1. Managing Complexity: From Fragmentation to Coordination
Retrospective and Prospective

2. Retrospective Seminar looked at key drivers of complexity
How it plays out in different countries
What solutions are in place
International perspectives

3. Themes

4. Theme ‘Post Its’ Theme presentation Coordination at centre
Complexities of budget management happen within broader public finance and development context (more complex state)
Budget offices face challenge of running complex, congested processes with eye on larger objectives
Coordination at centre
One approach not necessarily best
As long as core functions are defined and executed
Budget process needs to integrate with other political and policy processes
Budget framework and classification
Questionnaire responses showed weaknesses in budget frameworks
Local requirements matter
Classification reform a long-haul process

5. More theme ‘Post Its’ Managing aid flows
Modern aid management may improve relationships and systems, but impact on poverty reduction downstream
Specific aid instruments of secondary importance: getting information on budget and into budget process first base
Coordinating recurrent and investment spending
Clear policies and policy agreement critical for coordination
Streamlining technical planning and budgeting tools in budget process key to coordination between budgets (Tanzania)

6. Even more theme ‘Post Its’
Deconcentrating key functions outside of core public service
Agencies set up for different reasons
Creation of agencies don’t always fulfil expectations of efficiency etc
Need for re-evaluation, consolidation and exit plans
Need for minimum institutional arrangements for control and management
Policy, budgeting and oversight
Benefits do arise from more inclusive systems
Mindful design of institutional arrangements to shift legislature from rivalry to cooperation, from harmful practices to policy accountability and performance
What other ‘Post Its’?

7. Cross-cutting Issues

8. Context is important
Local requirements to adapt practices from elsewhere
Minimum conditions creation agencies
Classification
Need for own development plans
Need to keep it simple
Change management
Creating the right incentives
Communication
Stakeholder participation

9. Coordination
Complex structures affect all aspects of budget and public management
Institutions at the centre
Different levels of government
Different type of government units (public entities)
International
Country to country
Multilateral organisations
Specifics don’t matter, but
Frameworks do
Processes do
Time tables
Availability of information is key

10. Prospective Thoughts for Cabri work programme
Comprehensive country reform self-studies within broader development trends, issues and paradigms for future seminars
‘Political interface to public finance management’ as theme for future seminar / Cabri cross-country study
Development of questionnaire and database
More responses to current questionnaire
Further development (alignment to international frameworks, more sections, what sequence)
Country study visits
Development of codes and standards
Seminar themes: which to take forward?