Sustainable Public Financial Management

FreeBalance Participates in Regional Public Financial Management (PFM) Conference in Livingstone, Zambia

Annual ESAAG event to explore contribution of PFM in addressing fiscal impact of financial crisis

Ottawa, Canada (February 22, 2010) – FreeBalance, a For Profit Social Enterprise (FOPSE) software company that helps governments around the world to leverage robust Government Resource Planning (GRP) technology to accelerate country growth, has been invited to participate in the 17^th Annual Eastern and South African Association of Accountants General (ESAAG) Conference. The ESAAG event will take place from February 22 to 25 in Livingstone, Zambia.

ESAAG supports the improvement of the democratic processes through transparency and accountability and by strengthening of the government accounting profession. ESAAG member countries include Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Over 500 delegates from member countries and the international public financial management and accounting community are expected. FreeBalance has been a strong supporter of ESAAG since first participating as an exhibitor and sponsor of the 2006 conference in Maseru, Lesotho.

The 2010 ESAAG event is well aligned with the FreeBalance vision for financial management in governments in Africa. The FreeBalance Accountability Suite is designed specifically for public financial management and covers the entire budget cycle including budget preparation, budget execution and civil service management. Countries in Africa that are introducing public financial management reforms require an experienced partner that has repeatedly overcome the challenges of rolling out a modern public financial management system in challenging circumstances. This includes overcoming the lack of physical infrastructure, low capacity, resistance to change and an appropriate sequence to reflect legal reform. 

“The annual ESAAG event is important for the public financial management community in Africa. The member countries of ESAAG are at various stages of fiscal reform and have a unique opportunity to share lessons learned and experiences to support their initiatives,” said Manuel Pietra, President & CEO of FreeBalance. “FreeBalance is working in Africa to support government efforts to promote accountability, transparency and performance with the use of Government Resource Planning (GRP) solutions.” 

FreeBalance customers span the globe and the user community includes public financial management professionals in 18 countries, including Namibia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Southern Sudan. FreeBalance operates in 15 customer time zones. FreeBalance has more than 60,000 users around the world. FreeBalance software manages a global civil service workforce of 1,500,000, and also manages a quarter trillion ($US) annual budgets worldwide. 

About ESAAG
The East and Southern African Association of Accountants General – ESAAG – is the regional body of Accountants General which supports its members in adoption and implementation of best practice in Public Financial Management practices.  ESAAG holds an International conference every year to which its members and non-members are invited.  The objective of the conference is to appraise participants from ESAAG and those from outside the association of the developments in Public Financial Management Reforms.  The conference is also an excellent opportunity for networking, exchange of ideas and information and sharing solutions on issues of mutual concern in public sector financial management. 

About FreeBalance
Founded in 1984, FreeBalance is a For Profit Social Enterprise (FOPSE) software company that helps governments around the world to leverage robust Government Resource Planning (GRP) technology to accelerate country growth. FreeBalance software solutions for public financial and human resource management support reform and modernization to improve governance, transparency and accountability. Good governance is required to improve development results.

FreeBalance is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with sales and support offices in Washington, DC (United States), Lima (Peru), Lisbon (Portugal), London (Great Britain), Pristina (Kosovo) and St. John (Antigua and Barbuda). FreeBalance solutions have been implemented in countries across the globe, including Canada, United States, Sierra Leone, Guyana, Pakistan, Mongolia, Namibia, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Timor-Leste, Republic of Kosovo, Palestine, Panama, Southern Sudan and Uganda.

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Another step toward the Gusmão Government’s goal to make the Public Finance Management of Timor-Leste among the most transparent and accountable in the world was achieved this month as a high level delegation from FreeBalance visited the country by invitation of the Ministry of Finance. The broad range of meetings provided an overview of how the public financial management goals and objectives of the Government of Timor-Leste can be addressed with the comprehensive suite of Government Resource Planning solutions offered by FreeBalance.
Read the rest of the Feb 19, 2010 announcement >>

Timor-Leste Accelerates Public Financial Management Reform

FreeBalance supports Government commitment to build capacity, increase self-sufficiency,  improve transparency, and ensure accountability

Ottawa, Canada (February 18, 2010) – FreeBalance, a For Profit Social Enterprise (FOPSE) software company that helps governments around the world to leverage robust Government Resource Planning (GRP) technology to accelerate country growth, today announced an enhanced strategic partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste. The Government of Timor-Leste is committed to fast tracking technologies to modernize Public Financial Management (PFM). The Government will leverage web-based technology from FreeBalance designed specifically to support the full government budget cycle. 

