Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform Workshop
From Diagnosis to Action:
Sequencing and Politics in PFM Reform
Day and Date: Friday, March 21, 2008
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Venue: I Building, Room I-1-200
8:30 am Registration and Breakfast
9:00 am Opening - Sanjay Pradhan & Tony Hegarty
9:30 am The Landscape of PFM Reform – Bill Dorotinsky and Sanjay Vani
· Topics: What has been the trajectory of PFM reforms in the past few years (as measured/evidenced by HIPC AAPs/PEFA/other diagnostics)? Are there any emerging patterns amongst LICUS/MIC/Fragile states/Small countries? What has been the impact of donor interventions on PFM reforms? Is there evidence for country-led PFM reforms? Is the strengthened approach being implemented; how would we know?
10:15 am Coffee Break
10:30 am What Works, When and How
· Topics: – What do we really know about sequencing? Can we generalize - is there a recognized sequence of PFM reforms? Have we embarked on complex reforms prematurely? What is the role of transitional institutions? What is the evidence of the importance of sequencing? Is there merit in seizing an opportune moment rather than wait for the right sequence?
· These issues will be discussed and debated through the prism of country case studies (Session A) and specific areas of PFM reform (Session B).
Session A: Case studies (by country):
Chair – Ron Myers
Cambodia – Robert Taliercio
Ghana – Stephen Sharples
Turkey – Anand Rajaram
12:00 pm Lunch
· Keynote Luncheon Speaker: Professor Allen Schick;
“Budgeting in Developing Countries – Three Decades On”
1:30 pm What Works, When and How (continued)
Session B: Case studies (by aspects of reform):
Chair – Mike Stevens
MTEF – Jim Brumby
IFMIS – Cem Dener
Procurement – Robert Hunja
3:00 pm Coffee Break
3:15 pm PFM and Politics
· Topics: – How important is it to seek political commitment for PFM reforms? What should be the form of political commitment (active leadership versus peripatetic engagement)? What areas or stages of reform are likely to require less explicit political commitment? How important is it to have a political champion for reforms; and how important is it to have a technical champion of reform? How should we determine where to focus – on political commitment and/or central finance agency capability?
Chair – Barbara Nunberg
Speakers – Edward Hedger, Alma Kanani
Coffee and Tea served during deliberations
4:30 pm Concluding Comments
5:00 pm End of Day