With the aim of improving the effectiveness of public finance management (PFM) in STP, the government has developed a PFM reform strategy (ERGFP) for the 2020-2023 horizon, structured into 8 specific objectives and 8 operational programs and which will be implemented as part of its second Public Finance Reform Plan (PARFIP II).
This project provided the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe and its sectoral technical ministries with advice and technical assistance (TA) to achieve the objectives of the ERGFP, through the provision of 2 experts, in support of the Office of public finance reforms (GARFIP) of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and the Blue Economy (MFPEA), over the period 2021-2023. The operationalization of the AT was carried out thanks to the work carried out by the 2 Linpico experts.
Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 electoral process, the TA has always been The TA carried out all the activities planned in the initial Project Activity Plan and supported GARFIP in the following areas :
- Define/clarify the modus operandi of the reform, including the implementation plan of the Action Plan for Public Finance Reform (PARFIP II) and the preparation of a PFM reform implementation manual (MIR), which covers the execution of activities at all levels. /entities involved, including the organization and operationalization of the Reform Steering Committee (CD);
- Harmonize interventions and financing of PFM reforms, through the structuring, organization and support for the functioning of the Dialogue Body (DI);
- Adapt/revise the legal provisions of the reform process and the subsequent governance structure of GARFIP and other relevant entities;
- Update PARFIP II, define reform priorities and develop a scheduled action plan, allowing monitoring of the plan at the end of each year;
- Train and empower employees involved in the reforms, using training modules in key areas of PFM and project management;
- Support GARFIP in the development and operationalization of a monitoring and evaluation (M&A) system for the implementation of PFM reforms, including the development and use of the quarterly and annual reporting template on the implementation of reforms;
- Support GARFIP in leading the coordination of the GFP working group (dialogue body), in the process of implementing the reforms provided for in the action plan and its monitoring;
- Provide ongoing support upon request of GARFIP;
- Develop and implement Quick Wins , to achieve the success indicators of the ERGFP 2020-2023, that is to say the improvement of a maximum of 10 performance indicators;
- Prepare and submit to the MPFEA (December 2023), the new ERGFP reform strategy 2024-2027, with its activity plan – PARFIP III;