Consultations and meetings were conducted last week between FreeBalance and the President of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, the Prime Minister, His Excellency Xanana Gusmão, The Minister of Finance, Her Excellency Emilia Pires, the Council of Ministers, National Parliament, Commission C, and representatives from line ministries, civil society, the private sector, and development partners.

Based on these consultations, FreeBalance will sequence products and services using a platform approach that builds over time, considered a good practice for public financial management reform. These platforms form part of the shared vision of FreeBalance and the Government of Timor-Leste of:

1. Building technical capacity and long-term sustainability
2. Improving budget execution to optimize revenue and procurement processes
3. Increasing transparency through decision-making tools and publication of data
4. Delivering performance management tools to develop a performance culture and improve government effectiveness

The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Xanana Gusmão said “On behalf of the Government we wish to extend our appreciation to the delegation from FreeBalance led by CEO and President Mr. Manuel Pietra. FreeBalance has demonstrated their capacity and commitment to ensuring Timor-Leste will have one of the most progressive Public Financial Management Systems in the world, catered for the specific needs of our young nation and in line with global best practices. The new measures for transparency and accountability will be a milestone in our short history of self governance and we look forward to continuing our work with FreeBalance which is integral to state building.”

The FreeBalance solution for the Government of Timor-Leste follows the FreeBalance ISO 9001:2000 certified customer-centric model for product development and implementation. This model enables the Government of Timor-Leste to work closely with FreeBalance to set product development priorities to ensure objectives are met. The migration to the latest technology will enable the Government of Timor-Leste to benefit from advances in workflow, usability, and ease of deployment. FreeBalance has placed an advisor in the Ministry of Finance to supervise project implementation to ensure a smooth rollout. FreeBalance will continue to maintain a local presence with additional support and advisory services in the country. Local support and a mentorship program that links civil servants with public financial management experts is integral to the FreeBalance methodology to ensure sustainable public financial management reform.

“FreeBalance is committed to supporting the Government of Timor-Leste as it continues to find new and innovative ways to accelerate public financial management in support of government priorities,” said Manuel Pietra, President & CEO of FreeBalance. “The Government of Timor-Leste has a unique opportunity to become one of the world’s most open, transparent, and accountable governments. This will demonstrate worldwide leadership in public financial management and will provide new levels of citizen engagement and government effectiveness.”

FreeBalance customers span the globe and the user community includes public financial management professionals in 18 countries. FreeBalance operates in 15 customer time zones. FreeBalance has more than 60,000 users around the world. FreeBalance software manages a global civil service workforce of 1,500,000, and also manages a quarter trillion ($US) annual budgets worldwide.

About the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Internationally recognized as an independent state in 2002, Timor-Leste is located in south western Asia. The former Portuguese colony has witnessed rapid development growth in recent years. Tetum and Portuguese are official languages.

About FreeBalance
Founded in 1984, FreeBalance is a For Profit Social Enterprise (FOPSE) software company that helps governments around the world to leverage robust Government Resource Planning (GRP) technology to accelerate country growth. FreeBalance software solutions for public financial and human resource management support reform and modernization to improve governance, transparency and accountability. Good governance is required to improve development results.

FreeBalance is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with sales and support offices in Washington, DC (United States), Lima (Peru), Lisbon (Portugal), London (Great Britain), Pristina (Kosovo) and St. John (Antigua and Barbuda). FreeBalance solutions have been implemented in countries across the globe, including Canada, United States, Sierra Leone, Guyana, Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Timor-Leste, Republic of Kosovo, Palestine, Panama, and Uganda.

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Just found a very informative blog: “Conflict and Development, Overcoming Conflict and Fragility.” This blog is hosted by the team working on the World Bank’s upcoming World Development Report 2011 titled “Conflict, Security, and Development.”

There are many well-written articles and video interviews on the blog. The two part article “Speaking Out About Conflict” includes interviews with leaders from conflict-affected countries. The leaders talk about overcoming conflict, building institutions, confidence building, and the role of the international community. These interviews were conducted during a recent World Development Report 2011 event.

