AfDB Empowers East African Experts to Drive Fiscal Reform and Better Services
The African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership with the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Secretariat of the World Bank, has trained more than 60 public financial management (PFM) experts from Eastern Africa to strengthen service delivery and improve accountability in the use of public resources.
Held from 16–18 September 2025, the flagship training focused on applying the PEFA framework, a globally recognised tool for assessing the effectiveness of PFM systems. Participants included representatives from the AfDB, regional member countries, the World Bank, and other development partners.
The training offered practical insights into integrating climate and gender considerations into budget planning, policy development and expenditure monitoring. By enhancing inclusivity and transparency, the initiative aims to ensure that government spending delivers maximum impact for citizens.
Speaking at the opening, Bubacarr Sankareh, AfDB’s Lead Operations Advisor for East Africa, described PFM as “a cornerstone of development” essential for advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Bank’s long-term vision.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the National Treasury, Chris Kiptoo, underscored the significance of sound financial governance in building citizen trust. “Demands for good governance, accountability and transparency are enormous. Ensuring that staff understand and apply PEFA principles is critical to achieving value for money in public spending,” he said.
AfDB Manager for Financial Management in East Southern regions and Nigeria, Legesse Eshetu, highlighted the value of evidence-based reforms. Meanwhile, Srinivas Gurazada, Head of the PEFA Secretariat, stressed the importance of partnerships among governments, development agencies and civil society in making the framework effective.
Participants praised the training as eye-opening and timely. Margaret Kamau, AfDB Principal Climate Change and Green Growth Officer, described the PEFA framework as “a diagnostic tool, not the medicine” that should be applied to the actual state of PFM systems.
The AfDB said the initiative reflects its commitment to supporting African governments in managing public finances more transparently and effectively. “When you get PFM right, you get everything right,” noted Yusuf Karo from Kenya’s National Treasury, calling for quarterly follow-up sessions.
By building technical capacity and fostering collaboration, the training is expected to drive reforms that strengthen fiscal governance and enhance service delivery across Eastern Africa.
