Enhancing the Capabilities of Central Finance Agencies: Synthesis Report presents the findings of a study of the functions performed by CFAs, defined as government organizations that carry out financial management functions for the whole of government. Using a political economy approach to the analysis of CFAs in ten case studies of low-income countries, the report identifies the principal constraints on the capability of CFAs as: interventions by the head of the state, sometimes outside the provisions of the constitution and budget law, in executive decisions on the institutional arrangements and fiscal policy; deficiencies in management, ranging from excessively centralized and hierarchical decision-making processes to poor staff management and record keeping; and inadequate coordination among donors—and between donors and their clients in finance and planning ministries—in designing and implementing strategies for reforming CFAs and PFM systems. Drawing on results of the cross-count
