Africa Regional Seminar on Strengthening Public Debt Management
From April 19-21, 2023, The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) organized a regional legislative exchange in Mombasa, Kenya, bringing together members of parliament and legislative staff from six African countries: Kenya, Liberia, The Gambia, Ghana, Mozambique, and Zambia. The program concentrated on key topics such as the legislative budget process, legislative oversight on public debt, and debt management practices.
The event featured participation from the Parliamentary Network, Africa; UNECA, AFRODAD, TISA, CUTS, Institute of Economic Affairs, International Budget Partnership, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Mzalendo Trust, Institute for Public Finance, and Transparency International. In addition, Susan Willie from the US Congressional Budget Office, former US Congressman Mike Bishop, and Principal Consultant of Nexus PFM Geoff Dubrow facilitated discussions and presentations on legislative budgeting and public debt management.
During the sessions, country representatives introduced themselves, providing context on their respective public debt management situations and sharing their goals for the program. Objectives ranged from learning effective engagement in public debt dialogue to understanding the role of legislatures in public debt management and exploring international best practices from other countries. The sessions also focused into the US budget formulation and approval process, emphasizing how the legislative budget process plays a crucial role in ensuring effective oversight.
