ICGFM DC Forum Luncheon - October 4, 2017; Domestic Resource Mobilization: Getting Back to Basics

October 4, 2017

Domestic Resource Mobilization: Getting Back to Basics

International Consortium On Governmental Financial Management (ICGFM)

DC Forum Luncheon

Steve Rozner
Senior Fiscal Advisor,
Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and the Environment,
USAID

Since the July 2015 Financing for Development Conference in Ethiopia, the global community has coalesced around domestic resource mobilization (DRM) as a central means for developing countries to enhance economic stability, deliver public services, and fulfill the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals.

During this session, Mr. Rozner will reflect on international experience and evidence of what works in improving DRM and provide his perspective on the importance of "getting the basics right."

Our Speaker:

Steve Rozner is senior fiscal advisor in USAID's Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and the Environment. Steve supports the Agency's programming, technical leadership, and international cooperation in the area of domestic resource mobilization (DRM). In his capacity, he regularly collaborates with USAID's Washington and overseas operating units to integrate DRM and public financial management into development strategies and project designs. Prior to joining USAID, he directed the Public Finance and Economic Policy practice at DAI and served as director for USAID’s worldwide Fiscal Reform and Economic Governance program. Steve has more than 15 years of experience designing, managing, and implementing technical assistance in fiscal policy and management in countries spanning Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the LAC region. He has authored or co-authored articles, reports and case studies on tax policy, tax administration modernization, PFM, and fiscal regimes for natural resource extraction. He was also part of the team that led the U.S. Government's participation in launching the Addis Tax Initiative at the Financing for Development Conference in Ethiopia in July 2015.

A Three Course, Served Luncheon is included.

Price:               Member - $35.00, Non-Member - $37.50

Location:          Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

                        1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW

                        Washington, DC 20036

Time:               12:00-1:30pm

Sponsored by:      

ICGFM DC Forum Luncheon, September 6, 2017 - Syria Humanitarian Assistance: Steps Taken By U.S. Agencies to Ensure Financial Oversight

Syria Humanitarian Assistance: Steps Taken By U.S. Agencies to Ensure Financial Oversight

ICGFM DC Forum Luncheon

September 6, 2017, 12:00 - 1:30pm

REGISTER HERE 

Our Speakers:

    

Thomas Melito

Director,

International Affairs and Trade

U.S. Government Accountability Office

    

Elizabeth Repko

Assistant Director,

International Affairs and Trade

 U.S. Government Accountability Office

The ongoing conflict in Syria has created a complex humanitarian crisis. The United Nations estimates that approximately 13.5 million people in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance. The United States, through the Department of State (State) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided over $6.5 billion to fund humanitarian assistance efforts to support people affected by the crisis in Syria, about half of which supports those inside the country. The presentation will discuss GAO examination of the efforts of U.S. agencies to ensure financial oversight of humanitarian assistance provided to support people inside Syria, including the factors affecting delivery of such assistance and the extent to which State, USAID, and their implementing partners have assessed risks and implemented financial controls.

 Our Speakers:

 Dr. Thomas Melito is a director in the International Affairs and Trade Team, having spent more than 28 years at GAO. In this capacity, he is primarily responsible for GAO’s international food aid and multilateral assistance portfolio.  Dr. Melito also shares the security assistance portfolio, focusing on work related to international sanctions and WMD proliferation. Under Dr. Melito’s leadership:

• GAO has produced a series of reports examining multiple aspects of the U.S. international food assistance including monetization, internal controls at the UN World Food Program and the effectiveness of cash-based food. 
• Completed several reviews of management issues at the United Nations including two examinations of the compensation of UN employees and multiple reviews on oversight of the renovation of the UN headquarters buildings.
• A series of reports examining the implementation of U.S. and multilateral sanctions against both Iran and North Korea.
  
  Dr. Melito holds an MA and PhD in economics from Columbia University and a BS in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University.

Elizabeth Repko is an Assistant Director at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and has spent the last 12 years working on international affairs issues. As an Assistant Director, Ms. Repko has worked on a range of issues including: 

• U.S. efforts to provide oversight of assistance provided by multilateral institutions, including the United Nations and its funds and programs
• U.S. counterterrorism activities, such as those to address terrorist safe havens and to designate foreign terrorist organizations
• U.S. and multilateral efforts to reconstruct Afghanistan, including training and equipping security forces and countering the production and trafficking of narcotics.
  
  Ms. Repko holds a BA in international relations from Michigan State University and a MPP and MS from the University of Michigan.

A Three Course, Served Luncheon is included:
Price:  Member - $35,  Non-Member - $37.50

Location:  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20036

Time:  12:00-1:30pm

^{Sponsored By:}

ICGFM DC Forum, April 5, 2017 - US GAO Foreign Assistance Evaluation Report

April 5, 2017

US GAO Foreign Assistance Evaluation Report

REGISTER HERE

International Consortium On Governmental Financial Management (ICGFM)

DC Forum Luncheon

Our Speaker:

Gergana Danailova-Trainor

Senior Economist

Government Accountability Office

In 2016, the GAO released its latest in a series of reports on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of foreign assistance programs.  The report a meta evaluation conducted by the GAO of completed evaluations in fiscal year 2015 by the leading foreign assistance agencies.  The GAO’s report examines:  (1) the extent to which foreign assistance program evaluations met key evaluation quality criteria; (2) the costs of the agencies’ evaluations and factors that affect these costs; and (3) the extent to which the agencies ensure the dissemination of evaluation reports within the agency and to the public.

