While the precise emphasis of public sector reforms might change over time, one enduring characteristic is the continuing and increasing focus on improving public financial management. Other areas of reform are also vital but it is generally recognised that high standards of financial management are central to all other reforms. Prospective donors are now attaching growing importance to effective financial management systems and are coordinating and strengthening their approach through the use of a common assessment framework of financial management competences.
‘This performance measurement framework (PMF) has been developed as a contribution to the collective efforts of many stakeholders to assess and develop essential public financial systems, by providing a common pool of information for measurement and monitoring of PFM performance progress, and a common platform for dialogue.’ (World Bank’s PEFA Secretariat’s report of June 2005)
The aim of this course is simple: it is to help countries pass these tests by increasing and deepening knowledge of good financial management practices throughout their public sector community. It is designed for policy makers, financial practitioners and line managers with financial and resource management responsibilities.