2018年-IMF国际货币组织全球_Botswana_Technical_Assistance_Report_25页_988kb

Summary of the Technical Assistance Report on Government Finance Statistics for Botswana

Core Content

This report is a Technical Assistance (TA) mission conducted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Botswana from October 9–20, 2017, aimed at improving the compilation and dissemination of fiscal statistics. The mission was carried out in collaboration with the IMF's Regional Technical Assistance Center in Southern Africa (AFRITAC South), and it followed up on a previous GFS TA mission in March 2017. The primary focus was on aligning Botswana’s financial reporting with the Government Finance Statistics Manual (GFSM) 2014 and enhancing Public Financial Management (PFM) practices.

Main Views and Key Information

1. Mission Objectives and Outcomes

• The mission supported the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED) in improving the classification, compilation, and reporting of Government Finance Statistics (GFS).
• Key areas addressed included:
  • Disaggregation of expense transactions according to COFOG categories.
  • Mapping from the old Chart of Accounts (CoA) to the new CoA.
  • Compilation of government expenditure using COFOG.
  • Review of the migration plan to GFSM 2014.
  • Development of a one-year action plan to improve GFS reporting.

2. Current GFS Challenges

• Deficiencies in expenditure classification hinder the IMF's surveillance in Africa.
• The current CoA does not clearly distinguish between economic, administrative, and project-related categories.
• Data coverage is limited to the budgetary central government, with local governments and extrabudgetary entities not yet integrated.
• Annual GFS reporting to the IMF’s Statistics Department (STA) has been delayed since 2014 due to reliance on monthly data as a proxy.

3. Migration to GFSM 2014

• Botswana plans to transition to accrual accounting starting April 2019, aligning with IPSAS and GFSM 2014.
• The new CoA will be used to produce GFSM 2014-compliant financial statements.
• The mission recommended the establishment of a working group to oversee the mapping of the new economic classification codes to GFS codes and COFOG codes.

4. Data Collection and Reporting

• The Cash Flow Unit (CFU) of MFED is responsible for compiling GFS data, but data supply from extrabudgetary entities and local governments is inconsistent.
• The mission suggested the development of a web-portal for monthly reporting from all public-sector entities to MFED.
• Formal agreements between MFED and extrabudgetary entities are necessary to ensure annual reporting until the web-portal is operational.

5. COFOG Reporting Enhancements

• The current GFS reporting uses a modified GFSM 1986 structure, which lacks clarity in distinguishing government functions.
• The mission produced COFOG data for the budgetary central government for fiscal years 2012-2013 to 2015-2016.
• Data verification and format improvements were recommended for local government financial operations.

6. Current vs. Capital Expenditure

• Development budget expenditure is recorded using programmatic classification, not economic classification, leading to inaccurate segregation of current and capital spending.
• The economic classification needs to be updated to reflect the nature of transactions, especially in non-financial asset acquisition.
• The transition to accrual accounting is seen as the most effective way to improve economic classification.

7. Transfer Transactions

• The current GABS CoA does not allow for reliable categorization of subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other transfers.
• The economic classification account 01700 is used for transfers, but it includes ambiguous items.
• The mission recommended the introduction of new accounts in the GL segment to better record transfer transactions.

Priority Recommendations

Key Entities and Institutions Involved

• Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED): Central to the GFS and PFM reforms.
• Cash Flow Unit (CFU): Responsible for data collection and compilation.
• Office of Accountant General (OAG): Key user of GABS and responsible for GFS reporting.
• Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD): Provides data on local government financial operations.
• Statistics Botswana: Collaborates with MFED on data collection and macroeconomic statistics.
• Bank of Botswana (BoB): Participates in data verification and categorization efforts.
• IMF's Regional Technical Assistance Center (AFRITAC South): Jointly conducted the mission with MFED.

Conclusion

The mission identified significant improvement opportunities in GFS compilation, classification, and reporting in Botswana. The transition to accrual accounting and GFSM 2014 is critical for aligning with international standards and improving fiscal transparency and surveillance effectiveness. The establishment of a web-portal, permanent working groups, and enhanced data collection mechanisms are recommended to ensure consistent and comprehensive reporting across all public-sector entities.