African Parliamentary Strengthening: Budget Oversight and Accountability

Results achieved as of July 2013 include: (i) 365 activities including training studies outreach and conference activities on budget oversight and accountability reached 4 514 participants; (ii) reports were produced on the budget processes and on the effectiveness of budget acts; and (iii) in 2012 589 citizens took part in parliamentary outreach activities and used “Community Score Cards” to assess government service delivery and 57 stakeholders took part in a roundtable discussion on the role of parliaments in the extractive sector. For example the proportion of resources allocated by the Government of Kenya to poverty reduction priorities increased from 22% in 2011-2012 to 39% in 2012-2013. The Government of Zambia produced the first-ever “Citizen’s Budget” which intends to make government operations more transparent so that ordinary citizens can have the information they need to demand government accountability. In Uganda and Senegal Members of Parliament received training on climate change budget analysis and anti-corruption. These results are contributing to strengthening the ability of parliamentarians’ to analyze their countries’ budgets and connect budgets to national development plans which is helping to improve budget allocation to priorities that help the poor.