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Open Budget Index: Calling Attention to Transparency Issues Worldwide.

Ghana: Centre for Budget Advocacy (CBA)
Ghana’s Centre for Budget Advocacy (CBA) presented the Open Budget Index 2006 at a press conference convened at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust Guest House on October 18, 2006.  Read More | Read articles: Ghana Today | Public Agenda - Oct 20 | Public Agenda - Oct 27 | The Chronicle

OSI organized a press conference at the National Press Club in Sofia on November 25, 2006. The presentation covered the major findings and comparative results of the IBP study as well as specific issues related to Bulgaria. A question and answer session after the presentation lasted about 45 minutes. Most questions were related to Bulgarian-specific issues, a popular topic at the time given the submission of the 2007 budget to Parliament for approval. Read More | Press Release | Video Coverage | Read articles: Dnevnik | Investor | OSI Report on Budget Transparency in Bulgaria.

Azerbaijan: Public Finance Monitoring Center (PFMC) and National Budget Group (NBG)

Azerbaijan’s Public Finance Monitoring Center (PFMC) and National Budget Group (NBG) held a roundtable to discuss Azerbaijan’s ranking on the Open Budget Index 2006 on November 8, 2006. In preparation for the meeting, the report on the Open Budget Index was translated into the Azeri language and a press release was circulated. Participants at the roundtable included government officials and representatives from international and non-governmental organizations, as well as from the mass media. Press Release.

Poland: Graduate School of Business Economics - Higher School of International Commerce and Finance (GSBE-HSICF)
The Graduate School of Business Economics, Higher School of International Commerce and Finance (GSBE-HSICF), held a press conference entitled, “Openness and Transparency of Public Finances in Poland in Comparison with Other Countries” on November 9, 2006. The conference was led by Dr. Adam Niedzielski, Research Expert, H.E. Prof. Dr. Hab. S. Ryszard Domanski, Rector of GSBE-HSICF, and Aneta Socha, University Spokesperson. Read More | Read Articles: Parkiet | Tygodnik Solidarnosc | Press Release | Invitation to the Event | Information Sheet 

Guatemala: Centro de Investigaciones Económicas Nacionales (CIEN)
Guatemala’s Centro de Investigaciones Económicas Nacionales (CIEN) presented the results of the Open Budget Index to television, radio, and internet media on November 19, 2006. CIEN also met with legislators as the executive budget proposal was being discussed. As a result of this meeting, the legislators agreed to have CIEN send them a proposal on how to incorporate good practices of account management into the budget. The proposal needs to be approved by Congress. CIEN will send the Open Budget Index report findings to NGOs, international institutions and government officials interested in the subject. Read articles: Prensa Libre |

Diario de Centro América

India: Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA)
India’s Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) released the Open Budget Initiative findings during a media event at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on December 12^th 2006. Speakers included Shri V. K. Shunglu, Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and Mr. Rupchand Pal, minister of parliament and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance. The discussion focused on the survey’s results and the level of transparency in India. More than 30 accredited journalists and media representatives attended the release. Read More | Read Articles: Hindustan Express | National Herald | Financial Express

Egypt: Partners in Development (PID)
Partners in Development (PID) for Research, Consulting and Training organized a seminar to present the findings of the Open Budget Initiative to the Egyptian public. The two-session seminar was held at the Pyramisa Hotel in Cairo on December 11, 2006. Speakers included University Professors, a member of the opposition, Parliament staff, and a journalist. The speakers discussed budget transparency in Egypt, highlighting recent progress, but also faulting the government for the continued lack of transparency. A number of them also called attention to the difficulty in understanding the budget. Journalists attended the event, which was covered in major Egyptian papers. Read More |Read Articles: Al Akhbar 18.12.06 | Al Akhbar 01.14.07 | Akhbar El Youm | Ahram

Philippines: Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and the Access to Information Network released the Open Budget Initiative 2006 alongside PCIJ’s report highlighting the survey’s findings at a public forum on November 8, 2006. After the initiative was presented, a panel of speakers including government officials, parliamentarians, a journalist, and individuals from non-governmental organizations led a conversation on various budget issues that are particularly relevant to the Philippines. The panel discussed ways that the executive can make budgeting transparent, and congress’ role in checking the executive. Speakers also talked about ways to fight corruption and increase budget transparency, acknowledging the extreme challenge of making budgets open in the Philippines. The event was well-attended and covered extensively in the media. Read More | Read Articles: ABS-CBN | GMA

Uganda: Uganda Debt Network (UDN)

The UDN organized a workshop on October 19, 2007 to disseminate the results of the Open Budget Index. Speakers at the workshop included Zie Zariyo, who presented the results of the research, Labam Mbulamuko, who is a lead economist at the Ministry of Finance, and Sam Wanyaka, the director of the Parliamentary Budget Office, who recognized the importance of making the information accessible as a first step to address the weaknesses that emerged from the OBI. The workshop was attended by Members of Parliament, senior government officials, donors, members of the academia and Civil Society Organizations. It was widely publicized on national Television and radios. Read More |