Our Speaker:
Gergana Danailova-Trainor has been a Senior Economist with the US Government Accountability Office since September 2005.  Ms. Danailova-Trainor has provided technical expertise and has led teams in International Affairs and Trade (IAT) in assessing the performance of programs and the effects of policies implemented by U.S. government agencies. She has developed proposals, contributed her analytical expertise to the design and implementation of GAO audits, and has worked on multiple engagements in most major IAT portfolio areas including:  international security; foreign assistance; international trade; human rights; international sanctions; and foreign affairs management.

Prior to joining GAO, Ms. Danailova-Trainor was an Assistant Professor at the City College of New York and conducted research as a principal investigator researching Bulgarian women in transition to market economy and EU enlargement, and women entrepreneurs and workers in the apparel industry in Bulgaria.  Ms. Danailova-Trainor was also a researcher, teaching assistant and instructor at Johns Hopkins University, Wayne State University and the College of Notre Dame.

A Three Course, Served Luncheon is included

Price:               Member - $35,  Non-Member - $37.50

Location:          Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

                        1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW

                        Washington, DC 20036

Time:               12:00-1:30pm

Sponsored by:  

ICGFM DC Forum Luncheon, March 1, 2017 - The Fiscal Transparency & Innovation Fund

The Fiscal Transparency & Innovation Fund
DC Forum Luncheon
March 1, 2017, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

REGISTER HERE

Our Speaker: 

Lisa J. Kubiske
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Finance & Development 
Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs

The Department and USAID created the Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund (FTIF) in FY 2012. FTIF supports programs and activities that assist governments to improve their public financial management and fiscal transparency standards, and civil society organizations that promote budget transparency. The Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment solicit proposals and award funds in accordance with established guidelines.

Our Speaker:

A United States diplomat with experience in Latin America, China/Hong Kong, and Washington D.C., Kubiske served as the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras (2011-2014), Deputy Chief of Mission in Brazil (2008-2011) and Deputy Chief of Mission in the Dominican Republic (2003-2006).

Earlier assignments include service as the Western Hemisphere Economics Director at the State Department; Officer in the State Department's Operations Center and Secretariat Staff; Investment Director and Negotiator at the United States Trade Representative's Office (USTR); chief of the Economic-Political Section at the United States Consulate General in Hong Kong; and additional work in Shanghai, China and in Mexico, DF, Mexico.

She was awarded the State Department's highest honor, a Valor Award, for her coordination of U.S. search teams following the major Mexican earthquakes of September 1985. She has earned other awards as well, including a Superior Honor Award for her work as DCM in Santo Domingo and, most recently, Superior Honor awards for her participation in the public outreach campaign on behalf of the United States-Peru Free Trade Agreement and her efforts on behalf of the United States-Brazil biofuels cooperation.  Ms. Kubiske holds a Bachelor's Degree from Brandeis University and a Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) degree from Georgetown University.

A Three Course, Served Luncheon is included

Price:               Member - $35,  Non-Member - $37.50

Location:  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20036

Time:  12:00-1:30pm

Sponsored By:

ICGFM DC Forum Luncheon, November 2, 2016 - Public Financial Management in the Fight Against Corruption

Public Financial Management in the Fight Against Corruption
DC Forum Luncheon
November 2, 2016, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

REGISTER HERE

Our Speaker: 

Reggie Mitchell

Chief Financial Officer, USAID

During this session, Reginald W. Mitchell, Chief Financial Officer for the US Agency for International Development, will present a high-level overview of the development challenge surrounding corruption and provide his perspective on public financial management's role in building effective institutions and fighting corruption. 

Our Speaker:  Reginald W. Mitchell has served as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Chief Financial Officer since March 2014.  He is responsible for the worldwide oversight and development of USAID’s financial management policies, programs, and systems.  Mr. Mitchell provides executive leadership to Agency senior management and staff in ensuring the financial integrity of the Agency’s business operations.  Mr. Mitchell also served at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for 26 years, where he gained considerable executive experience.  Mr. Mitchell also served as the Agency’s Controller from 2011 to 2013, and as Budget Director from 2008 to 2011.  Prior to these assignments, he served in a number of senior executive and management positions at the headquarters and regional levels leading administrative operations, including financial management, information technology, human resources, budget formulation and execution, performance management, strategic planning, and space management.  Prior to joining the NRC, Mr. Mitchell served in the United States Navy on nuclear submarines.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from National-Louis University and a Master of Public Administration from American University.

