BACKGROUND,
The Government of Zambia's (GRZ) Public Sector Reform Strategy includes as a key pillar, a comprehensive programme of reform efforts in the area of public expenditure management and improvements in financial accountability. Improvements in public expenditure management and financial accountability were identified by GRZ as the basis for achieving economic growth and poverty reduction. The Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability (PEMFA) Reform Programme is viewed as central to meeting the targets for economic growth and poverty reduction, key to meeting Zambia's development aspirations. 

OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of PEMFA is to contribute to the efforts of Government in improving its capacity to effectively and efficiently mobilize and utilize public resources (improve public expenditure management) and to strengthen overall financial accountability.  PEMFA was launched in 2005 with a full time secretariat coming into place in February 2006. The program is a fully government owned program but supported by Cooperating partners.  Each component is managed by a Task Manager and a Deputy Task Manager who are responsible for results and deliverables as outlined in their logical framework.
PEMFA Secretariat

The PEMFA Secretariat consists of the following members: 

•  PEMFA Director 
• Finance Manager 
• Procurement Specialist 
• Monitoring and Evaluation Manager 
• Capacity Building Expert 
• Short term consultants 
• and other support staff

PEMFA Secretariat provides an advisory and co-ordinating role in the implementation of the Programme.

Institutions involved in the PEMFA Programme

1. Ministry of Finance and National Planning
2. Bank of Zambia
3. Zambia National Tender Board
4. Office of the Auditor General
5. National Assembly
6. Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants
7. Ministry Justice

ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
The Public Sector Reform Programme (PSRP) Steering Committee

The PSRP Steering committee provides the overall coordination of all PSRP programmes namely PEMFA, Right sizing, Pay reform and the Decentralisation.
PEMFA Management Team (PMT)

The PEMFA Management Team is responsible for providing oversight and coordination during the implementation of the Programme.

The PMT is chaired by The Secretary to the Treasury.  Members of this team include Permanent Secretaries from major stakeholder ministries, Cabinet office provinces and other grant aided institutions that are affected by the reforms. The Management team's mandate is to attend to matters that are affecting programme implementation that have been elevated through the other two levels. At this level recommendations are made to the Public Service Reform program Steering committee which is the overall policy making organ for the reforms which PEMFA is one of.

Notable progress so far as per Component (2006/2007)

• Commitment Control And Financial Management Systems
• Integrated Financial Management And Information System (IFMIS)
• Improved Fiscal Policy And Economic Planning
• Improved Debt Management (IDM)
• Improved Internal Audit
• Better External Financing (ETC)
• Strength Ened External Audit
• Enhanced Parliamentary Oversight
• Accountancy Training And Regulations (ZICA)
• Public Procurement Reform (ZNTB)
• CCSD