In a workshop held on July 14, 2014 in Khartoum, Sudan, the African Development Bank (AfDB) launched a public financial and macroeconomic management capacity-building project to the tune of US $35 million approved by the Bank's Board in December 2013.
The workshop was presided over by Magdi Yasin, the State Minister of Finance and National Economy, and attended by high government officials from the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, Central Bank of Sudan, Taxation Chamber, Khartoum Stock Exchange, and Customs Authorities.
The Bank was represented by Suwareh Darbo, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Sudan Field Office, who presented a speech at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Resident Representative. The workshop was also attended by staff from the Bank, including Camille Karamaga, the Project Task Manager; Tadesse Melaku, Financial Analyst; and Asaye Adal Fasil, Procurement.
The project's overarching objective is to build and enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in the use of public resources, macroeconomic policy and debt management through institutional strengthening and capacity building.
In his opening remarks at the workshop, the State Minister commended the Bank's continuous support to Sudan and promised to provide the utmost support to the project team to effectively implement this important project. The State Minister further underscored that this project is essential for better management of public resources in the overall context of the government's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. For his side, the OIC of the Sudan Field Office, underscored the fact that the realization of the project bears is a concrete testimony to both the Bank's and the Government's commitment to financial governance, which is critical for the country to realize its development aspirations. The OIC also emphasized the project's alignment with the pillars of the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP) and the National Development Plan (2012-2016), both of which strengthen governance and institutional capacity in the public sector.
During the workshop, participants will be trained on the Bank's procurement and disbursement procedures, and will discuss the project implementation plan.