Public budgeting deficiencies in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review

This article provides an overview of the major deficiencies affecting public budgeting in Sub-Saharan Africa. The article describes the major budgetary problems, which include instability and uncertainty, repetitive budgeting, budget fragmentation, weak revenue base, inadequate expenditure control and accountability, declining donor assistance, and disparity between planning and budgeting, in light of conditions in the region's environment among which are adverse global economic conditions and extreme internal parameters of underdevelopment such as widespread poverty, civil wars, and natural disasters. The article concludes by providing a broad agenda for improving the current state of public budgeting in the region including specific proposals for reform.