Windhoek: Namibia will host the ninth annual conference of the African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (AN-PBO) from 21 to 25 September 2026, bringing together parliamentary budget officials, fiscal experts, and development partners from across Africa. The conference will take place in Swakopmund under the theme 'The Role of PBOs in Supporting their Legislatures' Oversight Towards Realising African Continent Agenda 2063.'
According to Namibia Press Agency, between 60 and 80 delegates are expected to attend the conference, which will provide a platform for participants to exchange experiences on legislative oversight, fiscal transparency, accountability, and evidence-based policymaking. The conference is hosted by the Budget Committee of the Namibian National Assembly and will focus on the role of Parliamentary Budget Offices (PBOs) in strengthening legislative scrutiny of public finances.
PBOs are independent or specialised parliamentary institutions that provide legislatures with impartial fiscal and economic analysis to support their examination of government budgets, expenditure, and broader fiscal policy. Discussions will cover the institutional role of PBOs, fiscal analysis and forecasting, debt management, macroeconomic developments, and the use of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies in budget analysis. Delegates will also examine how parliamentary oversight can contribute to the implementation of Agenda 2063, including at provincial and sub-national level.
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah is also scheduled to deliver a goodwill message, while National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila will officially open the conference and receive the instrument of power. The conference is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Namibia Declaration on Fiscal Oversight. A Governing Council meeting on 25 September will then review the conference and formalise the plan of action for the 10th AN-PBO conference.
The AN-PBO network includes parliamentary budget offices and related institutions from countries such as Namibia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Liberia, The Gambia, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde. The conference will also provide an opportunity for African legislatures to share experiences on strengthening parliamentary oversight of public finances and consider how PBOs can support fiscal accountability and the implementation of continental and national development priorities.