Eight government ministries will be required to prove the impact of their spending under a new outcome-based budgeting system being rolled out by government as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery.
The pilot programme, which will begin in the second quarter of 2026, will require participating ministries to submit outcome-based budget reports to the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said the reports would be closely scrutinised.
“By the second quarter of 2026, I anticipate that the participating OMAs, as previously mentioned, will submit their initial outcome-based budget reports to the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission. I will be paying close attention to those reports,” Ngurare said during the official opening of the 2026/27 Budget Reform Roll-Out Workshop.
The initiative forms part of government’s transition to Outcome-Based Budgeting (OBB), a framework designed to measure performance based on results achieved rather than expenditure levels.
Under the new system, ministries will be expected to demonstrate how budget allocations contribute to improved public services, economic development and better living standards.
The pilot phase will involve the Ministries of Education, Innovation, Arts and Culture; Health and Social Services; Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security; Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform; Finance; Industrialisation, Mines and Energy; Environment, Forestry and Tourism; and Works and Transport.
Government intends to use the pilot programme to test the effectiveness of the framework before expanding it to all Offices, Ministries and Agencies (OMAs).
“Moving forward, the implementation will encompass the remaining OMAs from 2027/28, aiming to complete the process within the current MTEF period (2026/27 – 2028/29),” Ngurare said.
The Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission will oversee the implementation process, review submitted reports and monitor compliance.
The reform is expected to reshape public sector performance management by placing greater emphasis on measurable outcomes and ensuring that public spending delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
