Other Financial Accountability Study

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  • Publication
    Toward More Accountable PPPs: A Review of the Development, Implementation, and Post-Implementation Experience of Improved Disclosure Practices in PPPs in Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, and Nigeria
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-11-12) World Bank
    In the face of declining fiscal space and the need to build back better after the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, governments are turning to public-private partnerships (PPPs) to deliver infrastructure assets and services. Disclosure of information plays an important role in PPP programs. Several clients of the World Bank Group, including those with well-established PPP programs, currently do not disclose PPP information in a structured way throughout the project life cycle. Responding to these challenges, the World Bank developed a series of knowledge products to understand disclosure in PPPs, as well as to provide tools to governments for improving PPP disclosure. Post implementation of national PPP disclosure frameworks in the pilot countries, it became important to document the process, as well as assess the experience and perceptions related to the changed disclosure environment culminating in the disclosure of information via public-facing web portals. To support this task, a study was carried out over 2019-2020 to capture the enhanced disclosure environment, understand the perceptions of stakeholders vis-à-vis structured disclosure, identify what was working well, as well as indicate areas for improvement. This paper is a culmination of this effort to document the process and analyze the experience gained from the four-country pilot carried out in Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, and Nigeria. Section 1 of the paper provides the general background within which PPP disclosure is located, as well as the key elements of the World Bank’s Framework for Disclosure in PPPs. Section 2 documents the process followed in developing and implementing customized national frameworks in the pilot countries.
  • Publication
    Public-Sector Productivity (Part 1): Why Is It Important and How Can We Measure It?
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-02) Somani, Ravi
    This note is the first of a two-part series that explores the importance of public-sector productivity and its measurement (part one); and its determinants (part two). This note summarizes a review of the literature on different approaches to measuring public-sector productivity (the rate at which inputs are converted into outputs). This note recommends: complementing traditional `macro’ measures of public-sector productivity, such as the cost-weighted-output approach presented in Atkinson (2005), with fine-grained `micro’ measures at the individual organization, employee, and task and process level; monitoring and reporting output (performance) measures and inputs (costs) separately; and combining multiple measures of productivity, tied closely to the service-delivery chain.
  • Publication
    The Quality of Audits by Supreme Audit Institutions: A Review of Compliance with International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-12) World Bank
    Public sector auditing provides unbiased, objective assessments of public sector programs, policies, operations, and results to detect whether public resources are managed responsibly and effectively to achieve intended results and to instill confidence among citizens and stakeholders. Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) perform a vital role in the functioning of governments as they inform legislatures and other stakeholders through their independent audit reports. They help promote good governance, accountability, and transparency. The work of SAIs in reducing waste and abuse of public resources has the indirect effect of making more money available for programs that fight poverty, which lie at the core of the World Bank’s work to end extreme poverty.
  • Publication
    Government Financial Reporting in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10-31) World Bank
    The economic shock of the coronavirus outbreak has an unprecedented impact on public finances. Governments are implementing massive fiscal packages including both budgetary and nonbudgetary measures to fight the pandemic while receipts are sharply down. Communicating the financial consequences of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to all stakeholders in a timely manner is important to create enduring broad support. Audited financial statements play a key role in building citizen trust in government. This policy note provides reflections on how governments could make use of existing systems of financial reporting during the pandemic as well as opportunities for improved financial reporting systems for the post-crisis environment. It also seeks to share insights into the impact of the pandemic on government financial performance, position, and cash flows.
