IMF Online PFM Course Open to the General Public

Posted by: Manal Fouad

IMF Online PFM Course
PFMx: May 9 - July 4, 2018
Register by May 2, 2018

 The Fiscal Affairs Department and the Institute for Capacity Development of the IMF are pleased to announce a new offering of the online course on Public Financial Management. This free online course, offered on the edX platform, is open for government officials, development agencies, civil society, parliamentarians, and general public. The total workload is 40-50 hours, self-paced over 8 weeks. Please watch the course introductory video. 

2018 Fiscal Transparency Handbook

Posted by Richard Allen and Sailendra Pattanayak[1]

The 2018 Fiscal Transparency Handbook was published on April 21, 2018. The Handbook explains the principles and practices set out in the 2014 Fiscal Transparency Code, which was initially launched in the late 1990s and revised in 2014. The Code is the most widely recognized international standard for the disclosure of information about public finances.

Forecasting the Economy, or Preparing for the Future?

Posted by Sybi Hida[1]

Macro-fiscal forecasting in Southern African countries mimics the experience of other developing countries. Forecasting remains a challenge, especially in commodity exporting countries. The main weaknesses relate to the lack of good data and human capacity. Many Southern African countries have invested heavily in building macro-fiscal models—with the support of external experts—and setting up macro-forecasting units. In many cases, the models are complicated and require detailed data that are usually not timely, are unavailable, or do not provide a reliable guide to developments in the real economy. Another constraint is the generally high turnover of staff in forecasting units, as well as the difficulties of operating complex and cumbersome forecasting models.

The IMF’s Online PFM Course

An Interview with Sophie Brown, Manal Fouad and Caroline Van Rijckeghem[1]

 

As the Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF gets ready to launch the second offering of its online PFM course, Richard Allen (RA) interviews Sophie Brown (SB), Manal Fouad (MF), and Caroline Van Rijckeghem (CvR) on the first course offering and what it meant for training in the PFM area.

Budget Development in a Medium-Term Perspective

Posted by Richard Neves and Sanjesh Naidu[1]

For several decades, Pacific Island Countries, like many developing countries elsewhere in the world, have prepared national and sectoral plans which are inadequately linked to the annual budget process. Achieving the development objectives set out in these plans could be best described as variable. Plans have become aspirational documents, accurately reflecting the development outcomes that various communities seek, and connecting with global and regional priorities that are of national interest, for example the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. But they are much less effective in guiding decisions on which projects to implement, or which services to prioritize, and securing the necessary resources.  

Budget Development in a Medium-Term Perspective

Posted by Celeste Kubasta[1]

The Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Center (CARTAC) recently held a workshop[2] aimed at helping member countries approach their fiscal challenges in a more strategic way, address fiscal discipline and sustainability issues, and foster transparency and accountability. The workshop also continued CARTAC’s efforts to integrate a gender perspective within budget practices.