The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Service Center for Africa, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) are holding a two-day High-Level Regional Dialogue on Public Finance Systems in Africa from 25 – 26 March 2025 in CABRI member country, Benin.

Placed under the theme: Modernising Accountability and Transparency in Public Finance Systems in Africa, the High-Level Regional Dialogue is hosted by the Government of Benin.

The Executive Secretary of CABRI, Dr Kay Brown was invited to contribute to the first session of the workshop on: Understanding Key Governance Trends, Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Public Finances in Africa.

Giving an overview of governance trends and their impact on public financial management (PFM) systems in Africa, Dr Brown touched on the difficulty of the PFM landscape and the importance of accountability despite challenges. She emphasised on purposeful modernisation, “going beyond the technical by not only monitoring basic functionality but looking at the local context.” 

CABRI’s approach targets different levels of stakeholders as an effective way for multiple actors to learn from each other. The world is in a new era of informatisation; therefore, it is essential to create PFM systems that everyone understands. 

The High-Level Regional Dialogue is a platform for high-level discussions among policymakers, development partners, and key stakeholders on enhancing the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of PFM across Africa. Each session is designed to foster interactive discussions, with a mix of case studies, expert insights, and collaborative problem-solving. 

The Dialogue will also take a closer look at digital transformation and innovation in PFM; combating Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in Africa; and capacity building and change management for modern PFM.