Other Financial Accountability Study
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Publication
Improving Transparency and Accountability in Public-Private Partnerships: Disclosure Diagnostic Report - Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10)In May 2016, the World Bank published a Framework for Disclosure of Information in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), which provides a template for the preparation of a PPP Disclosure Diagnostic that assesses the transparency and accountability of PPP programs based on the disclosure of information. Between March 2020 and October 2020, a joint Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and World Bank team conducted a study on PPP disclosure in Afghanistan, using the World Bank’s PPP Disclosure Diagnostic template. This study led to the preparation of a PPP Disclosure Diagnostic Report (hereinafter ‘Diagnostic Report’) for Afghanistan. The Diagnostic Report examines the political, legal, and institutional environment for the disclosure of information on PPPs in Afghanistan. Based on these findings, benchmarked against the World Bank’s disclosure framework, the Diagnostic Report provides a gap assessment of the environment for PPP disclosure in Afghanistan. It makes specific recommendations to improve disclosure, including recommended customized guidelines for PPP disclosure in Afghanistan. The findings suggest that there has been some movement toward greater transparency and openness in all areas of government in Afghanistan, but that there is still scope for further progress given that relevant legal reforms are relatively new and still to be fully institutionalized. Article 50 of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan ensures that citizens ‘have the right of access to information’ from public institutions. This principle was enhanced substantially with the enactment of the Access to Information Law in 2014, which was subsequently revised in 2019.2 The law further guarantees access to information and aims to ‘ensure transparency, strengthen the culture of provision of information, promote people’s participation in good governance, ensure accountability in the conduct of institutions, and combat corruption’. -
Publication
Georgia Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Performance Assessment Report: Municipality of Martvili
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-10)The purpose of this PEFA assessment is to provide an objective analysis of the present performance of the PFM system in the Municipality of Martvili against the PEFA indicators. This PEFA establishes a PEFA baseline using the 2016 PEFA methodology. The assessment covers expenditures by subnational government budgetary units. Overall, the results of the PEFA show that public financial management systems in the Municipality of Martvili are strong in terms of budget execution and control as the country’s PFM reform action plan has been implemented. -
Publication
Georgia Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Performance Assessment Report: City of Tbilisi
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-10)The purpose of this Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment is to provide an objective analysis of the present performance of the PFM system in the City of Tbilisi against the PEFA indicators. This PEFA provides an update of progress in PFM in the municipality since the last PEFA in 2014 and establishes a new PEFA baseline using the 2016 PEFA methodology. The assessment covered expenditures by subnational government budgetary units. Revenues are collected by the Georgia Revenue Services on behalf of the municipality and this was considered not applicable. There are no extra-budgetary units and no local government below the municipality level. Overall, the results of the PEFA show that public financial management systems in the City of Tbilisi are strong and improved as the PFM Reform Action Plan has been implemented. The aggregate expenditure side of the budget performs largely according to plan. There is an impressive array of information regarding the finances of the municipality. As a result, the budget documents include most of the basic, and much of the supplementary information, required to support a transparent budget process. Information on performance plans and achievements in service delivery outputs and outcomes across the sectors under the municipality is very good. However, a strategic selection process is lacking in managing the public investment program although monitoring and reporting of implementation is sound. Good progress has been made towards a comprehensive medium-term expenditure framework based on a program budgeting for results approach. There is an effective budget calendar although the issuance of ceilings could be made timelier. The legislature has sufficient time to carry out its scrutiny function. -
Publication
Report on Possible Improvements on Management of Revenues from Auctioning of EU ETS Allowances and Use of Flexibility Mechanisms in Romania
