Salone Marah improving public finance reforms in 18 Commonwealth Caribbean countries
Sierra Leonean-born Kaifala Marah, who is also Adviser, Public Expenditure Management in the Governance and Institutional Development Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, has again hit the news – this time in the Caribbean, where he has successfully worked out a regional strategy for improvement in internal audit and risk management in public expenditure management systems for all 18 Commonwealth Caribbean countries and territories.
Marah made a major breakthrough in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago between the 14th and 16th September 2009, in collaboration with more than 30 permanent secretaries, directors and senior internal auditors as well as auditors general from the region.
The strategy meeting was jointly organised by the Ministry of Public Administration of that country, and the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD). The event was formerly opened by the ministers of finance, and that of public administration, Trinidad and Tobago .
Speaking to the press, in Trinadad and Tobago, Salone Marah said, the brainstorming exercise has laid a sustainable foundation of engagement between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the countries in the region on the transformation of public expenditures. The event is critical to instituting effective risk management and internal audit practices to cushion the effects of the financial and economic crises in developing member countries.
Addressing also the media, Kaifala Marah, said, “the forum is part of our public sector renewal initiative aimed at transforming public finance systems. Governments within the region recognise that strengthening internal audit and risk management increases the chance of delivering results and services for citizens.
Emerging initiatives and best practices were discussed at the forum, which guided us in reaching a regional medium term strategy meant to change systems wihin this region. The strategy that has been worked out will enable the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide advisory services and technical assistance to Commonwealth Caribbean countries”.
The blueprint includes series of in-country exchanges, the provision of technical advice and capacity building under the project, Building Pyramids in the Valleys, through which the Secretariat transfers enhances skills and knowledge sharing within Commonwealth countries. This is executed through a community of practitioners known as Thematic Fellows who have been leading country reform programmes.
Marah’s untiring efforts in assisting Commonwealth countries spans the following regions: Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and the Pacific; for example, Botswana, which is the shining reference for good governance and economic recovery on the African continent, is at current receiving technical assistance from the Sierra Leonean, to enhance risk management and internal audit in the whole of government.
Yes, we may be a small post conflict country busy with consolidating our democracy and rebuilding our economy, but we do have some good stuff to offer to the rest of the world through the likes of him.
Honestly, there is no better way of rebuilding our country image after being battered by the western media because of the civil conflict than through the difference our compatriots are making in every corner of the world. They have been busy reinventing our image. Indeed we have got something to offer, and it must be celebrated.
Marah has also recently developed a government self-assessment toolkit on financial management for member countries. He is also a public sector expert on change management, local government administration as well as legislative development.
The Sierra Leonean-born financial expert is currently in Cyprus and is expected back in London tomorrow – Friday.
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