Public Financial Management
Djibouti
Analysis of Fiscal Risks related to State-owned Enterprises
During 12-16 May, a mission team worked with the Public Accounting Department at the Ministry of Budget (MoB) and held meetings with other stakeholders to analyze the current fiscal risk management systems linked to State-owned Enterprises (SOEs). The mission trained the DCP teams on the use of the SOE-"Health Check Tool”, developed by the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department. Fiscal risks were analyzed for two public enterprises, and recommendations were proposed for improving fiscal risk monitoring and management. Finally, MoB staff applied the "Health Check Tool” to a third SOE and analyzed the results with the mission team.
Iraq
Implementing the Treasury Single Account (TSA)
The third workshop to advance the implementation of the TSA in Iraq was organized by FAD/METAC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance of Iraq, during the period July 24-27 in Amman (Jordan). Building on the outcome of the second workshop in March 2024, the event gathered 13 core members from the “TSA Implementation Committee”, formed by key stakeholders including the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), and four State-owned banks (SOBs). The mission discussed the progress made in the implementation of the TSA roadmap and the key challenges encountered over the past few months. Participants actively engaged in discussions and agreed actions to be implemented until October 2024, including advancing the TSA design and concept note, developing a database for TSA bank accounts, and designing portals for data collection as an interim step while the roll out of the core banking system in the largest two SOBs is completed.
Lebanon
Cash Management
Together with the Fiscal Affairs Department, METAC supported Lebanon’s authorities in December on cash management to address increasing spending pressures during the war. The mission fostered cross-agency collaboration, welcoming participants from the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank. The mission focused on government banking arrangements, cash forecasting, and reporting. It provided practical recommendations that were achievable within the current crisis context and highlighted the importance of establishing a Cash Management Committee to improve coordination and cooperation, data collection, and to support policy level decision-making. The mission also provided recommendations on budget execution and controls for strengthened crisis management and discussed budget credibility issues that adversely affect cash management.
Libya
Restore Core PFM Functions
During June 23-27, a joint FAD/METAC team met with officials from the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministry of Finance in Tunis, Tunisia. The activity focused on strengthening budget preparation processes amid ongoing political instability and fragmentation. Key recommendations included formalizing the budget timetable, developing a Fiscal Strategy Paper, and enhancing budget transparency through the publication of key budget documents that are already being produced. The mission also highlighted the role of the medium-term fiscal framework in guiding budget discussions and improving fiscal planning. Despite the challenges faced in Libya, officials were confident they would be able to implement achievable and practical improvements in the budget preparation processes.
Off-site mission in Tunis to strengthen strategic budget preparation
METAC facilitated a one-week workshop in during 6-10 October to support the Libyan Ministry of Finance in strengthening its macro-fiscal unit’s role and capacity in strategic budget preparation. The workshop fostered cross-departmental collaboration, welcoming participants from various MoF units, who gained insights into medium-term fiscal frameworks (MTFF) and macro-fiscal planning. Sessions covered Libya’s current budget process, underscored the MTFF’s importance in supporting fiscal discipline, and emphasized aligning budget preparation with the MTFF. Participants expressed a strong interest in empowering the Macroeconomic Unit to play a central role in setting expenditure ceilings and producing macroeconomic parameters. The event concluded with a review of recommendations and next steps to bolster Libya’s budget preparation and macro-fiscal capacity.
Sudan
Development of an Integrated PFM Law
Since November, METAC is providing on-going support to Sudan for the development of an integrated PFM law which the authorities consider to be a first step prior to other key PFM reforms such as the adoption of an IFMIS. METAC provided guidance on strengthening the concept note prepared by the PFM Law Drafting Committee based on international good practices and budgeting literature. The authorities integrated most of the feedback regarding good practices in their first draft of the law. METAC is currently in the process of reviewing and providing guidance on how to strengthen the content of the draft law itself.
