• Djibouti holds public finance training to strengthen budget management skills

• Programme backed by AFD and Expertise France targets job-ready civil servants

• Initiative supports fiscal reforms amid budget pressures and IMF recommendations

Djibouti’s Public Finance Training Center (CAF) held a training session on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the People’s Palace to strengthen public finance skills.

The workshop was led by experts Stéphane Kessler and Fabien Delome and was attended by officials from the Ministry of Budget, in the presence of CAF Director General Abdourazack Khaireh Bouraleh.

The program is funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and receives technical assistance from Expertise France. It offers short, practical modules designed to complement longer courses and deliver job-ready skills quickly.

Since CAF was established, nearly 100 civil servants have completed the training and now hold key roles across the Ministry of Budget. Sessions will be rolled out gradually in 2026 and 2027. The first session for entry-level staff is expected in February or March, after candidates are selected through a call for applications.

The initiative is part of Djibouti’s efforts to strengthen fiscal sustainability amid ongoing budget pressures. Under its 2024-2027 action plan, the government is pursuing reforms to tighten budget discipline, broaden the tax base and improve transparency in public spending, following weaknesses identified in sector reviews.

The IMF also stressed in 2025 the need to consolidate public finances by raising tax revenues and increasing dividend income from state-owned enterprises. It said these measures could help restore debt sustainability and strengthen reserves, although the deficit is expected to remain high despite solid growth.

International partners are also supporting these efforts. In January 2025, the World Bank approved $20 million to improve public finance governance and expand digital services, aiming to boost tax administration efficiency and increase transparency in public spending.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou