The Africa Public Financial Management (PFM) Conference and PEFA Flagship Training held from November 11-15, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was a significant event that brought together policymakers, practitioners, and experts in the field of PFM and PEFA from across Africa. Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the PEFA Secretariat, the conference aimed to discuss issues and advancements in PFM in Africa, share experiences, and explore innovative solutions for enhancing PFM systems in the region.
The conference was divided into two main components: the Africa PFM Conference, which took place on November 11-12, and the PEFA Flagship Training, held from November 13-15. The Africa PFM Conference featured a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops that provided a platform for a rich exchange of ideas and best practices. Topics covered included the PFM cycle from planning to implementation, climate-sensitive public investment management, green procurement, gender-responsive PFM, and the challenges of domestic resource mobilization in developing countries.
The Africa PFM Conference 2024 was inaugurated by esteemed chief guests H.E. Eyob Tekalign Tolina and H. E. Semereta Sewasew from Government of Ethiopia, Zuzana Brixiova Schwidrowski from United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Mariam Salim and Chiara Bronchi from The World Bank, and Eric Ogunleye from the African Development Bank Group. The conference was attended by representatives from governments, development partners, academia, and NGOs from the Africa region. The importance of PFM in Africa It provided a 2-day opportunity for participants to gain deeper insights into how effective PFM contributes to sustainable economic growth and how the PEFA framework can be leveraged to support these efforts
The PEFA Flagship Training focused on the technical understanding of the PEFA framework, including its indicators and dimensions, the assessment process, and the preparation of PEFA reports. Participants engaged in group exercises and discussions on managing the PEFA assessment process, stakeholder engagement, and tracking PFM performance changes over time.
The vibrant event followed by the training was attended by 114 participants. The PFM Conference was viewed by the participants as a highly productive one that truly gave a focus to the region from a PFM lens, while the training experience received a 4.7 out of 5 satisfaction rating from participants!
For future events organized by the PEFA Secretariat, please keep an eye on the PEFA website, and also follow the PEFA social media channels.
