…Says it is essential in building trust, fostering sustainable development.
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
In a quest to enhance the Government of Liberia’s fiscal transparency and public participation in the budget process, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the United States Agencies for International Development through its Local Empowerment for Accountability and Decentralization (LEAD) Activity in Liberia on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, joined and committed itself to advancing fiscal transparency and public participation in budget processes in Liberia.
This, the USAID says will be manifested through means of supporting the government effort through the provision of technical assistance in collaboration with the International Budget Partnership’s (IBP) Global Initiative for the Fiscal Transparency (GIFT) program. They believe it is essential in building trust and fostering sustainable development.
“We join, commit ourselves to advancing fiscal transparency and public participation in budget processes in Liberia. The Fiscal Transparency Advisory is a collaborative initiative of the USAID LEAD Activity, GIFT, and the Ministry of Finance Development Planning that seeks to re-convene the members of the Fiscal Transparency Advisory Group; provide recommendations on designing effective public participation mechanisms in the budget
process, explore areas of opportunities, and identify action points for strengthening public participation in the budgetary process in Liberia, as well as build stronger trust and relationships among FTAG members and other relevant actors.
Speaking at the 2024 Fiscal Transparency and Advisory Group Meeting held at the Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia, George Aki, Chief of Party USAID – LEAD provided that fiscal transparency and public participation are two critical pillars of accountable governance and are essential components for building trust, ensuring accountability, and fostering sustainable development.
He asserted that public participation serves as both a means and an end to a functional democratic government and plays a critical role in promoting inclusivity in fiscal decision making.
“Today, we shed light on two critical pillars of accountable governance: fiscal transparency and public participation. In the realm of governance, these principles are not merely buzzwords but essential components for building trust, ensuring accountability, and fostering sustainable development. More so, Public participation is an important aspect of fiscal transparency, and it has received increased attention globally.”
The USAID LEAD chief of the party referenced the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT) as saying “Public participation is the different ways through which the public directly interacts with public authorities in the design, implementation, and review of policies.”
He added that public participation can only be achieved through the open sharing of information on the part of the government as Government budgets and off-budget fiscal operations have far-reaching repercussions for economies and societies.
“Direct public participation in fiscal policymaking and the budget-making process is a fundamental right. Open and inclusive public participation assures greater transparency and gives a voice to members of the public and civil society organizations (CSOs). This can only be achieved through open sharing of information on the part of the government as Government budgets and off-budget fiscal operations have far-reaching repercussions for economies and societies.”
George Aki further postulated that governments often face significant challenges related to weak institutions, and socio-economic disparities when financial transparency and public participation are not functional. Therefore, he stated that embracing fiscal transparency and public participation can strengthen governance structures and institutions, and foster trust between citizens and governments.
He added that enhanced economic stability can attract foreign investment by demonstrating a commitment to accountable fiscal management. George said direct public participation in fiscal policymaking in the budget-making process can empower citizens, particularly marginalized groups, by giving them a voice in shaping policies that affect their lives and drive sustainable development by ensuring that public resources are allocated efficiently and equitably.
Moreover, he asserted that fiscal transparency and public participation are not just aspirations but imperatives for building inclusive, accountable, and prosperous societies.
Also at the occasion, Raquel Ferreira, the Network Manager of GIFT said the institution is focused on advancing global norms, promoting peer learning, and collaborative assistance, and championing the use of digital tools for sustainable and measurable improvements in fiscal transparency and inclusive participation. He added that fiscal transparency transcends mere data disclosure and serves as a powerful catalyst for positive change.
“At the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT), our mission is focused on advancing global norms, promoting peer learning, and collaborative assistance, and championing the use of digital tools for sustainable and measurable improvements in fiscal transparency and inclusive participation.
We believe wholeheartedly that fiscal transparency transcends mere data disclosure; it serves as a powerful catalyst for positive change within communities and governments alike.”
Raquel Ferreira further committed that GIFT remains steadfast in providing support, bringing global best practices, experience, and perspectives, and in making the relevant tools that were developed over the years freely available, to support Liberia’s efforts toward making public budgets more open, inclusive, and accountable.
“GIFT remains steadfast in providing support, bringing global best practices, experience, perspectives, and in making the relevant tools we have developed over the years freely available, such as our course on Advancing Fiscal Transparency for Development, to support Liberia’s efforts toward making public budgets more open, inclusive and accountable.”
Raquel Ferreira, Network Manager of GIFT continued by expressing the delight of GIFT to be part of a transformative journey she believes would have a positive impact on financial transparency. He lauded the USAID and the MFDP for their support and leadership, and to all stakeholders involved in the transformative endeavor. She stressed that with a united commitment, the vision of a more transparent, responsive, and inclusive public budget for the people of Liberia would be realized.
“Thanks to the generous support of the USAID Local Empowerment for Accountability and Decentralization (LEAD) project, we are able to build on the gains from the FOA project and we all stand poised to address the challenges that lie ahead. With the leadership of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, through Minister Boima Kamara, Deputy Minister Tanneh Brunson, and other dedicated colleagues we eagerly anticipate seeing sustained progress of our collective efforts.
Together, we have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Liberians. Let us seize this moment with unwavering resolve, united in our commitment to realizing the vision of a more transparent, responsive, and inclusive public budget for the people of Liberia.”
At the same time, the deputy minister for budget and development planning at the Ministry of Finance Development Planning Hon. Tanneh G. Brunson applauds the interventions of the Liberian government partners, especially the USAID LEAD and the technical
support GIFT continues to provide. Stating that the government envisions a stronger partnership to strengthen its fiscal transparency drive.
She added that there is a need for partners to go beyond and provide substantive support to enable the Government to address some of the recommendations they are proffering from the assessment of Liberia’s fiscal transparency eco-system that was conducted.
The Deputy Minister further called on government and development partners to adhere to the 2005 Paris Declaration to
ensure aid effectiveness and ownership.
“Again we applaud the interventions of our partners, especially the USAID LEAD and the technical support GIFT continues to provide.
We envision a stronger partnership to strengthen our fiscal transparency drive. As such, while we appreciate technical assistance and recommendations, there is a need for partners to go beyond and provide substantive support to enable the Government to address some of the recommendations they are proffering from the assessment of Liberia’s fiscal transparency eco-system that was conducted. On this note, I would like to stress that it is important to adhere to the 2005 Paris Declaration to
ensure aid effectiveness and ownership.”
However, she provided that the current fiscal space needs to be expanded to enable the government to implement key
recommendations from partners. Therefore, stating that the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning takes seriously Fiscal Transparency initiatives and as such, she reassured all development partners of the Government’s commitment to continuously supporting efforts like these for the betterment of Liberia, its people and as well as all other residents.
She added that the government hopes that the event will achieve the full
appreciation of the progress, challenges, and opportunities for Fiscal Transparency initiatives in Liberia. “However, our current fiscal space needs to be expanded to enable us to implement key recommendations from partners. Therefore, I would end by restating that the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning takes these seriously Fiscal Transparency initiatives and as such, I would like to reassure you all of the Government’s commitment to continuously supporting efforts like these for the betterment of Liberia, its people and as well as all other residents. Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s, therefore, the Government’s hope that this event will achieve the full appreciation of the progress, challenges, and opportunities for Fiscal Transparency initiatives in
Liberia.”
