What Makes Finance Ministry Officials Tick: Survey Evidence and Suggestions for Influencing Public Spending Decisions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

This policy brief presents findings from a multi-country survey conducted in 2025 by ODI Global, in partnership with Save the Children and with help from numerous partner organisations. Reaching 142 finance ministry officials across 32 low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Europe, the survey sought to understand the priorities, preferences and perceptions of influence that shape budget decision-making. As such, it will be of interest to actors, national and international, who are looking to engage with finance ministries around a specific agenda.