Several journalists are undergoing capacity building training to ensure responsive, transparent and open governance through tracking government budget performance and implementation.
The training is an initiative of the Open Government Partnership Secretariat with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funding from the Governments of Luxemburg and the Republic of Korea.
The project kicked-off on Thursday, April 18, 2024 under the theme “Space for Political Participation and Advocacy for Responsive Governance Enhanced.” The project has a duration of six months with the expected outcome to ensure responsive, transparent and open governance through an open legislature.
The initiative, which is expected to end today in Monrovia, is intended to develop and strengthen the capacity of journalists on budget formulation and performance with the focus of analyzing the impact and implementation of the budget and its effectiveness and workability on the lives of the ordinary Liberian.
Furthermore, its aims at educating participants on allocation, allotment and the Public Financial Management Law, International Monetary Fund and other international instruments for improved open governance and financial fiscal transparency and accountability.
During the program, participants were trained by the Ministry of Finance Budget Dissemination and Fiscal Transparency Department on budget formulation and performance.
Giving the overview of the project, G. Ralph Jimmeh, head of the Secretariat, said the project will be tracking performance, and allocation made to four strategic sectors that align with the Government of Liberia ARREST agenda and how the allocation are performing over the one-year period.
Jimmeh said the training will enable journalists to work with the Legislature to adequately track the different budget lines and their implementations.
According to him, “At the end of this, we expect that you as journalists will be able to tell between both the Legislature and the place these monies are going to be sent. We are very grateful to have you and we look forward for your full participation. Not just sitting and knowing how the budget is being formulated and how it’s being implemented, but to become the voice because you have the confidence of the citizens/’’.
Jimmeh said because the legislators are the ones responsible for the budget, the project is designed to give media practitioners the understanding how the national budget is drafted and implemented.
