African budget officials urge modernization of fiscal scrutiny

At the 9th Annual Conference of the African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (AN-PBOs) in Swakopmund, officials emphasized the need for modernized fiscal scrutiny across Africa. Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah called for Parliamentary Budget Offices (PBOs) to strengthen their institutional capacity and analytical tools to help governments manage constrained resources and improve transparency.

Minister Shafudah highlighted Namibia’s transition toward Outcome-Based Budgeting, a framework that shifts focus from line-item inputs to the tangible results achieved by government expenditure. She noted that this transition requires new accountability practices and empowered officials at central, regional, and local levels.

National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila noted that Namibia’s own PBO is still in its infancy. She stated that the parliament currently relies on support from sister legislatures and the African network to establish the independent technical capacity required to scrutinize government spending, borrowing, and fiscal forecasts.