ICGFM Promotes Knowledge Transfer Among Public Financial Management Experts

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Showing posts with label participatory budgeting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label participatory budgeting. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Management for Results in Public Financial Management


Government Performance Management must move beyond the Budget
Jean-Baptiste Sawadogo, the President of Leader One, provided an overview of Managing for Results (MfR) in Public Financial Management (PFM). MfR is about strategy.

Jean-Baptiste Sawadogo of Leader One described the importance of Management for Results (MfR) on Government Performance Management. He pointed out that finance is not everything when improving results in government. He provided a history of management for results in government. He described performance innovation and adoption of results-focused PFM and the use of performance audits

Performance audits and the use of civil society in improving results were introduced by J-B Sawadogo. Performance budgeting is not necessarily results-based because they can focus on allocating money rather than performance. He suggested that budget is a tool in private sector flexibility but is rigid in the public sector.

Jean-Baptiste Sawadogo is seeing the the harmonization of language and concepts. Public finance experts realize that indicators are for measurements and that activities are not results.

MfR is still focused on a Public Expenditures Management mentality. Mr. Sawadogo described how the budget process has supremacy n most countries. Countries are trying whole-of-government approaches but there remains a strong agency/sector/functional orientation rather than a true ‘Results for Citizens’ focus.

Mr. Sawadogo suggests that MfR in developing countries focuses on public expenditure management and anti-corruption. The main emphasis in developed countries is a by-product of austerity and crisis management He described the dilemma of stimulus packages – trying to get quick results yet fear of risks.

The model of performance management in China is very interesting. China is creating rigorous MfR programs according to Mr. Sawadogo.

Problems that need to be overcome include:


  • Expenditure mentality

  • Supremacy of the budget

  • Risk adverse culture


  • Complexity in government/self preserving structures

  • Divided governance: Political; Legislative; Public Service; Judiciary; Decentralized regimes…

  • Short-to-medium term electoral cycle vision

  • Increased discourse but still confusion and insufficient practice

  • Difficulty in moving beyond activities and outputs

Mr. Sawadogo showed how MfR can be used in PFM:


  • Strong MfR leadership at the top

  • Long term orderly MfR implementation (culture change takes time)

  • Long-term results-focused country vision

  • Comprehensive country results framework

  • Results-focused country strategic documents

  • Results-friendly risk-mitigation practices

Mr. Sawadogo suggests that ‘Managing for Results’ in government is here to stay - citizens will keep pushing for results. Public financial managers can please auditors - but have a duty to please citizens.






Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Budget Transparency improving in Many Countries


Vivek Ramkumar Manager of the Open Budget Initiative described why the organization focuses on budgets and transparency. He described the importance of budget management to the poor.








The three key finding for the most recent open budget survey were:


  • The public is shut out of the budget process in the majority of countries. 41 of the 85 countries provide only minimal, scant, or no information.

  • The lack of transparency is compounded by weak oversight institutions in audit and parliament. Donor aid may negatively affect transparency. Low scoring countries often share similar characteristics, including regional locations, dependence on oil and gas exports and foreign aid, and weakness of democratic institutions.

  • Budget Transparency can be improved quickly and at little cost

Countries that showed improvements since the last study were Egypt, Georgia, Croatia, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Nepal. Mr. Ramkumar completed his presentation with advice for governments and donors.


Mr. Ramkumar suggests that the financial crisis will reduce donor funding. Governments with more transparent budgets are more likely to receive funds.

Power of Participatory Budgeting in Uganda


The Hon. Kabondo Tindamanyire, Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Uganda spoke about the citizen participation in public financial management. He described the legal framework including the budget act.

The media forms a critical link to keep the public up-to-date on the budget process. The mechanism for exchange between the Government and its citizens is reflected on how the people rate the performance of the Government when it comes to elections and this is an indicator of how Government Programmes have addressed peoples desires and aspirations.














Budget preparation is discussed in call-in radio programs in Uganda. There are numerous radio stations supporting local languages. The government promotes literacy and open dialog with citizens. Participation occurs at all levels of government. Citizens are encouraged to participate in budget discussions including discussing priorities. Uganda uses a Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), but are extending it to 5 years because of the success of the process to date and the impact of the financial crisis.

The Hon. Kabondo Tindamanyire discussed other challenges through the financial crisis. He believes that transparency and dialog builds confidence among the population. Governments should endeavour to provide clear information to citizens including the source of funds, liabilities and how the government intends to pay obligations. The government produces a "Budget at a Glance" document