By Bill W. Cooper
The Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD), in collaboration with the International Budget Partnership have launched the 2023 ‘Open Budget Survey’ report geared towards enhancing fiscal transparency and accountability in Liberia.
Launched on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 in Monrovia, the united participants with a call for improved budgetary practices in the country.
The Open Budget Survey (OBS) is the world’s only independent, comparative, and regular assessor of transparency, participation, and oversight in national budgets process.
It uses fact-based internationally accepted criteria to assess public access to central government budget information; formal opportunities for the public to participate in the national budget process, including the role of budget oversight institutions.
Speaking at the start of the one-day Key Stakeholders’ Engagement Workshop, IREDD Executive Director, Dan T. Saryee disclosed that this OBS process is currently done in 125 countries world-wide and not Liberia alone.
He stated that the OBS as conducted, assesses the transparency of the Liberian government budgets and the extent to which citizens can access and understand budgetary information.
According to him, this year’s report highlights both progress and challenges in Liberia’s budgeting process, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and accessible budget data to foster public trust and civic engagement.
Mr. Saryee added that the OBS measures public access to information on how central government raises and spends public resources, assessing online availability, timeliness, and comprehensiveness of eight key budget documents, using 145 equally weighted indicators and scores each country on a scale of 0 to 100.
Presenting the report, IREDD Program manager, Gontorwon S. lah revealed that the events, activities, and documents published in this 2023 OBS report covered January through December 31, 2022.
According to him, the survey is based on 145 questionnaires completed in each country by an independent budget expert, noting that each country’s draft questionnaire is also reviewed by an anonymous independent expert, and by a representative of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFD).
On the issue of transparency, lah called on the government through the Legislature to publish the Pre-Budget Statement and Audit Report online in a timely manner, at least one month before the Executive’s Budget Proposal is presented to the legislature.
He said, “The Audit Report should be published online within 18 months of the end of the corresponding fiscal year. Produce and publish the Mid-Year Review online in a timely manner.”
“The Mid-Year Review should be published within three months after the midpoint of the corresponding fiscal year. Include in the Year-End Report comparisons between planned nonfinancial outcomes and actual outcomes and comparisons between the original macroeconomic forecast and actual outcomes. Improve the comprehensiveness of the Citizens Budget,” Iah intoned.
Commenting on Public Participation, the report wants the Ministry of Finance to pilot mechanisms to monitor budget implementation and expand mechanisms during budget formulation to engage any civil society organization or member of the public who wishes to participate.
“There is a Fiscal Transparency Advisory Working Group established by the Government, and should encourage continuous invitation, consultation and deliberations with citizens during budget formulation to discuss social spending plan, policies, macroeconomic forecasts, revenue, expenditure and other budget issues.
Actively engage with vulnerable and underrepresented communities, directly or through civil society organizations representing them,” the OBS report maintained.
In relation to oversight, the report also urged the Legislature to debate budget policy before the Executive’s Budget Proposal is tabled and approve recommendations for the upcoming budget.
“The Executive’s Budget Proposal should be submitted to legislators at least two months before the start of the budget year, while the Legislative committees should examine the Executive’s Budget Proposal and publish reports with their analysis online.
In practice, ensure the legislature is consulted before the Executive shifts funds specified in the Enacted Budget between administrative units; spends any unanticipated revenue; or reduces spending due to revenue shortfalls during the budget year among others,” the report added.
