USAID Promotes Accountability and Transparency in Zambia through Public Financial Management Training

The project, operating from 2017 to 2022, was funded by a $7.3 million investment from the United States government. It was implemented in nine districts selected from Zambia's Eastern, Lusaka, and Muchinga provinces. The project's primary objective was to promote accountability and transparency in the handling of public funds. To achieve this, USAID/AGIS conducted a virtual Public Financial Management (PFM) Training Workshop in July 2021. The workshop was attended by over 30 journalists and news editors from the project's target districts. The training featured key PFM players and news outlets, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Office of the Auditor General, Anti-Corruption Commission, and Transparency International Zambia. The workshop explored the challenges local media houses face when reporting on PFM and highlighted the critical role of media coverage in championing effective PFM. By demonstrating how PFM documents such as the National Budget and Auditor General's Report can be analyzed, simplified, and comprehensively reported on, the workshop promoted more informed and analytical media coverage on PFM. The workshop also strengthened ties among participants and provided a platform for media to engage, consult, and build relationships with the public relations departments at various government ministries and agencies. Following the success of the workshop, USAID/AGIS created the PFM Media Club WhatsApp group, a forum where workshop participants can discuss topical issues and share PFM information. The project also helped strengthen ties with the respective facilitators and media, which led to more discussions on PFM, including an in-depth radio interview with the Deputy Auditor General, TI-Z Executive Director, and ACC Director of Community Education to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day 2021. The project's efforts to promote accountability and transparency in the handling of public funds have had a positive impact on the Zambian government's financial plans. The Zambian government's medium to long-term financing plans were previously fairly unknown to the general public, but the project's training and media engagement efforts have helped to increase transparency and understanding of these plans. For example, Chinsali District Information Officer Mildred Chisenga credited the workshop for helping her actively monitor how public funds were being administered in her district. She was particularly excited about using her newfound knowledge to track the Ministry of Finance's allocation to Muchinga Province in the 2022 National Budget.