{
  "title": "Medium-Term Budget Frameworks in Sub-Saharan African Countries",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, September 11, 2017",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2017/09/11/medium-term-budget-frameworks-in-sub-saharan-african-countries-45093",
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  "summary": "More than 15 years ago, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa embarked on a program of budgetary reform, an important element of which was a medium-term budget framework (MTBF).",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Overview",
      "content": "- More than 15 years ago, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa embarked on a program of budgetary reform, an important element of which was a medium-term budget framework (MTBF).\n- This working paper focuses on the performance of MTBFs in six countries: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.\n- It assesses effectiveness of MTBFs in achieving:\n  - improved fiscal discipline,\n  - resource allocation,\n  - certainty of funding,\n  - wider economic and social criteria such as poverty reduction and more efficient public investment.\n- Authors: Richard I Allen, Taz Chaponda, Lesley Fisher, Rohini Ray\n- Date: September 11, 2017"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key findings on MTBF performance",
      "content": "- Early successes in many countries were not sustained.\n- Budgetary outcomes did not improve in most countries.\n- Contributing factors to weak outcomes included:\n  - poor data,\n  - inadequate forecasting methodologies,\n  - reforms that were largely supply driven."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Phases of MTBF development",
      "content": "- The paper argues that the development of MTBFs typically falls into four distinct phases.\n- Transitioning from one phase to the next requires:\n  - building capability in macrofiscal forecasting and analysis,\n  - improving the credibility of the annual budget process."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy recommendations and focus areas",
      "content": "- Develop capacity in macrofiscal forecasting and analysis.\n- Improve credibility of the annual budget process to support MTBF evolution.\n- Address technical weaknesses such as data quality and forecasting methodologies.\n- Ensure reforms are demand driven and integrated with broader PFM processes to sustain early gains."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Subjects and keywords",
      "content": "- Subject: Budget planning and preparation, Expenditure, Fiscal policy, Macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts, Medium-term budget frameworks, Public financial management (PFM)\n- Keywords: Africa, budget, budget framework, budget office, Budget planning and preparation, budget preparation process, budget review process, case country, challenge function, country, Macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts, Medium-term budget frameworks, medium-term expenditure frameworks, PFM system, program budget, public financial management, sub-Saharan Africa, WP\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Medium-Term Budget Frameworks in Sub-Saharan Africa, WP/17/203, September 2017\n  - Medium-Term Budget Frameworks in Sub-Saharan Africa, WP/17/203, September 2017 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Medium-Term Budget Frameworks in Sub-Saharan Africa, WP/17/203, September 2017 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2017/09/11/medium-term-budget-frameworks-in-sub-saharan-african-countries-45093"
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    "Authors: Richard I Allen, Taz Chaponda, Lesley Fisher, Rohini Ray",
    "Published: September 11, 2017",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484314203.001",
    "More than 15 years ago, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa embarked on a program of budgetary reform, an important element of which was a medium-term budget framework (MTBF).",
    "This working paper focuses on the performance of MTBFs in six countries: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.",
    "It assesses effectiveness of MTBFs in achieving:",
    "Authors: Richard I Allen, Taz Chaponda, Lesley Fisher, Rohini Ray",
    "Date: September 11, 2017",
    "Early successes in many countries were not sustained.",
    "Budgetary outcomes did not improve in most countries.",
    "Contributing factors to weak outcomes included:",
    "The paper argues that the development of MTBFs typically falls into four distinct phases.",
    "Transitioning from one phase to the next requires:",
    "Develop capacity in macrofiscal forecasting and analysis.",
    "Improve credibility of the annual budget process to support MTBF evolution.",
    "Address technical weaknesses such as data quality and forecasting methodologies.",
    "Ensure reforms are demand driven and integrated with broader PFM processes to sustain early gains.",
    "Subject: Budget planning and preparation, Expenditure, Fiscal policy, Macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts, Medium-term budget frameworks, Public financial management (PFM)",
    "Keywords: Africa, budget, budget framework, budget office, Budget planning and preparation, budget preparation process, budget review process, case country, challenge function, country, Macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts, Medium-term budget frameworks, medium-term expenditure frameworks, PFM system, program budget, public financial management, sub-Saharan Africa, WP",
    "**Medium-Term Budget Frameworks in Sub-Saharan Africa, WP/17/203, September 2017**"
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