The 10th Annual Harvard Ministerial Leadership Forum brought together Finance and Economic Planning Ministers from Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean to discuss strategies for stimulating sustainable economic growth amidst significant fiscal challenges. With the backdrop of rising debt burdens exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forum provided a space for leaders to explore innovative approaches to resource mobilization and investment in human development.
Event Highlights
Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program
The Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program annually invites select Ministers to participate in a four-day event designed to provide a platform for reflection, strategy development, and peer learning. Since its inception in 2012, the program has engaged 274 Ministers from 70 countries, supported by a network of former Ministers and Heads of Government.
This year’s Forum focused on leveraging the elevated political influence of Finance Ministers to drive coordinated, cross-government strategies aimed at addressing pressing economic challenges. Participants were encouraged to align policy and program goals across government, maximizing resource efficiency and fostering sustainable growth.
Strategic Discussions and Key Outcomes
The Forum emphasized actionable insights and practical strategies, including:
- Cross-Government Collaboration
- Improved Revenue Collection
- Cost Efficiency
Participants explored how to harness current economic conditions as an opportunity for reform, focusing on long-term human development initiatives with high potential for economic returns.
Dr. Wilson Prichard’s Session on Revenue Systems
“Strategic Leadership to Strengthen Revenue Systems”
Dr. Wilson Prichard, Executive Director of the ICTD and Chair of the Local Government Revenue Initiative (LoGRI), led a session addressing adaptive challenges in revenue systems. He emphasized that strengthening these systems requires understanding complex policy, administrative, and political constraints, rather than relying solely on technical solutions.
Key themes from Dr. Prichard’s session included:
- Realistic Revenue Targets: Incremental revenue growth requires continuous investment and strategic goal-setting, informed by untapped potential in lower-income countries.
- Priority Areas for Mobilization: Data-driven identification of high-potential revenue sources, particularly from wealthier taxpayers and property taxes.
- Diagnosing Underperformance: Holistic diagnostics that address root causes of inefficiencies in revenue collection.
- Crafting Reform Strategies: Binding constraints analysis to design feasible, impactful reforms.
Case Study Exercise
Co-led by former Finance Ministers Nhlanhla Nene (South Africa) and Rosine Coulibaly (Burkina Faso), the session included a dynamic case study on strengthening taxation of wealthy taxpayers. The exercise allowed participants to:
- Diagnose system underperformance.
- Explore technical and political strategies for reform.
- Develop long-term approaches to build taxpayer trust and administrative capacity.
Ongoing Support and Future Outlook
The Forum stressed the importance of combining ambitious goals with practical steps to build equitable and robust revenue systems. Participating Ministers can access ongoing support from Harvard faculty and the Ministerial Program’s global network, ensuring continued progress in addressing their unique fiscal challenges.
By fostering collaboration and innovation, the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Forum remains a cornerstone in empowering Finance Ministers to navigate the complexities of economic growth and sustainable development.
Read the full news story here, and learn more about the program here.
Wilson Prichard
Chair