The interviews with the representatives from Afghanistan, Timor Leste, and Uganda are especially relevant for FreeBalance as we have partnered with these governments to modernize their Public Financial Management (PFM) and Government Resource Planning (GRP) systems. For these governments, this has meant building capacity, increasing self-sufficiency, improving transparency, and ensuring public financial accountability.

FreeBalance has been providing GRP solutions and PFM reform initiatives to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste since 2000, Afghanistan since 2001, and Uganda since 2009. 

Watch the Speaking Out About Conflict – Part One interviews >>

 Watch the Speaking Out About Conflict – Part Two interviews >>

Just read an article about the 33 Haitian orphans that may have been abducted as part of an illicit adoption scheme. Once rescued, on January 20, 2010 the Haitian Social Ministry entrusted those 33 children (aged three months to twelve years) to the care of SOS Children’s Villages.

FreeBalance would just like to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to SOS Children’s Villages for continuing its extraordinary work in Haiti.

At an event last month, we invited Boyd McBride, National Director of SOS Villages Canada to speak to our employees and our worldwide customers. It was a very emotional and uplifting presentation.

Watch Boyd McBride talking about the situation in Haiti >> 

We have also been involved with SOS Children’s Villages, most notably in Sierra Leone where an SOS Children’s Village alumnus joined the FreeBalance team. FreeBalance is a For Profit Social Enterprise (FOPSE) and believes that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) must drive the way a company operates and runs its day to day operations.

 Learn more about SOS Children’s Villages >>

2010 FISC Elects Chair at Annual Meeting in Mont Tremblant, Canada

Ottawa, Canada (February  1, 2010) – FreeBalance, a For Profit Social Enterprise (FOPSE) software company that helps governments around the world to leverage robust Government Resource Planning (GRP) technology to accelerate country growth, today announced that Mr. Lulzim Ismajli, Treasury Director, Kosovo Ministry of Finance & Economy, has been re-elected as Chair of the FreeBalance International Steering Committee (FISC). Mr. Ismajli was elected by a group of senior government officials from Antigua & Barbuda, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, Sierra Leone, and Timor-Leste as part of the annual FISC strategic planning sessions. 

The FISC provides an interactive forum to exchange public financial management good practices among international customers and Public Financial Management (PFM) thought leaders. FISC enables customer-centric development as it exposes the product roadmap providing traceability to specific customer requirements. FISC delegates set future direction by voting and prioritizing product specifications and enhancements. And, the FISC ensures proper oversight by voting one of their members as FISC Chair who serves for a one-year term. Previous FISC events were held in Prague, Czech Republic (2009), Cascais, Portugal (2008), and London, United Kingdom (2007). The FISC meets annually and through conference calls each quarter to adjust and modify the product road map. The FISC is a critical part of the global FreeBalance community. 

“To have been re-elected as Chair of the FreeBalance International Steering Committee is a great honour,” said Lulzim Ismajli, Treasury Director, Ministry of Finance & Economy, Government of Kosovo. “I look forward to working with such a distinguished group of international government officials as we leverage technology investments to accelerate economic development, improve accountability, transparency and modernization.” 

The 2010 FISC event was unique from previous years as it also included a program for Ministers and Partners. The Ministers Meetings provided participants with exclusive access to an interactive forum with influential PFM experts and speakers, including: Peter Hall, Vice President and Chief Economist of EDC; Jean-Louis Sarbib, CEO of Development Gateway; Michael Clarke, Director of the Information and Communication Technologies for Development at IDRC; Ken Cochrane, Managing Partner of SSG Southside Solutions Group and former CIO in the Government of Canada; Richard Worzel, Futurist; David Nummy, Executive Director of Grant Thornton; and Tom Helou, President & COO of Authenware. The FreeBalance Partners Program ran in parallel and provided participants with an interactive forum with the GRP community. 

“The annual FISC event aligns the FreeBalance vision with our customers’ needs and requirements and demonstrates our commitment that FreeBalance products and services are customer-centric and customer-driven,” said Manuel Pietra, President & CEO of FreeBalance. “FISC ensures our international customers achieve a sustainable Government Resource Planning solution with long-term capacity capabilities.”

FreeBalance customers span the globe and the user community includes public financial management professionals in 18 countries. FreeBalance operates in 15 customer time zones. FreeBalance has more than 60,000 users around the world. FreeBalance software manages a global civil service workforce of 1,500,000, and also manages a quarter trillion ($US) annual budgets worldwide.