Training module : the role of African parliamentarians in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) process

Abstract

The constitution of most democratic African countries requires Parliament to approve the annual national budgets. National budgets, as economic policy tools of government, spell out in detail national plans for revenue generation and for expenditure for any given year and therefore become very important planning tools, which cumulatively impact development. Since Parliaments have the “power of the purse” it becomes essential for Parliaments and Parliamentarians to play an effective role in the budget process.