The Project Performance Assessment Report of the “Sierra Leone Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Project (IPFMRP)” evaluates the effectiveness and sustainability of the public financial management (PFM) reforms implemented in Sierra Leone between 2009 and 2014. The report assesses the extent to which the project met its objectives of improving the credibility, control, and transparency of fiscal and budget management while highlighting lessons learned and areas for improvement.
Key Findings:
- Achievement of Objectives:
- Credibility: The project achieved mixed results, with significant deviations between budgeted and actual expenditures and revenues undermining budget credibility. Payment arrears were contained during project implementation but escalated post-project.
- Control: The introduction of an Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) improved expenditure control, but challenges in predictability, payroll controls, and internal audit effectiveness persisted.
- Transparency: Progress was limited, with minimal improvement in public access to budgetary and procurement information and a decline in open competition for public contracts.
- Implementation Challenges:
- High dependency on donor financing and lack of government ownership affected the sustainability of reforms.
- Over-centralization of payment processes at the Ministry of Finance delayed project implementation.
- Weak institutional capacity and fragmented coordination among government entities hindered effective PFM reforms.
- Lessons Learned:
- Sustained PFM improvements require addressing systemic issues like extrabudgetary funds, centralized payment authorizations, and supplementary budgets.
- Broadening the involvement of academia, private sector, and media in oversight mechanisms can enhance governance.
- Dissemination of fiscal data through mobile platforms could improve public engagement in low-internet-access contexts.
Note on Preparation
This report was prepared by Arun Arya, Senior Evaluation Officer of the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), and Buffy Bailor, Consultant. Their expertise in assessing PFM reforms provided critical insights into the project’s achievements and shortcomings, offering valuable recommendations for future reform efforts in Sierra Leone.