Location:  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20036

Time:  12:00-1:30pm

Sponsored By:

ICGFM DC Forum Luncheon, October 5, 2016 - How a Deficit-Plagued District of Columbia was Transformed

How a Deficit-Plagued District of Columbia was Transformed into a Financially Healthy Municipality
DC Forum Luncheon
October 5, 2016, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

REGISTER HERE

Our Speaker:

Natwar Gandhi

Former Chief Financial Officer, District of Columbia

A first-hand account of:

·         How the District was transformed from a deficit-plagued, junk bond rated jurisdiction with $550 million negative fund balance into a financially healthy municipality with a string of balanced budgets and a fund balance of $1.5 billion at the end of 2013, and 

·               How the District secured multiple rating upgrades (a total of 13 rating steps since FY2000) from the major rating agencies for its general obligation bonds, which are currently rated A+ by Standard and Poor’s, AA- by Fitch Ratings and Aa2 by Moody’s Investors Service.

Our Speaker:  Natwar M. Gandhi, PhD, retired as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the District of Columbia at the end of 2013 after serving in that position since 2000.  After presenting evidence of the District's renewed fiscal strength to the financial community, Gandhi was able to secure bond rating upgrades for the city from the three major rating agencies, including a return to an 'A -' rating from Standard and Poor's and Fitch Ratings - the first 'A' level rating for the District since 1995.  Gandhi holds a doctorate in accounting from Louisiana State University, a master's degree in business administration from Atlanta University, and an LLB and BCom in accounting from the University of Bombay.

Location:  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20036

Time:  12:00-1:30pm

Sponsored By:

Call for Speakers/Panels/Papers

ICGFM Winter Training Conference

December 5 - 7, 2016

Washington, DC USA

Looking forward to a renewed role for public financial management (PFM), it is necessary to build strong PFM practices to address macroeconomic environment, to maximize PFM investment and investor’s confidence.  The options available to finance growth are positively correlated to the strength of a country’s PFM policies, supporting framework and processes, and underlying capacity.

ICGFM solicits proposals for speakers/panels/papers that address the relationship between PFM and its role in building the foundation for success to meet the sustainable development goals for its upcoming Winter Training Conference to be held at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, USA. 

Deadline for submitting proposals for the Washington, DC conference:  September 1, 2016

Presenters from the public and non-profit sector will be awarded a stipend that can be used toward the cost of travel and hotel expenses and given an opportunity to publish their case studies in the ICGFM Journal. 

Key subjects of the conference theme include:

Institutional Reforms and Measurement:

·         Selecting PFM investments which align with strategic vision

·         Developing PFM mechanism geared toward service delivery

·         Demonstrating sectorial returns of PFM investment

·         Realizing benefits of Supreme Audit Institution

·         Enhancing judicious and equitable revenue collection

·         Demonstrating importance of whole of government approach

Policy Reforms:

·     Addressing macroeconomic policies and practices to maximize return in government PFM investments

·       Establishing Government Accounting Standards Board

·   Shifting all public sector enterprises, ministries, departments and authorities to accrual accounting to bring transparency and efficiency

Operational Reforms and Processes:

·         Increasing investors’ confidence through strong PFM practices

·         Enhancing transparency through open government/open data initiatives

·         Preventing fraud, waste, and abuse

·         Investing in people to meet governmental strategies

·      Using financial management information system and analytical tools for decision making to establish strong cash flow and budget management mechanisms

·      Developing budgets driven by long term development policies; equal importance for recurrent budget expenditures

  

Format:

Please follow these instructions to ensure your proposal is expeditiously reviewed. Submissions that do not conform to these instructions will not be reviewed.  Proposals may be presented using the format at the end of this announcement and must be translated into English.

If the attached format is not used, proposals should be no more than 1-3 pages in English.  The submission should include the following information:  

• Title of session
• Name, Title, Affiliation, languages spoken, address, email, and phone number of the Session Organizer
• Name, Title, Affiliation, languages spoken and contact information of up to four (4) potential panelists, if applicable
• Overview that includes: Objectives of the session; background of the topic; significance to scholarship in or practice of PFM. 

How to submit: icgfm.programs@icgfm.org  

Method of selection: All submissions will be reviewed by the Program Steering Committee. 

Criteria on which proposals are evaluated include: Overall quality; interest to the financial management community of scholars; relevance to practice, and the potential to advance knowledge and dialogue in the field.

Selection notifications for the Washington, DC conference will be made by September 30, 2016.  

Final conference presentations from selected presenters are due on October 21, 2016. 

Conference description:  ICGFM Conferences are a gathering of financial management practitioners to discuss the financial reforms and methods available to better serve their citizens.  Representatives from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America share their practical experiences in meeting common challenges and employing innovative approaches to all aspects of the PFM cycle.  

REGISTER / INFO

ENGLISH | ESPANOL | FRANCAIS

VISA / INVITATION LETTER

ENGLISH | ESPANOL | FRANCAIS

ICGFM MISSION

Working globally with governments, organizations and individuals, the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management is dedicated to improving financial management so that governments may better serve their citizens.