Programme Budget - Project Officers Learn Best Practices

A two-day workshop of stakeholders from various ministries and institutions began on Tuesday.

Project or programme officers from government ministries and related institutions are currently learning best practices on how to draw up projects and ensure their efficient monitoring for an optimal functioning of the programme budget. A two-day workshop, organised by the Ministry of Finance to build their capacities, went underway in Yaounde yesterday May 28 under the auspices of Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Minister said it was necessary that those in charge of the programmes really master and properly monitor what is happening, how it's happening and the major risks in course of implementing programmes and projects contained in the programme budget. "This is so because we need to adjust ourselves in case of difficulties, we need to share best practices and we need to learn from each other. This is a process that will really shape the future of our country and we will soon have another seminar to evaluate how far we have gone and what are the impacts on the field," the Minister said.

Quizzed on why the workshop is being organised over five months after the budget went operational, Alamine Ousmane Mey said, "We want to make sure that all the necessary tools are available and that experience is in place. They will be sharing experiences on what has been going on thus far, learn from each other and understand what the stakes are and what is expected from them. From a budget which was centred on means available to a budget which is results-oriented, there was need to ensure that the 156 programmes approved by the National Assembly and are being implemented by government have an impact on the living conditions of the population."