(Washington, DC, 2015-11)This report is on possible improvements on management of revenues from auctioning of European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) allowances and use of flexibility mechanisms in Romania. The principal objective of this report is to propose improvements on management of revenue from the auctioning of EU ETS allowances, as well as describe possible use of flexibility mechanisms in Romania, in order to mobilize and enable both public and private actors to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from economic activities in non EU ETS sectors in line with EU targets. The report focuses on possible actions in the timeframe 2016-2020, aligned with EU ETS phase and EU target for 2020 and 2030. The report is positioned amid the wider context of a vision for Romania to become a climate resilient, low-carbon economy, which has mainstreamed its climate policies and actions into smart, green, and inclusive growth, described in the National Climate Change and Low Carbon Green Growth Strategy for Romania 2016-2030 and 2015-2020 Climate Action Plan prepared by the World Bank for Romania. The report found that until now, there had been no clear and effective procedure for the administration of ETS auctioning revenue, and no selection and prioritization criteria. The lack of selection and prioritization criteria and guidance for using ETS auctioning revenue to finance GHG emission reduction projects allowed for the selection of projects without proper assessment in terms of their reduction of GHG emissions, as well as cost effectiveness and other important factors. In order to maximize the environmental, social, and economic impact of possible sectoral climate investment programs, and based on international experience, the World Bank’s expert team proposes to use the following criteria for prioritizing and selecting non-EU ETS sectoral programs to be financed with EU ETS auctioning revenue: (i) cost efficiency of Emissions Reduction; (ii) leverage of public money to private finance; (iii) possibility for rapid development and scale up; (iv) lack of other financing mechanisms; and (v)support for job creation. Based on these criteria, the report recommends supporting the following climate investment programs for the years 2016-2020:(a) replacing household light bulbs, air conditioning units, individual heating systems, refrigerators, and washing machines with more performant ones; (b) upgrading household buildings insulation; (iii) implementing local, small- and household-scale renewable energy production; and (iv) forestry and biomass production, and land use improvements. It was concluded that the proposed improvements on managing revenue from the auctioning of EU ETS allowances laid out in this report could be used by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, as a responsible body for climate policy, for internal discussions with other Romanian ministries and agencies to reach consensus on the next steps. -
Publication
Republic of Kosovo Public Sector Revenues: Tax Policies, Tax Evasion, and Tax Gaps
(Washington, DC, 2014-06)Kosovo has a simple tax system and relatively low tax rates. A risky feature of Kosovo’s tax system is the high dependence on border taxes. In 2012, 71 percent of revenue was collected at the border in the form of trade taxes and value added tax (VAT) on imports. Shifting from border to domestic revenue collection is needed. The simple tax system can make it easier for the tax administration of Kosovo (TAK) to adjust direct taxes while encouraging labor market formality. Low domestic revenue collection suggests the presence of large tax gap - the difference between the amount the TAK should collect and the amount it actually does collect. The wider social and economic consequences of tax evasion are high. Finding ways to raise domestic revenue to compensate for the decline in border revenues is going to require actions on a number of fronts. First, strengthening the TAK’s capacity to increase compliance and reduce tax evasion, through judicial means. Second, reducing the informal economy will bring more firms and employees into tax net. Third, efforts can be made to increase revenues through existing taxes. Finally, policies that boost private sector growth, including an improved business climate, will help increase domestic production and therefore tax revenues. -
Publication
Moldova Health Transformation Project : Fiduciary Systems Assessment Report
(Washington, DC, 2014-03-31)The fiduciary systems assessment has been carried out in accordance with OP / BP 9.00 to determine whether the Program fiduciary systems provide reasonable assurance that the Program expenditures will be used appropriately to achieve their intended purposes. The findings of the fiduciary assessment conclude that the overall fiduciary and governance framework is adequate to support the implementation of the proposed Health Transformation Program for Results (HTP) and includes a summary table of the key risks and corresponding mitigation actions to be undertaken. The Program s fiduciary systems and institutions provide reasonable assurance that the financing under the Program is used for intended purposes, with due regard to the principles of economy, efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability. Specifically, Moldova s fiduciary management systems for the Program (planning, budgeting, accounting, procurement, internal controls, funds flow, financial reporting, and auditing arrangements) provide a reasonable assurance on the appropriate use of Program funds and safeguarding of its assets. Furthermore, the Program s fiduciary management systems perform at a satisfactory level to support the achievement of Program results. -
Publication
Croatia Health System Quality and Efficiency Improvement : Fiduciary System Assessment
(Washington, DC, 2014-01)A Fiduciary System Assessment (FSA) was carried out in accordance with OP/BP 9.0 that evaluated the fiduciary systems pertaining to the Health System Quality and Efficiency Improvement Program for Results. The integrated fiduciary assessment comprised separate assessments of the fiduciary risks relating to the programs: (i) procurement; (ii) financial management; and iii) governance. The objective of the assessment was to provide reference that could be used to monitor fiduciary system performance during the implementation of the above referenced operation, as well as to identify actions, as relevant, to enhance the performance of the systems. Findings from the assessment, as well as a review of existing analytical and diagnostic work , conclude that the overall fiduciary and governance framework is adequate to support the implementation of Croatia's Health System Quality and Efficiency Improvement Program for Results and includes summary table of the key risks and the corresponding mitigation actions identified. This report is organized along the following lines: presentation of institutional arrangements and national framework; review and assessment of Program fiduciary systems and, including a discussion of baseline performance measurement and indicators, as well as fiduciary risk. While governance and anti-corruption issues are featured prominently throughout the various national systems, institutions, and functions, the report presents these issues in a separate section. Finally, the report includes inputs to the implementation support plan as well as a number of supporting annexes. -
