Civil Society Engagement in Budgeting Processes

Abstract

In the past decade, civil society organizations have begun to monitor government budgets – and, more recently, have even begun to examine government auditing processes. These organizations direct their advocacy toward demanding changes in government budget and audit processes and policies so that they are more transparent, accountable, participatory, and responsive to the needs of citizens, especially the poor. In this paper, we examine how civil society organizations can play an important role in holding governments accountable for the utilization of public resources, improvement of the delivery of public services, reduction of corruption and inefficiency in public expenditures, and development of transparency in government budgeting and auditing systems. Global surveys have revealed that poor service delivery, corruption, and the lack of transparency and accountability are factors that can reduce public trust in government. It is our contention that civil society organizations can help rebuild public trust in government specifically by strengthening government accountability, responsiveness, efficiency, and transparency. In order to leverage the successes achieved by civil society organizations, governments should introduce measures that can enhance the effectiveness of civil society in undertaking budget oversight. Similarly, public audit institutions too can introduce collaborative practices that can augment audit-related activities undertaken by civil society organizations.