Accountability and financial management improvement

The project will: (1) promote the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) concept developed under 5980658; (2) use the STRATAC (Strategy for Accountability) strategy, also developed thereunder, to implement IFMS in specific countries; and (3) conduct anti-fraud and corruption activities. The first component will disseminate the IFMS concept -- which involves the integrated rather than discrete improvement of the financial management functions of accounting, budgeting, treasury, debt management, and internal control and auditing. Specific targets are to: (1) provide TA and training to at least ten professional associations involved in public financial management; (2) sponsor various regional and subregional conferences, including the annual International Conference on New Developments in Government Financial Management, an Interamerican Conference on Women in Governmental Financial Management, and 11 conferences for financial officers from participating countries; (3) develop training courses for government financial managers, auditors, and decisionmakers in such areas as ADP auditing, public management accounting, accountability for legislators, and debt management; and (4) disseminate publications such as the quarterly newsletter "Accountability", a second printing of "Controlling Corruption", and various informational documents. The feasibility of establishing a regional IFMS center will be explored. Activities under the STRATAC component, which will be financed in large part through Mission buy-ins, will focus on implementing IFMS in countries where the project has built a sufficient base of host government support. The first step will be brief assessments of five selected countries -- extensive assessments having already been performed under 5980658 -- to fine-tune IFMS in line with specific needs. Major responsibilities will then shift to the Missions, especially for large-scale projects, with the core project providing coordination and technical advice. Each country which places a high priority on modern public sector financial management and accountability will be assisted in developing a comprehensive IFMS at the national level. Implementation will be undertaken with maximum donor coordination, after the example of the SAFCO project in Bolivia, in which six donors participated. The model PC-based financial management software package developed under 5980658 will be expanded for wider application, possibly including a software package serving the needs of all levels of government (national, regional, and local) in all IFMS component areas. Anti-corruption activities will include: (1) training courses and seminars in combatting financial fraud and corruption for legislators, financial managers, etc., possibly through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, along with 5 seminars for 100 participants each; (2) RESPONDACON satellite conferences on corruption; and (3) TA to at least 5 countries in developing anti-corruption programs, drafting model corruption codes and civil service merit systems, setting up informant hotlines, etc.