided substantial technical and financial support to promote the introduction of CIPA in Azerbaijan. Over the past 18 months, more than 170 accountants have been trained and eleven local accountants have earned CAP certificates.
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