What is Performance Measures

There is an increasing focus worldwide on improving the quality of public financial management, with many countries in both the developed and the developing world making important and impressive achievements in strengthening public financial management and governance. This chapter explores how subnational government financial management can be improved and capacity strengthened in developing economies. Using Ghana's subnational financial management and accountability system as illustration, this study shows that improving public financial management leads to better quality of public services. The subnational government landscape is rapidly changing, with increasing emphasis on fiscal management and discipline, prioritization of expenditure, and value for money. It is even more important that international donors, governments, and national and local institutions, including regulators and professional accountancy bodies, work together in partnership to achieve long-lasting improvements, transparency, and accountability in public financial management.