Description
At this year’s meeting, the group of CEF coordinators will be augmented by several groups of other key liaison officers in CEF member countries – (a) the members of the newly established Program Development Committee to our central banking coursework, (b) the recently established group of representatives of tax administrations in CEF member countries, (c) the local coordinators of our certification programs, as well as (d) experts advising us on the delivery of strategic planning and budgeting training and networking activities. Covering main thematic priorities within our core learning program and regional cooperation efforts, this joint group of human resource and technical experts is frequently consulted in the preparation and delivery of our activities. The meeting will consist of joint and separate sessions of the different participant groups, and provide opportunities to address our thematic areas in more detail. An accompanying social program will provide informal networking opportunities.
The objective of the meeting is to reflect on our needs assessment efforts, and to update them, as needed; to inform participants about our upcoming learning program; to identify opportunities to further develop this program; to match it optimally to our members’ own reform efforts; and to seek opportunities to further strengthen regional cooperation.
After their joint meeting, participants will have an opportunity to join the first session of the meeting to the CEF Advisory Board, which represents the CEF’s donors and partners, and meets to identify ways to strengthen strategic cooperation and coordination, and to establish new alliances in promoting capacity development in South East Europe.
CEF Coordinators
CEF Coordinators are regional representatives responsible for capacity development, involved in the development of strategic learning capability of their respective institution. They focus on ensuring that their personnel are ready for challenges of an uncertain and fast-changing global environment. As human resources professionals, they focus on strategic personnel retention and talent development. CEF Coordinators help us shaping a joint learning agenda, ensure that all voices are heard, reflect on the process of discussions, create a shared memory, communicate with external audiences (e.g. the Advisory Board), etc. At the last day, CEF Coordinators will present the outcomes of the joint meeting with the different thematic groups to the CEF Advisory Board.
Thematic Groups
Budget Preparation and Execution > Experts on strategic planning and budgeting
On initiative of its members, the CEF delivers until September 2015 the Strategic Planning and Budgeting (SPB) project, which is funded by the European Union. The overall objective of this project is to contribute to strengthening of beneficiary countries’ capacity to design and implement medium-term macro-fiscal policy. SPB training and networking activities respond to needs identified in our thematic area of budget preparation and execution, which also entails promoting the fiscal coordination between ministries of finance and line ministries on sectoral policies. Through technical advice, representatives of the eight beneficiary countries (Western Balkan countries, and Turkey), the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission, and the Regional School of Public Administration help us oversee aspects relevant to the project, review progress made through SPB activities, and to identify ways to enable the environment for knowledge exchange at beneficiary institutions. During the joint meeting with other CEF liaison officers, those representatives will have consultations in preparation of a formal SPB Project Steering Committee meeting, which takes place back-to-back, in the late afternoon of September 25.
As part of the joint meeting, the experts on strategic planning and budgeting will have an opportunity to network with relevant human resource and technical experts from the region to discuss ways to sustain and multiply our capacity development efforts on budget preparation and execution, e.g. through other measures at national and regional level; and to guide us in serving beneficiaries’ needs when designing forthcoming training and networking projects within the thematic area.
Accounting and Auditing > Local coordinators of certification programs
Within the thematic area of auditing and accounting, we provide a range of country-specific and multi-beneficiary training activities. Our learning program in accounting aims at empowering public sector entities in transition from cash-based to accrual-based accounting. With workshops and seminars on internal auditing we support the introduction and implementation of international standards in internal auditing. In addition, we focus on strengthening cooperation among auditors and managers, and their role in risk management, and support beneficiaries in setting up certification programs that provide professional qualifications for public sector accountants and internal auditors. The curricula of such programs are developed in line with the international accounting standards and best practices. Local coordinators lead our efforts in establishing such programs on behalf of beneficiaries, and assure the program’s long-term sustainability within the country. The joint meeting with other CEF liaison officers entails a regular meeting of Steering Committee members.
As part of the meeting, local coordinators will share experience with localization of internationally recognized, professional qualifications, and possibly inspire representatives from other beneficiaries to also establish similar programs. The meeting shall also identify ways how domestic efforts can be optimally multiplied through CEF multi-beneficiary training activities.
Tax Policy and Administration > Tax Administration Coordinators
The overarching theme of our taxation learning program is a modern, risk-based approach to tax compliance, using the EU/OECD risk management framework for tax. The emphasis is on segmenting the taxpayer base into discrete risk categories, devising standard risk treatments for each category, and treating the least compliant cases first. Such approach allows tax administrations to achieve effective revenue management, and to ensure high compliance with tax law, while promoting voluntary compliance. On initiative of our members, we have recently established a new network of coordinators at tax administrations. As a first joint effort with this network, we drafted a project proposal to extend and deepen our learning program in the thematic area of tax policy and administration, e.g. by addressing capacity development needs of large taxpayers’ offices.
As part of the meeting, the tax administration coordinators will discuss the next steps needed to finance and implement this project, and to sustain its impacts through complementary and continued efforts.
Central Banking > CB Program Development Committee
National central banks have a regulatory and developmental role in ensuring the stability of a country's economy. The recent financial crisis has changed their responsibilities rapidly. Central banks are forced to adapt and act according to new realities, requiring vigorous action to strengthen their capacities. We assist them by enhancing individual and institutional knowledge and skills through learning. To guide the further development of our central banking coursework, we have recently established a new program committee.
As part of the meeting, the CB Program Development Committee will meet for the first time, with the aim to establish a joint understanding of the capacity development needs within the thematic area of central banking in South East Europe, and to identify opportunities to further strengthen beneficiaries’ capacities in that area through multi-beneficiary training and networking activities.