Meet discusses promoting budget transparency

PAPUA New Guinea can improve its budget transparency by publishing a pre-budget statement online in a timely manner among other recommendations, says an economist.
Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker, told a high level open government partnership (OGP) conference in Port Moresby on Tuesday that this was part of the OGP agenda of equal saying by citizens in government decisions particularly in the area of fiscal transparency.
“Transparency alone is insufficient for improving governance. Public participation in budgeting is vital to realise the outcomes associated with greater budget transparency,” Barker said.
“To measure public participation, the Open Budget Survey assesses the degree, which the government provides opportunities for the pubic to engage in budget processes.”
“Such opportunities should be provided throughout the budget cycle by the executive, the legislative and the Supreme Audit (Auditor-General).
“The open budget survey is the only independent comparative and regular measure of budget transparency and accountability around the world and it is produced by independent budget experts with no ties to government and has a peer group review process.”
OPG is a multi-stakeholder global initiative with over 70 countries participating and still more countries joining.
The focus of OGP is improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness to citizens.
The two-day conference which started on Tuesday saw officer’s different stakeholders including the government, civil societies, citizens and members from the diplomatic corps.