ActionAids International Governance thematic has developed a website on Economic Literacy and Budget Accountability, in an attempt to consolidate an interactive platform for the peoples groups, NGOs, movements and academics & individuals working on issues of economic democratization. Several groups working on economic justice, literacy and budgets from approximately 15 countries will be collectively hosting this space, and Action Aid International Governance thematic will support the initial development of the website. In Ethiopia PANE will co-host this website. The website, in initial stages of development, is proposed to be launched by 15th January 2009. It aims to be a dynamic and interactive space, with contributory content from diverse groups across the world. It will have the function of being a resource pool, and of becoming a live forum for sharing experiences, processes, issues, debates, queries, information, economic surveys, etc. Also importantly, the website aims to provide a knowledge common space for social movement groups and organic intellectuals to share their contestations and proposals on alternative trajectories around economic justice. An additional aim of putting this website together is also to facilitate showcase of such work on ground and open channels/interest for more energy and resources.The website draft is on view at  http://www.elbag.org/main/ .

International Budget Partnership

Open Budget Survey 2008 Released! 80 Percent of Governments Don’t Account for Spending, Eighty percent of the world’s governments fail to provide adequate information for the public to hold them accountable for managing their money, according to an extensive new report by the International Budget Partnership (IBP). Nearly 50 percent of 85 countries whose access to budget information was carefully evaluated by IBP provide such minimal information that they are able to hide unpopular, wasteful, and corrupt spending.

These new findings are based on the IBP’s just published Open Budget Survey 2008—a comprehensive analysis and survey that evaluates whether central governments give the public access to budget information and opportunities to participate in the budget process. The Survey also examines the ability of legislatures and auditors to hold their governments accountable. The Survey findings are based on data collected before September 28, 2007, so changes occurring after that date are not reflected in the results ( To get the complete results visit: www.openbudgetindex.org

IDASA
Information on budget analysis, toolkits, articles, training manuals for child centered budget analysis

Click on ‘Government Budgets’ under the topics section, visit the website http://www.idasa.org.za

 

Useful website with a wide range of resources and information on budget work. Themes include transparency, legislature and oversight, analysis of economic and social rights: visit the website http://www.internationalbudget.org

 

Also a wide range of reports and training guides can be found at: http://www.internationalbudget.org 

 Examples of budget work from other countries and organizations

Ghana
SEND foundation – HIPC watch project monitoring resources from debt relief, visit the website http://www.sendfoundation.org

 ISODEC
ISODEC’s Centre for Budget Advocacy was set up to support civil society to engage further with the budget process. The website provides analysis and a TOT report. Visit their website:http://www.isodec.org.gh 

 Malawi
Malawi Economic Justice Network – analysis of health sector budget for Malawi, visit http://www.sarpn.org.za 

Tanzania

Hakakazi Catalyst – PRSP monitoring which includes analysis of local government budgets. Excellent example of a community based monitoring programme.visit the website - http://www.hakikazi.org

To know the country five years (2005/06-2009/10) development plan to end poverty and Annual progress reviews( 2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2006/07): Plan for Acclerated and Sustained Development to end Poverty (PASDEP) and related information; visit the websitehttp://www.mofaed.org.

Useful link to get information about the Millennium Development Goals, Targets and reports, visit the website http://www.undp.org

 to know about global civil society movements on calling for an end to poverty and inequality visit the website- www.whiteband.org

 To get information on the Protection of Basic Services project and its component four social accountability which is currently implemnted in ethiopia visit the website www.ethioSAP.org

PovertyNet provides an introduction to key issues as well as in-depth information on poverty measurement, monitoring, analysis, and on poverty reduction strategies for researchers and practitioners. visit the website povertynet@worldbank.org

 To find the official data, definitions, methodologies and sources for more than 60 indicators to measure progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. vist the website http://mdgs.un.org