CAPE Public Finance Conference 2008 Reforming for Results: Can Public Finance Management reform improve government performance? Programme Reforming for Results: Can Public Finance Management reform improve government performance? Towards a more strategic and efficiency-oriented approach to strengthening public finance management in developing and transition countries The 2008 CAPE Public Finance Management Conference will investigate how PFM reforms can be better targeted towards delivering improved performance in public service delivery. It will examine the interplay among different actors in cases of successful reform, and the contribution of sector-level, decentralised and demand-side PFM reforms to improving strategic resource allocation and operational efficiency. The conference will consider how to achieve better outcomes from PFM reform efforts through approaches which extend beyond primary engagement with ministries of finance and which attempt to deepen reforms. It will ask whether current trends towards more holistic system-wide PFM reform programmes are the solution, or whether more targeted approaches to PFM reform might lead to more effective and sustainable reform outcomes. The conference will aim to arrive at policy-relevant conclusions and will contribute to the debate on the wider question of what constitutes successful PFM reform and how can it be given effect. The event will bring together researchers and academics on public finance management and reform; senior public sector officials from developing and transition countries; PFM specialists from donor agencies engaged in the design and implementation of government reform programmes; and leading practitioners and consultants on PFM.
Day 1 Wednesday 12 November 2008 09.00 Registration and coffee 09.30 Introduction to CAPE Conference 2008 Edward Hedger, Research Fellow, ODI 09.40 Keynote Session: Linking reform to performance How can PFM reforms be better focused on ensuring government delivers better public services? Emilia Pires, Minister of Finance, Timor-Leste Chair: Simon Maxwell, Director, ODI 10.15 Session 1: The role of the Ministry of Finance and centre of government What are the opportunities for and limitations of the centre of government, especially the Ministry of Finance, to influence spending entities in strengthening their own PFM systems and service delivery performance? Chair: Alison Evans, Director of Programmes, Poverty and Public Policy Group, ODI The role and capabilities of the Central Finance Agency in the PFM reform process Jim Brumby, Lead Public Sector Specialist, PREM, World Bank Bjoern Dressel, Research Fellow, Griffith University Driving government performance through the MoF Graham Scott, Executive Chairman, Southern Cross Advisers; former Secretary to the Treasury, New Zealand Country Case: Linking policy, budgeting and service delivery in Albania Sherefedin Shehu, Deputy Minister of Finance, Albania 13.15 Lunch Lunchtime walk, led by Simon Maxwell (13.45 14.10)
14.15 Session 2: The role of sectors and sector spending agencies How can sectors and spending agencies be engaged most effectively in PFM reforms, with a view to improving government performance? Chair: Catherine Dom, Principal Consultant, Mokoro Ltd Sector budgeting and resource allocations Mick Foster, Director, Mick Foster Economics Ltd Sector PFM and service delivery Tim Williamson, Research Associate, ODI Country case: Efforts to improve performance in the education sector in Uganda Florence Malinga, Education Adviser, Commonwealth Secretariat; former Commissioner for Planning, Ministry of Education, Uganda Country case: Getting the best return on your investment Lessons from the education sector in England Leigh Sandals, Director, ISOS Partnership; former Head of Performance and Capability in the Department for Children Schools and Families 18.00 Drinks Reception Drinks and canapés will be served at The Cut Bar in the Young Vic Theatre (66 The Cut, London, SE1 8LZ), which is a short walk from ODI. A map will be enclosed in your delegate pack.
Day 2 Thursday 13 November 2008 09.00 Arrival and coffee 09.30 Session 3: The role of decentralised tiers of government How can decentralised tiers of government be engaged most effectively in PFM reforms, with a view to improving government performance? Chair: Lynne McKenzie, Managing Director, Southern Cross Advisers Ltd. Fiscal decentralisation and local government PFM: An overview Paul Smoke, Professor of Public Finance and Planning, New York University Performance-based grants: A tool for improved accountability and enhanced performance Jesper Steffensen, Senior Partner, Nordic Consulting Group Country case: Regional government finance reform in Russia Alexey Lavrov, Director of Budget Policy and Methodology, Ministry of Finance, Russian Federation; Head of Regional Finance Reform Programme 12.45 Lunch 13.45 Session 4: The role of donors and international organisations What role should donors play in advancing PFM reforms and how should they decide where to target their assistance among ministries of finance and spending entities? Chair: Andrew Lawson, Director, Fiscus Ltd World Bank support for PFM and procurement: Conceptual roots and evidence of impact Clay Wescott, Visiting Fellow, Princeton University, USA; Director; Asia- Pacific Governance Institute Country case: The role of donors and international organisations and PFM The case of Mozambique José Sulemane, Adviser to Executive Director of Africa Constituency I, International Monetary Fund; former National Director of Planning and Finance, Mozambique
Donor case: SIDA s approach to PFM reform James Donovan, Public Financial Management Adviser, SIDA PFM reform strategy: What role for donor agencies? Isomorphism and the limits of PFM reform Matt Andrews, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University, USA 17.00 Panel session: Drawing policy-relevant lessons Panel drawn from session speakers and chairs Chair: Alison Evans, Director of Programmes, ODI Bjoern Dressel, Research Fellow, Griffith University Catherine Dom, Principal Consultant, Mokoro Ltd Lynne McKenzie, Managing Director, Southern Cross Advisers Ltd Andrew Lawson, Director, Fiscus Ltd 17.30 Closing remarks Alison Evans, Director of Programmes, ODI