BY LINDELWA MYENI
MBABANE – Government has intensified efforts to strengthen planning and budgeting across central agencies through a two-day refresher course on the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) framework, aimed at improving alignment between national priorities and public expenditure.
The training, organised by the Sectoral Unit of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, commenced yesterday at the MVA Headquarters Conference Room and brought together officials responsible for planning and budgeting, including participants from the Public Policy Coordination Unit (PPCU).
The refresher course is designed to enhance participants’ understanding of IFMIS-aligned planning and budgeting processes while promoting consistency in translating development priorities into structured budgets that support effective implementation and reporting.
Officially opening the course, Acting Principal Planning Officer Banele Mavimbela underscored the importance of coordinated planning and budgeting across government institutions to ensure compliance with the IFMIS framework and better alignment with national development priorities.
A key feature of the training was a presentation on the 2027/28 Planning Circular by Lindelo Ngwenya, who unpacked the Programme-Based Planning and Budgeting model.
Ngwenya explained the logical planning structure, which comprises Programme, Sub-Programme, Outcome, Central Activity (Recurrent or Capital), and Specific Activity. He noted that the framework is intended to strengthen the link between government programmes, expected outcomes and budget allocations, thereby improving implementation and accountability.
The two-day programme also includes discussions and practical sessions aimed at enhancing the quality of planning, budget formulation and overall effectiveness in the implementation of the IFMIS framework across government institutions.
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