Strengthening Public Financial Management in Zambia

Ecorys supported Zambia’s PEFA assessment, helping government and development partners identify priorities for stronger public financial management, transparency and fiscal sustainability.

The Government of Zambia commissioned a new Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment to evaluate the performance of its public financial management system. Supported by the European Union and implemented by Ecorys, the assessment examined the period 2021-2023 and provided evidence-based insights to strengthen fiscal governance, transparency and accountability.

Zambia has a long history of PEFA assessments, having undertaken reviews in 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2017. The country’s public financial management system has faced significant challenges in recent years, including rising debt, fiscal pressures, the economic impact of COVID-19, and the need for broader public sector reforms. The Government has embarked on important reforms including output-based budgeting, strengthened public investment management, enhanced commitment controls through IFMIS, and legislative reforms related to budgeting, debt management and procurement. The current assessment was initiated as a guided self-assessment. During the implementation the approach has been changed to a joint assessment supported by external consultants. The joint assessment process ensured that capacity was built throughout the assessment as well as for the post-PEFA decisions.

The approach combined capacity building, technical guidance, stakeholder consultations and quality assurance. The team:

• Established a structured methodology and digital platform for evidence collection.
• Delivered PEFA training and coaching to government officials involved in the assessment. 
• Assisted stakeholders in collecting and validating evidence across all 31 PEFA performance indicators. 
• Facilitated dialogue between government institutions, oversight bodies and development partners. 
• Produced a PEFA assessment report and supported the identification of priorities for future PFM reforms. 

The work contributes to improved fiscal discipline, strategic resource allocation and more effective service delivery in Zambia.