Framework for Strategic Application of TSA and GFMIS in Egypt

The TSA is a unified structure of government bank accounts that enables consolidation and optimum utilization of government cash resources. This system ensures comprehensive control over government cash balances, facilitates government cash management and economic liquidity management, and facilitates reconciliation between banking and public accounting data. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has established a centralized system for the TSA, with all receipts and expenditures going through the TSA in the central bank. The MOF provides payment services for spending agencies and has sole authority on the TSA. The MOF is also implementing the Government Financial Management Information System (GFMIS), which captures all transactions and sits above the TSA. GFMIS is expected to be utilized by all agencies for expenditure management by March 2018. The implementation of GFMIS includes basic training for financial staff to utilize GFMIS for day-to-day budget execution processes, including making payments through the TSA. With the implementation of GFMIS, extensive computerized financial information will become available, making it more easily accessible. However, there needs to be a strategy for government decision-makers to understand the availability of the information and how to utilize it for improving decision-making. The finance team has a key role in fully understanding the data contained in GFMIS, adding value to create information based on the data, and presenting the information in a way that it can be used for informed decision-making. To take full advantage of the capabilities of the TSA and GFMIS, the Government of Egypt officials will require training in their strategic use. This training will enable them to maximize the use of the features of the new systems to support their work. The Government of Egypt's needs and desired outcomes for strategic training include determining the requirements of the Ministry of Finance for reporting, oversight, and other functions. The training program will also determine the current skills of staff and the capabilities of the new systems to provide this. Additionally, the training will help bridge the gap between the requirements of the Ministry of Finance and the capabilities of the new systems. The training program will include a pilot training, evaluations, and a program for long-term sustainability to support the MOF in carrying out an ongoing program of evaluation and targeted training for staff.