CABRI was launched in 2004 as an informal network of senior budget officials of ministries of finance and/or planning in Africa. This initiative first focus of discussions tackles the difficulties that African countries face in establishing realistic budgets, building budget credibility, implementing a medium term budget framework and improving the quality of expenditure. The seminar provided an opportunity for participants to discuss and share experiences on reform modalities that had been successful and those that have not been successful.

The programme was a combination of a theme-based and a case study based approach and was organised around four central themes:

• Building budget credibility
• Introducing a strategic medium term perspective
• Improving the quality of expenditure and
• Reform design and implementation