The Open Budget Survey 2008 Launches Worldwide
Since February 1, 2009, IBP's civil society partners have conducted regional and national Open Budget Survey 2008 launch activities in order to raise awareness about the critical importance of transparent and accountable budgets for good governance and poverty reduction.
Central America: On February 2-3, Fundar, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for Mexico, convened OBI researchers from around the region in Mexico City to produce a radio program and hold a public discussion and press conference on the Survey results. Fundar also had a luncheon with Mexican government officials, legislatures, and representatives from the supreme audit institution, where they discussed the research findings and methodology and recommendations for increasing budget transparency and had the opportunity to hear about good practice from the other researchers from the region. These activities generated significant coverage of the Survey on broadcast and in print media.
East Africa: On February 5-6, the Social Development Network, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for Kenya, convened nine OBI researchers from the region in Nairobi for a public discussion and press conference on the Survey results and a training on an innovative budget tracking tool. The public meeting, titled "Open Budgets, Social Watch for Accountability," drew participants from civil society, government, and the private sector and focused on the role of non-state actors on issues of economic and democratic governance. The press conference on the second day generated broad media coverage on TV and radio and in print.
Middle East & North Africa: In the first week of February, the Lebanese Trasparency Association, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for Lebanon, convened OBI researchers from around the region in Beirut for a public discussion and press conference on the Survey results and the implications for civil society. Participants included representatives from the Lebanese Ministries of Administrative Reform and Economy and Trade, civil society, academia, and the media from Lebanon and the Arab region. The discussions at the event resulted in a list of eight recommendations for improving budget transparency and accountability in the region, including enacting Freedom of Information laws, replacing traditional budget systems with performance-based systems, and strenthening the relationship between civil society and legislatures and Ministries of Finance.
South America: On February 20, CIPPEC, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for Argentina, convened OBI researchers and government officials from around the region in Buenos Aires for a public discussion and press conference on the Survey results. Forty-two people attended, including academics, journalists, politicians, diplomats, business leaders, and civil society representatives. The event and complementary media outreach generated six articles in print outlets from around the region and three radio interviews.
Southern Africa: On February 18, the Institute for Democracy in South Africa, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for South Africa, convened OBI researchers and from around the region and South African government officials in Pretoria for a panel discussion and press conference on the Survey results.
South Asia: On February 4, the Center for Governance and Budget Accountability, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for India, convened OBI researchers, government officials, economists, and civil society organizations from around the region in New Delhi for a public discussion and press conference on the Survey results. The press conference succeeded in generating broad media coverage, including articles in the Times of India, the Financial Express, and Business Today.
Southeast Asia: On February 5, the Philippines Center for Investigative Journalism and the Center for Policy Studies, the civil society organizations that conducted the Survey research for the Philippines and Malaysia, respectively, convened OBI researchers, government officials, economists, and civil society organizations from around the region in Bangkok for a public discussion and press conference on the Survey results. The event was attended by 26 diplomats and journalists from regional and international media, including the Bangkok Post, Thai TV-3, the Asia News Network, Associated Press and Bloomberg. Recommendations for next steps included further coordinated research and advocacy with the ASEAN framework.
West Africa: On February 10, the Integrated Social Development Center, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for Ghana, convened OBI researchers and members of the West Africa Rights Based Advocacy Network in Nigeria for a public discussion and press conference on the Survey results and ways for groups to collaborate for greater transparency in the region. The event generated coverage in both broadcast and print media, including Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Cable Network Broadcasting Corporation (CNBC) Africa, New Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Guardian, and the Daily Independence,
Afghanistan: On February 4, Integrity Watch Afghanistan, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for Afghanistan, convened a press conference on the Survey results in Kabul. In addition to generating media coverage, the release of the OBI prompted the government of Afghanistan to respond that the country's dependence on foriegn aid reduces it's ability to meet international norms for transparency because assistance flows are unpredictable. However, the ministry indicated an intention to make improvements.
Kyrgyz Republic: During the first half of February, the Independent Human Rights Group Public Foundation, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for the Kyrgyz Republic, convened a press conference on the Survey results, using a comparative perspective. This was followed up with a roundtable event titled "Development through Transparency," which was attended by representatives from civil society organizations, government ministries and departments, parlaimentary committees, and political parties.
Venezuela: On February 2, Transparencia Venezuela, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for Venezuela, sent an email notification about the Open Budget Survey 2008 report to researchers, academics, journalists, and civil society organizations. They also posted the report on the organization’s website, which generated media coverage and public presentations with academics, journalists, civil society, legislators, and the general public. Copies of the Survey report were widely distributed at these presentations. On March 19, a panel discussionand press conference was organized at the academic institution Instituto de Estudios Superiores en Administración (IESA) to discuss the Survey results. Transparencia Venezuela collaborated with Mexican NGO Fundar on this event.
Yemen: On March 21, the Cultural Development Programs Foundation, the civil society organization that conducted the Survey research for Yemen, convened a press conference on the Survey results to coincide with Mother's Day, in an effort to connect transparency to the Millenium Development Goal of safe motherhood. In addition to the event, the CDPF produced a music video of"It's Your Money," the OBI campaign song, with Arabic subtitles. The event was attended by civil society organizations, members of the Anticorruption Council, legislators, and officials from the Ministry of Finance. Results included media coverage in several newspapers and on the evening television news and a commitment from the Ministry of Finance to begin posting budget information on the government's website.