«The auditors expanded their knowledge, skills and qualifications through regular initial and continuing training.»
In this chapter, the OA-IA reports on internal matters.
Personnel
In 2022, the OA-IA – as budgeted – set a target of 10 staff members.12 After three departures in 2021, the OA-IA hired three new colleagues in 2022. The Director of the OA-IA also left at the end of March 2022. The deputy Director took over as head for three months, until Prisca Fischer was appointed as the new Director on 1 July 2022.
Initial and continuing training
Continuous development of staff is an important factor ensuring OA-IA success. Its auditors expanded their knowledge, skills and qualifications through regular initial and continuing training. In 2022, for example, they attended relevant events on OSINT, information technology, privacy and future geopolitical developments. The OA-IA also organised in-house training on questioning techniques, counterintelligence, cyber security, security policy, OSINT and surveillance of telecommunications.
Access to official documents and information
As part of the decentralised Federal Administration, the OA-IA works on behalf of citizens. They have a right to know what the authorities are doing and how they are fulfilling their mandate. As a result, citizens have the right to gain access to information and at the same time the authorities have a duty to provide information.
The Freedom of Information Act13 determines the scope and boundaries of passive information. Any person may request access to official documents without having to claim a special interest. The OA-IA did not receive any requests for access to official documents in the reporting year. It answered seven enquiries from media representatives.
12 8.6 full-time equivalents shared by ten employees.
13 Federal Act of 17 December 2004 on Freedom of Information in the Administration (Freedom of Information Act, FoIA; SR 152.3)