Publication
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Diagnostic Review of Consumer Protection in the Microfinance Sector
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-06)This 2012 microcredit sector diagnostic review complements the 2011 review of the Banking sector and analyses the following five areas of consumer protection in microcredit: i) existing institutional arrangements, ii) consumer disclosure; iii) business practices; iv) dispute resolution mechanisms; v) and financial education programs. Bosnia and Herzegovina was the largest microfinance market in Europe and Central Asia until the 2008 global crisis prompted a rapid reversal. Authorities identified consumer protection in microfinance as high priority and introduced new regulatory provisions to stabilize the sector. This review analyzes the existing consumer protection framework and offers recommendations for further improvements. The Institutional Arrangements section covers the agencies responsible for implementing consumer protection, as well as industry and consumer associations. The section on Consumer Disclosure focuses on standard formats for price and product comparison, disclosure provisions, and basic rights of consumers. The Business Practices section covers unfair or abusive practices, standard consumer contract provisions, and industry Code of Conduct. The section on Dispute Resolution focuses on internal complaints mechanisms in financial institutions and out-of-court mechanisms. The section on Financial Education focuses on measures aimed at increasing consumer financial literacy and awareness. -
Publication
Good Practices for Financial Consumer Protection
(Washington, DC, 2012-06)Financial consumer protection sets clear rules of conduct for financial firms regarding their retail customers. It aims to ensure that consumers: 1) receive information to allow them to make informed decisions, 2) are not subject to unfair or deceptive practices, and 3) have access to recourse mechanisms to resolve disputes. Complementary financial literacy initiatives are aimed at giving consumers the knowledge and skills to understand the risks and rewards of using financial products and services-and their legal rights and obligations in using them. Clear rules of conduct for financial institutions, combined with programs of financial education for consumers, will increase consumer trust in financial markets and will support the development of these markets. International and regional non-government organizations are also playing an increasingly important role in financial consumer protection. The responsible finance forum lists financial consumer protection regulation and financial capability as two of the three pillars of the framework for responsible finance. This summary is not exhaustive but helps illustrate the many ongoing international initiatives that support financial consumer protection. All the initiatives are helpful in strengthening the global response to weaknesses in financial consumer protection. Nevertheless, still more could be done by civil society organizations, particularly those operating at a global level. The World Bank is also supporting the international dialogue on financial consumer protection through development of good practices based on country-level experience and ongoing technical assistance. The good practices provide a comprehensive diagnostic tool to help identify the consumer protection issues in all parts of the financial sector. -
Publication
Ukraine Strategy for Financial Services Consumer Protection and Financial Literacy (2012-17): Diagnostic Review and Action Plan, Volume 1. Main Findings and Recommendations
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-04)Eight years of strong economic growth in Ukraine in 2000-2008, at an average of seven percent per year, ended with a sharp 15 percent decline in 2009. The national currency plummeted and the banking sector nearly collapsed, with non-performing loans increasing from 2.3 percent to 11.2 percent of total loans in 2008-2010. According to the 2010 USAID/FINREP financial literacy survey, 39 percent of adult Ukrainians are still unbanked and nearly half prefer holding savings in cash. Only 15 percent of consumers trust banks and just 6 percent trust investment funds or private pension funds. Only 17 percent believe in a fair resolution in a dispute with a financial institution. The Ukrainian authorities recognize that the financial system needs to be made more resilient to future crises and thus requires a substantial redesign of the legal and regulatory framework of consumer protection and market conduct in financial services. This World Bank's diagnostic review aims to help Ukraine design a 5-year strategy to strengthen financial consumer protection and financial education as the fundamentals for sustainable growth and deepening of the financial sector. The review is presented in two volumes. Volume I contains the main findings and recommendations of the review, and Volume II provides a detailed assessment of Ukraine's compliance with the international best practices summarized in the World Bank's Good Practices for Financial Consumer Protection.