I am working on budget and performance issues in the Strategy Development Department of the Turkish Undersecretariat of Treasury. I work especially on preparing the budget for Undersecretariat (that includes the capital budget and performance program), carrying out the process of budget implementation, and reporting on this process.

To better carrying out those tasks, it was very useful for me to attend the CEF’s workshop on capital budgeting in October 2013. At that workshop, I learned more about concepts and processes of capital budget formulation and capital budget execution as essential elements for ensuring a country’s social and economic development and its financial stability. I very much liked experiencing the group work we had to perform, and the presentations of international experts from the IMF and the London School of Economics. The knowledge sharing on capital budgeting concepts and cost-benefit analysis for the concrete case of traffic regulation in the London city center was particularly inspiring.

In early 2014, I attended the training of trainers delivered as part of the SPB project. I enjoyed presenting to other international participants in the classroom, jointly reflecting on my performance, and learning from their feedback. I very much liked how the main facilitator, Ms. Beverly Trayner, guided us in improving our presentation performance. The simulation of giving powerful presentations, especially in the context of the medium-term budgeting framework, was a particularly memorable experience, as it is part of my daily job at the Undersecretariat to give such presentations.

Receiving constructive feedback of participants and course facilitators, and simulating part of our daily work duties, was challenging, but helped us a lot to reflect on ourselves and to learn how to do better. For me, the fact that SPB activities are delivered in English provide an additional challenge. But the excellent organization and especially the social event with the museums excursion provided a very enabling environment for learning, and helped me to further develop my language skills.

Upon returning to work (from both SPB activities), I shared what I have learned with the colleagues with whom I prepare the budget. In our work, we are now discussing more aspects of good cost-benefit analysis.

I would like to thank the CEF for a great job done, and hope to have the opportunity to join future SPB activities, which I expect to be as excellent as the two that I have recently experienced. I believe the SPB project has a significant potential for continuation and extension, in particular for Turkey, which has a large administration. Turkish officials would benefit from further support with capacity development in the preparation of medium-term macro-fiscal frameworks.

Erdoğan Yilmaz
Junior Treasury Expert
Strategy Development Department
Undersecretariat of Treasury
Turkey

SPB Project Website