By Fatou B. Cham
The Directorate of Budget, under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA), recently concluded a training programme for stakeholders on public budgeting and expenditure management. It was attended by staff across several public financial management related ministries, departments and agencies including MoFEA.
The training, supported by the African Development Bank, aimed to enhance the abilities of government officials and stakeholders in The Gambia to improve public budgeting and expenditure management practices, thereby increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of public resource management and enhancing service delivery in the country.
In his remarks, Chidiebere Ibe, Senior Capacity Development Officer from the African Development Institute, urged the country to continue improving public financial and economic management, and to take staff capacity development seriously for investment.
Mr Ibe said the African Development Bank has been contributing significantly to the training of staff in The Gambia government and that it will continue to do so in the future.
He emphasised the need for collaboration and cooperation from the government, to make capacity development more useful and effective for the country.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Mamadi Dampha, Deputy Permanent Secretary, MoFEA, noted the importance of the participation of the stakeholders, which, he said demonstrated their commitment to strengthening public finance and management and ensuring effective and efficient use of public resources for the wellbeing of Gambian people.
He said the training will be a springboard for prudent decision making, as they would gather more knowledge on public budgeting and expenditure management.
Mr Dampha concluded by thanking the team from the African Development Bank, for offering MoFEA this opportunity.
The training resulted in several recommendations to improve public budgeting and public financial management.
One recommendation is to review and amend the Public financial management Act to include provisions for more effective public financial management; such as fiscal targets and fiscal rules.
