A survey of 142 finance ministry officials across low- and middle-income countries reveals how they navigate competing budget demands, and who they believe really holds influence over spending decisions.
Finance ministries face mounting pressure from high debt, inflation, shocks and rising demands on public services. Yet how officials actually think about their role — what they prioritise, and whose voices they respond to – is poorly understood.
This policy brief draws on a 2025 survey by ODI Global, in partnership with Save the Children, reaching 142 officials across 32 low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe.
Report by the Overseas Development Institute