African governments are rolling out new roads, power projects, and social programmes, but residents and investors alike now want clear proof that the rising spending is making a difference. Financial governance expert Amos Nyombi says the real test lies in showing how each budget decision affects daily life and ensuring that the route public funds take can be traced from the treasury to the intended communities.
Nyombi argues that fiscal management is emerging as a defining test of governance for developing economies. With public debt rising globally and donor funding more closely scrutinised, he believes countries must demonstrate that investment leads to long-term value. “There has to be a clear connection between budgets and people’s daily lives,” he said in an interview. “Accountability should not be treated as paperwork; it is what gives the public confidence that progress is genuine.”
He has worked with government agencies and civil society organizations to strengthen reporting structures, improve budgeting discipline, and ensure that spending aligns with policy priorities. His focus includes reforms that trace funds from central ministries to regional service providers such as schools, clinics, and municipal authorities.
Nonprofit organisations, often responsible for health outreach, access to education, and humanitarian programmes, sit at the heart of many service delivery systems in Africa. Nyombi says their importance has grown as governments take on ambitious development goals, yet many still face challenges meeting differing donor reporting rules. “The missions are strong, but the financial systems supporting them must be just as strong,” he said.
He encourages wider adoption of technology that enables real-time monitoring of transactions, a shift many developed economies are already embracing. Digital tools, he noted, can reduce leakages, speed up decision-making, and make information easier to verify externally. “Transparency drives trust,” he said. “And trust drives better outcomes.”
Economists say that improved disclosure standards are increasingly factored into international credit ratings and foreign investment decisions. Nyombi agrees, adding that public credibility is now as valuable as fiscal capacity. “Responsible spending builds stability. Stability attracts capital,” he said. “Every improvement in financial governance gives countries a stronger voice on the global stage.”
While accountability reforms are often gradual and technical, he argues they have tangible consequences: reliable water systems, safer hospitals, functioning transport networks, and communities that feel included in development. “Progress must be visible,” he said. “People should see the results in services they can touch and trust.”
Nyombi sees a continental shift underway, a move from measuring ambition by the size of budgets to measuring success by the quality of outcomes. For him, the future of development lies not only in raising more resources but in proving that resources delivered change.
