[{"bbox": [141, 153, 1134, 287], "category": "Text", "text": "Several improvements can be made to enhance budget transparency and public participation: improving the comprehensiveness of the Citizens Budget and in-year reports; engaging public participation and CSOs during budget formulation; establishing public hearings related to the approval of the annual budget; promoting other actions that encourage citizens' participation. Strengthening these areas would help ensure greater transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in Liberia's budget processes."}, {"bbox": [141, 298, 1134, 484], "category": "Text", "text": "The Legislature, which is expected to guarantee oversight, adds complexity to the situation. This massive and opaque spending entity consumes up to 2% of the GDP annually. In addition, the Public Accounts Committee has been dysfunctional for years, holding public hearings on only three GAC reports while having a backlog of 165 to process. The new Government has committed itself to a culture of transparency and regular audits in the public administration. An audit of the National Legislature was requested right after the formation of the new Government to understand how funds were used in previous years – an action that had not been undertaken for decades. To begin with, both Legislature and Senate are undergoing their system audits."}, {"bbox": [141, 496, 1134, 603], "category": "Text", "text": "The new Government has also requested a system to track the expenses of the National Legislature, with the endorsement of the new chair of the Public Accounts Committee. The new administration has also decided to audit the National Security Agency due to a disbursement of USD 80 million from the national budget, significantly exceeding the initially forecasted USD 8 million."}, {"bbox": [141, 615, 1134, 695], "category": "Text", "text": "**In conclusion, the relevant budget documentation has been published and the eligibility criterion is met. However, fiscal transparency and oversight are expected to improve significantly to foster accountability.**"}, {"bbox": [130, 736, 648, 768], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION"}, {"bbox": [130, 799, 552, 829], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 3.1 Objectives and Expected Outputs"}, {"bbox": [141, 854, 1134, 908], "category": "Text", "text": "The **overall objective** of this Action is to promote accountable and sustainable development in Liberia's forest and agriculture sectors through strengthened public financial management system."}, {"bbox": [141, 920, 553, 947], "category": "Text", "text": "The **specific objectives** of this Action are to:"}, {"bbox": [141, 959, 833, 985], "category": "List-item", "text": "1. Enhance effectiveness of public finances and redistribution of income."}, {"bbox": [141, 986, 1134, 1040], "category": "List-item", "text": "2. Improve policy effectiveness in the forest and agriculture sectors, while promoting a sustainable development approach."}, {"bbox": [141, 1064, 514, 1090], "category": "Text", "text": "The **induced outputs** of this Action are:"}, {"bbox": [141, 1102, 495, 1130], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Contributing to specific objective 1:**"}, {"bbox": [141, 1141, 1134, 1192], "category": "List-item", "text": "1.1 Improved budgetary system, including solid financial and regulatory frameworks, aligned with the new NDP."}, {"bbox": [141, 1208, 466, 1234], "category": "List-item", "text": "1.2 Improved national tax system."}, {"bbox": [141, 1259, 495, 1286], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Contributing to specific objective 2:**"}, {"bbox": [141, 1298, 818, 1325], "category": "List-item", "text": "2.1 Improved resources mobilisation for forestry and agriculture sectors."}, {"bbox": [141, 1338, 1134, 1391], "category": "List-item", "text": "2.2 Improved forest and agriculture policies, consistent with gender sensitive, climate- and ecosystem-smart development."}, {"bbox": [141, 1402, 1134, 1454], "category": "List-item", "text": "2.3 Improved institutional structures and participatory coordination and monitoring systems of FDA and MOA."}, {"bbox": [141, 1481, 954, 1508], "category": "Text", "text": "The **direct outputs** contributing to the corresponding specific objectives (outcomes) are:"}, {"bbox": [141, 1519, 1134, 1597], "category": "List-item", "text": "1.1 Improved capacities of MFDP, LRA, Controller and Accountant General's Department, GAC and other relevant bodies for managing the budget cycle, with the emphasis on relevant funding of the target sectors."}, {"bbox": [1027, 1680, 1143, 1704], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 14 of 33"}]