  • Publication
    Improving Transparency and Accountability in Public-Private Partnerships: Disclosure Diagnostic Report - Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10) World Bank
    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
    Building Effective, Accountable, and Inclusive Institutions in Europe and Central Asia: Lessons from the Region
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-06) Arizti, Pedro; Manuilova, Natalia; Sabatino, Carlos; Senderowitsch, Roby; Vila, Ermal
    Countries around the world are facing the need to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions. There has never been a more important moment to tackle this agenda, as countries grapple with increasing fragility and migration flows, more complex service delivery requirements, and greater demands for transparency and inclusion, all in a more resource-constrained environment. Moreover, the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic crisis has provided new evidence of the need for effective, accountable, and inclusive government responses. Governments’ capacity to respond to these complex challenges is understandably stretched, but this has not limited the rise of citizens’ expectations. Instead, it has often increased tensions and, in some cases, has affected the trust between governments and their citizens. This publication builds on the World Bank’s vast engagement across ECA and on the 2019 regional governance conference. It consists of six chapters, each corresponding to one of the governance areas around which governments across the world organize their institutional functions. Each chapter contains background and analysis by World Bank specialists, complemented by country case studies authored by regional experts and policymakers.
  • Publication
    Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Assessment of Kakamega County, Kenya
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-11) World Bank
    The subnational Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment seeks to ascertain the performance of the public financial management (PFM) system of county governments using the PEFA methodology. So far, the Government of Kenya has gained experience in the application of the PEFA methodology by undertaking four national PEFA assessments over the years, the latest of which was carried out in 2017 and the report is due for completion in 2018. However, this is the first subnational assessment to be carried out in Kenya following the adoption of a devolved system of government. It is notable that the national and subnational PEFA assessments are being done almost concurrently, and this is important because both levels of government share the same PFM system, implying that an evidence- based reform agenda can be implemented simultaneously after areas of improvements are identified. The subnational assessments, which covered 6 out of 45 counties, have been jointly financed by the World Bank and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) through the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA).
  • Publication
    Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Assessment of West Pokot County, Kenya
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-11) World Bank
    The rationale for the public expenditure and financial accountability (PEFA) assessment is to provide a clear and deeper understanding about the functioning of public financial management (PFM) systems as well as the organizational aspects of existing institutions at county levels. The results of the analysis provide useful insights into relevant entry points for desired PFM-related reforms and a benchmark for the necessary upgrade of the PFM systems which are still in the early stages of development within Kenya’s devolved units of government. This assessment was organized and commissioned by Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) in collaboration with the World Bank and involves other organizations. KIPPRA also carried out the actual survey and assessment and was responsible for management and monitoring of the exercise. The assessment period covers three financial years, namely FY2013-14, FY2014-15, and FY2015-16, and focused on various indicators and dimensions as defined in the PEFA assessment tools.
  • Publication
    Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Assessment of Nakuru County, Kenya
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-11) World Bank
    The subnational Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment seeks to ascertain the performance of the public financial management (PFM) system of county governments using the PEFA methodology. So far, the Government of Kenya has gained experience in the application of the PEFA methodology by undertaking four national PEFA assessments over the years, the latest carried out in 2017 and the report due for completion in 2018. However, this is the first subnational assessment to be carried out in Kenya following the adoption of a devolved system of government. It is notable that the national and subnational PEFA assessments are almost being done concurrently and this is important because both levels of government share the same PFM system implying that an evidence-based reform agenda can be implemented simultaneously after areas that require improvements are identified. The subnational assessments, which covered 6 out of 47 counties, have been jointly financed by the World Bank and International Development Research Centre (IDRC) through the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA).
  • Publication
    Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Assessment of Kajiado County, Kenya
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-11) World Bank
    The subnational Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment seeks to ascertain the performance of the public financial management (PFM) system of county governments using the PEFA methodology. So far, the Government of Kenya has gained experience in the application of the PEFA methodology by undertaking four national PEFA assessments over the years, the latest of which was carried out in 2017 and the report is due for completion in 2018. However, this is the first subnational assessment to be carried out in Kenya following the adoption of a devolved system of government. It is notable that the national and subnational PEFA assessments are being almost done concurrently, and this is important because both levels of government share the same PFM system, implying that evidence-based reform agenda can be implemented simultaneously after areas of improvements are identified. The subnational assessments, which covered 6 out of 47 counties, have been jointly financed by the World Bank and International Development Research Centre (IDRC) through the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA).