The ICAO Safety and Security Audits (SSA) Branch is the Secretariat entity that is responsible for administering the Organization's two audit programmes – the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), launched in 1999, and the Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP), which was launched in mid-2002.

The ICAO audit programmes, which entail mandatory audits of all Contracting States, were created specifically to promote global aviation safety and security. The programmes lead to enhancements in both areas through the correction of deficiencies identified by the audits. Audit follow-up visits to date confirm that these high-priority activities have contributed to the establishment of more effective safety oversight and security systems around the world.

The SSA Branch employs experts in the fields of safety and security oversight who serve as audit programme administrators, coordinators and team leaders, as well as various support staff. The audit programmes are managed by dedicated Sections within the SSA Branch. USOAP is administered by the Safety Oversight Audit (SOA) Section, while USAP is the responsibility of the Aviation Security Audit (ASA) Section. A third component of the Branch, known as the Audit Coordination and Reporting (ACR) Section, provides the administrative and training support required for implementing both audit programmes.