by Jason Lakin, Senior Research Fellow, IBP— Nov 24, 2020
In this blog, IBP’s Jason Lakin explores how an emerging body of law across Africa is reshaping the contours of what we mean by democratic, accountable government and demanding that public officials clear a higher bar in making decisions without public oversight.
by Martin Aldcroft, Vivek Ramkumar & Ed Olowo-Okere*— Nov 05, 2020
Countries around the world have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by expending trillions of dollars to support their economies and provide relief to their populations, but a key challenge is ensuring that funds contribute to recovery and reach intended beneficiaries. Collaborations between supreme audit institutions and civil society groups can monitor government spending and ensure effective and lawful use of funds, improvement in public service delivery and response to disasters.
by Brendan Halloran, International Budget Partnership— Sep 15, 2020
During the COVID-19 crisis, governments are taking the necessary steps to save lives and prevent families from falling into poverty and hardship in the short term, however, it is likely that funds meant to strengthen public health infrastructure and reach vulnerable groups will be mismanaged. This is an opportunity for public auditors to ensure that public money is well spent during and after the crisis.
by Warren Krafchik, executive director, IBP & Mark Robinson, executive director, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative— Jul 13, 2020
Resource-dependent countries face many obstacles in adhering to principles of good extractives governance, including corruption and mismanagement. Enhanced fiscal transparency is vital for addressing these challenges. It is a goal shared by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the International Budget Partnership (IBP).
Jamie Drummond, Global Strategist: The Global Goals and Co-Founder: ONE — May 12, 2020
As the world’s scientists race to find a vaccine for COVID-19, and governments scramble to fund emergency responses, we must apply openness to enable journalists, civil society, and citizens to “follow the money,” promote government financial accountability, improve service delivery and rebuild civic trust.
By Esfandyar Batmanghelidj— May 01, 2019
The present circumstances in Iran make it a cautionary tale for domestic and international stakeholders seeking to improve financial regulations, fiscal governance, and government accountability in developing economies.
By Petra Blum— Apr 24, 2019
Topics such as fiscal policy, accountability, and fiscal justice do not usually generate sweeping media coverage. Why? Because these topics are complicated, not easy to break down, and hard to visualize. Yet recent exposés such as the Panama Papers show that the media can still make powerful contributions to the greater fiscal transparency cause.
by Benjamin Cokelet, Founding Co-Executive Director, PODER— Mar 20, 2019
The power of transnational corporations and global economic and monetary institutions to influence national budgetary and financial decisions is overwhelming. Is it time for advocates to focus fiscal transparency and accountability efforts on the power of global capital?
by Didier Jacobs, Senior Policy Advisor, Oxfam America— Mar 06, 2019
Governments are engaged in a race to the bottom on corporate taxation. Tax rates are falling and tax incentives are multiplying. This is bad news when it comes to financing development. Citizens must demand transparency and accountability regarding tax incentives, and regional and global cooperation to set a floor under corporate tax rates.
by David Lewis, Executive Director, Corruption Watch— Jan 30, 2019
The relationship between declining democracy and burgeoning corruption, both the antithesis of fiscal accountability, raises some large and complex questions for the fiscal accountability community.