[{"bbox": [97, 178, 1133, 233], "category": "Text", "text": "In conclusion, the public finance management reform strategy is sufficiently relevant and credible, including on domestic revenue mobilisation, and the eligibility criterion is met."}, {"bbox": [85, 272, 552, 300], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 2.3.4 Transparency and Oversight of the Budget"}, {"bbox": [97, 314, 1134, 475], "category": "Text", "text": "Overall, there are positive prospects for improved budget transparency at all stages of the budget cycle. Considering the detailed estimated budget data (up to specific items, which is not the case in many countries), for the upcoming budget year, at the time of budget approval (showing also last (i.e. current) year budget approval and previous year actual outturn) that can be accessible to the public, the entry point regarding transparency is met. The format of budget documents could still be improved as hundreds of pages of tables in portable document format are difficult to process and analyse."}, {"bbox": [97, 499, 1134, 607], "category": "Text", "text": "The government has consistently published both the executive's budget proposal and the enacted budget documents, including for a budget amendment during the year. The MoFEA's website has become the key place for publication of a growing number of documents, including monthly budget expenditure execution reports, quarterly PFM progress reports as well as PFM sub-sectoral strategies."}, {"bbox": [97, 631, 1134, 872], "category": "Text", "text": "The COVID-19 policy response has been accompanied by some measures strengthening transparency. In early 2020, a special account was opened and a committee comprising all actors involved in the budget execution process was set up to execute the COVID-19 spending. Any of such spending in 2021 budget is subject to standard budget execution reporting requirements and published by MoFEA, on a monthly basis. Details of COVID-19 procurement contracts from March–October 2020, including the beneficial owners of successful bidding companies, were published on the website of the Gambia Public Procurement Authority. The internal audit function of the Ministry of Health has been enhanced and the National Audit Office (NAO) performed independent audits of the COVID-19 spending. These audit results are to be consolidated with the audit of the 2020 fiscal accounts, which have however been delayed by the long process of finalising the 2019 audit reports."}, {"bbox": [97, 897, 1134, 1030], "category": "Text", "text": "Alongside the 2023 budget document, a budget speech is also available, which includes the main information regarding assumptions, aggregates of the budget and tax provisions. Audits of annual government's report by the National Audit Institutions are still somewhat delayed with the audit of the 2019 report published in November 2022, a delay compared to the previous year cycle when the publication happened in May 2021. Nonetheless, the backlog of national audits have a realistic chance of being eliminated in the next 2 years."}, {"bbox": [97, 1056, 1134, 1216], "category": "Text", "text": "A commendable initiative for strengthening transparency is the regular publication of the Citizen's Audit Reports by the NAO. This was initiated with an accessible summary of the 2016 Government financial accounts that was published in March 2021. Since then simplified audits of 2017 and of 2018 government's reports have been published contributing to a broader understanding of audits and the government finances in general by the general public. These short, user-friendly publications use simple language, and feature an attractive and clear graphical structure. They are straightforward in their key messages."}, {"bbox": [97, 1241, 1134, 1322], "category": "Text", "text": "Transparency challenges remain for the finances of state-owned enterprises and ensuing contingent liability risks for public finances. This has direct links with overall fiscal risk outlook. Progress has nonetheless been made with centralised publication of audited financial reports of all SOEs on the MoFEA website."}, {"bbox": [97, 1348, 1134, 1482], "category": "Text", "text": "The MoFEA has recently strengthened its rhetoric on anti-corruption reforms, a welcome development. This is also partly reflected in ongoing actions such as those strengthening public procurement functions and internal audit. Also, recent measures related to the tax policy look promising from the anti-corruption perspective. Introduction of new customs tools (the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) World) also has a potential for a reduction of corruption."}, {"bbox": [97, 1506, 1134, 1561], "category": "Text", "text": "In conclusion, the relevant budget documentation, including the enacted budget, has been published and therefore the entry point / eligibility criterion of transparency and oversight of the budget is met."}, {"bbox": [1028, 1680, 1144, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 12 of 28"}]