Public Expenditure & Financial Accountability (PEFA) Training

Course Overview.

The Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) program was initiated in 2001 by seven international development partners. It subsequently established a standard methodology for PFM diagnostic assessments, the PEFA framework. Since 2001 PEFA has become the acknowledged standard for PFM assessments.

Every country faces the challenge of how to use public resources efficiently and effectively, without good public financial management (PFM), governments may find it challenging to use public funds to deliver essential services or focus on their long-term goals. How can countries PFM be evaluated in a way that supports sustainable development? The PEFA program provides a framework for assessing and reporting on the strengths and weaknesses of public financial management (PFM) using quantitative indicators to measure performance. PEFA is designed to provide a snapshot of PFM performance at specific points in time using a methodology that can be replicated in successive assessments, giving a summary of changes over time. With the PEFA Framework, we can assess and understand the strengths and weaknesses of a country’s PFM system and use this information to support improvements. The PEFA Framework has become the gold standard for assessing PFM performance.

This hands-on practical training will provide an in-depth understanding of the PEFA 2016 Framework, the methodology, process of assessment, analysis and reporting. Case studies and practical demonstration comparing countries will also form part of the discourse.

Broad Course Objectives

• Have a better understanding of Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Assessment 2016 framework that seeks to evaluate the impact of PFM weaknesses on three levels of budgetary outcomes (Aggregate Fiscal discipline, Strategic Allocation of Resources and an Efficient Service Delivery).
• Comprehend PEFA Assessments in a meaningful way especially with respect to planning an assessment, drafting or commenting the ToR, reviewing a draft PEFA Report, participate in dialogue with government ministries and agencies in an effective way in respect of undertaking PFM reforms and monitoring PFM reform progress over time.

Learning Contents

• What is PFM, how PEFA measures PFM performance 
• The PEFA Programme & the Mechanics of the Framework
• The core concepts and principles Of the PEFA Framework 
• What the PEFA indicators and dimensions measure 
• How to apply the PEFA Framework 
• Common Problems Working with Indicators
• Case studies on scoring indicators
• Managing a PEFA assessment 
• The different steps of a standard PEFA assessment process, role of different stakeholders, and using PEFA as an input for PFM improvements.
• The Assessment Process
• Case on Concept Note for a PFM Performance Assessment
• Interpreting a draft Assessment Report
• Case Study on Interpreting a draft assessment
• Sub-National Governments, Sector-level analysis, & Other PFM Diagnostic tools
• Use of PEFA Assessments for Reform formulation & monitoring
• Comparisons over time & Between Countries

Way forward After the Training

 Participants will develop a work plan through the help of facilitators that stipulates application of skills acquired in improving their organizations. ASPM will monitor implementation progress after the training.

Training Evaluation:

Participants will undertake a simple assessment before the training to gauge knowledge and skills and another assessment will be done after the training in-order to demonstrate knowledge gained through the training.