Enabling PFM Reform through PEFA

Nov 29 – Dec 1, 2016 Ljubljana, Slovenia No Fee
Nov 6, 2016 Auditing
English

Effective prioritization and implementation of PFM reforms requires a good understanding of weaknesses in the PFM system and directions other countries in the region and elsewhere have been taking to address them. Since 2001, PEFA has been a helpful tool for countries and their international partners for that purpose. With the increased focus on PFM reform in the Western Balkans under the new Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA II) for the EU’s multi-annual financial of 2014-2020, PEFA has received increased attention, e.g., as an instrument to measure the performance of countries’ public financial management. Most CEF constituency countries (among them all IPA countries) have already carried out a PEFA assessment.

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Enabling PFM Reform through PEFA

Workshop Day 3

Workshop Day 2

We've started our second workshop day reflecting on what we have learned and liked on day 1, and what could be changed to further strengthen our learning experience. Upon suggestion of one of our peer, we've done an energizing icebreaker "WALK > STOP > JUMP > CLAP > DANCE > SHAKE HANDS..." :)

Workshop Day 1

Follow our discussion on PEFA as a helpful tool for countries and their international partners, to enable effective prioritization and implementation of PFM reforms. Ljubljana, November 29 - December 1, 2016.

Posted by Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF) on Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Recruitment Stage

ABOUT

PEFA is a tool for assessing the status of public financial management. A PEFA assessment provides a thorough, consistent and evidence-based analysis of PFM performance at a specific point in time. The PEFA methodology can be reapplied in successive assessments to track changes over time.

On February 1, 2016, PEFA partners announced the release of the PEFA 2016 framework for assessing countries’ public financial management (PFM) performance. It builds on the 2005 and 2011 versions through the addition of four new indicators, expansion and refinement of existing indicators, and recalibration of baseline standards for good performance in many areas. The upgraded framework introduces a stronger focus on the elements of internal financial control that can be observed in PEFA assessments, and establishes a clearer and more consistent structure for reporting PEFA findings. In chorus with updating the framework, the PEFA Secretariat has been strengthening its capacity and the development of its learning and outreach initiatives.  

What participants learned

This newly designed workshop aimed to support the application of high quality PEFA assessments in the region and the implementation of sustainable PFM reforms. We engaged leading government officials from the region and relevant actors in a dialogue in framing governments’ reform plans based on the results from PEFA assessments. We paid particular attention to the application of PEFA for identifying strengths and weaknesses in PFM systems. We facilitated a discussion on the role of technical assistance, training and inter and intra country networks for both undertaking effective PEFA assessments and supporting the successful implementation of PFM reform. Experts from the SEE region shared their experience with PEFA.

How participants benefited

At the end of the workshop, participants had:

  • Improved understanding of the PEFA 2016 framework (including its 7 pillars, 31 performance indicators, and 94 dimensions, and how good PFM practices contribute to the achievement of good budgetary and fiscal outcomes and support sustainable development)
  • Developed capacities to engage in the PEFA assessment process
  • Enhanced capacity for using PEFA assessments to discuss, develop and implement PFM reform strategies and action plans

Who attended

This learning initiative aimed to meet the learning needs of public officials who are involved in drafting and/or managing PFM reform strategies, as well as those officials who (may) have a role in PEFA assessments for their country.

FACULTY

Martin Bowen, Senior Public Sector Specialist, PEFA Secretariat

Martin joined the Secretariat in October 2015 bringing with him over 30 years of experience in public financial management.  For the last 16 years Martin has worked as an advisor on PFM reform initiatives in over 25 countries in Eastern Europe, Central and South-East Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.  Prior to working internationally Martin was a senior executive in the Australian Department of Finance, where he started his career and worked for 15 years, and later worked as a director in the Western Australian Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Urška Zrinski, Public Sector Specialist, PEFA Secretariat

Urška joined the PEFA Secretariat in October 2015. Prior to joining the Secretariat, she was Chief Program Officer at the Center of Excellence in Finance, leading knowledge and learning programs for public finance officials in South East Europe. She was involved in the World Bank’s Public Financial Management–Peer Assisted Learning (PEMPAL) program, supporting knowledge exchange among finance officials in the Western Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia. She was also a member of the World Bank’s Art of Knowledge Exchange team facilitating South-South knowledge exchange in the public sector. Urška holds a PhD from the University of Ljubljana, and an MA from King’s College London, University of London. Her research has focused on international development cooperation effectiveness, aid modalities, and quality and use of public financial management systems.

Duncan Last, PFM Advisor for South East Europe, FAD, IMF

Duncan Last is the IMF PFM Advisor for South East Europe, having previously been based in IMF headquarters for the last 8 years. Prior to that he had been working in the field for 20 years covering various topics in public financial management, including: PFM advisor in the IMF’s AFRITAC East Regional Technical Assistance Center; budget and treasury advisor in Slovenia also covering various countries in the region, during which time he helped establish the Center of Excellence in Finance; budget and IFMIS advisor in Mali and Papua New Guinea, debt management advisor in Papua New Guinea, and debt management software designer at the Commonwealth Secretariat in UK.

Mojmir Mrak, Professor of International Finance, University of Ljubljana; CEF Senior Program Advisor

Mojmir Mrak has been lecturing at the CEF since 2004, and has supported CEF’s program for many years as a CEF Associate Fellow. Since 2016, he is a CEF Senior Program Advisor. Mr. Mrak is a Jean Monnet Chair professor of international finance at the University of Ljubljana and a regular visiting professor at post-graduate programs of the universities of Siena and Vienna. His main research fields include capital flows, trade and project finance, and EU institutional and public finance issues. He has served as a consultant to numerous international organizations and several governments in South East Europe.

Partners

This CEF learning initiative was supported by the Slovenian Ministry of Finance, and delivered with in-kind support by experts of the PEFA Secretariat.

Ministry of Finance, Slovenia PEFA