Governments and development partners have been using Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) to support analysis of public financial management (PFM) since 2005. They have also used it to provide a baseline for reform initiatives and to inform action plans for improving performance.

This book examines the interplay between PFM and other key aspects of governance in low- and middle-income countries, using the PEFA framework and related data sets to measure the quality of PFM systems. The PEFA framework was developed on the premise that effective PFM institutions and systems play a crucial role in the implementation of national policies for development and poverty reduction. It is part of a broader set of initiatives aimed at strengthening public sector governance frameworks.