Money Watch: Civil society guarding the budget

Posted on

June 10, 2021

Money Watch: Civil society guarding the budget

Despite their specific thematic scope and area of operation, civil society organisations (CSOs) have an overriding need to perform budgetary analysis and effective scrutiny of public expenditure in order to better understand the state of play in their field of interest.

This project aimed to contribute to fight against corruption by enabling more effective scrutiny of public expenditure. More precisely, its specific objective was to increase the level of effective participation of civil society in the oversight of public expenditure.

During the implementation period, the project helped improve the legal framework in the area of public expenditure at both national and local levels, particularly through strengthening the implementation of relevant policies, preparation of recommendations (policy briefs and publications) and advocacy initiatives. It also increased the level of independent oversight of the implementation of the Public Finance Management Reform Programme and professional reporting on misuse of public funds. The project also resulted in the creation of interactive online tools for citizen-friendly access to information on public expenditure.

The project enhanced the capacities of a total of 9 civil society organisations and media to participate in the oversight of public expenditure through a sub-granting scheme. The projects supported within the action include:

Project name:

Money Watch: Civil society guarding the budget

Sector:

Civil Society

Start time:

01/10/2017

End time:

30/09/2019

Location:

Montenegro

Budget:

249169.68€

Beneficiary:

Institute Alternative (IA)
Partners: New Horizon, Institute of Public Finance; Associates: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Administration

More info:

www.institut-alternativa.org
http://mojnovac.me/web/home

News:

Additonal materials:

Grants

Our Money

Implemented by the Association of professional journalists of Montenegro and the Trade Union of Montenegrin Physicians, with an aim to empower journalists and media to more effectively monitor public spending in Montenegro, as well as doctors and journalists to specifically monitor public spending in the health sector. As part of this subgrant, two training sessions were organised for both journalists and doctors. One training was organised on monitoring and reporting on budgetary spending; and the other one on monitoring of budget spending in the health sector. Additionally, a brochure compiling six investigative journalism articles (three on public spending and three on budget spending in the health sector) was prepared and published in print and online media.

Ulcinj’s civil society monitors public spending

Implemented by the Regional Development Agency" – Ulcinj Business Association, with an aim to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations based in Ulcinj municipality to participate adequately in monitoring the spending of public funds. Within this subgrant, an analysis of the local budget spending of Ulcinj municipality was prepared and presented to the stakeholders; and training for 20 NGO representatives from Ulcinj municipality on monitoring of budget spending and participative budgeting was organised.

Our Money – Yours or Our Responsibility

Implemented by the NGO NADA – Herceg Novi, with an aim to increase the level of Herceg Novi citizens’ understanding of the budget cycle and openness of local self-government for participatory budgeting and civic monitoring of public money spending. NGO NADA compiled and submitted citizen’s ideas for infrastructure investments in Herceg Novi as an initiative to the local self-government for infrastructural local development and budget planning. Also, three initiatives on participative budgeting and budget transparency were submitted to the local self-government. Within the subgrant were organised a workshop on participative budgeting for 23 NGO representatives; round table on participative budgeting at the local level; as well as panel discussion and final conference on local budget and transparency.

More transparent concessions for the exploitation of gravel and forest

Implemented by the Democratic Centre of Bijelo Polje and Centre for Creative Skills, with an aim to strengthen the application of anti-corruption policies through raising the awareness of citizens in Berane and Bijelo Polje municipalities on the importance of combating corruption at the local level. As part of this subgrant, a research on concessions for gravel and forest exploitation in Bijelo Polje and Berane was conducted. Furthermore, two photo exhibitions were organised in Bijelo Polje and Berane on the state of the Lim River on several locations after concessionaire’s activities; and a video on state of the Lim River on locations where the concessionaires are exploiting gravel and sand was prepared and promoted.

Transparent public spending on Roma inclusion policies

Implemented by the “Walk with us” Phiren Amenca, with an aim to empower Roma’s civil society organisations to participate in monitoring of public spending. Therefore, within this subgrant a publication “Analysis of the financing of Roma people public policies on the local and national level” was prepared and published. In order to build capacities in budgetary planning and overseeing the budgetary spending for Roma people of CSOs dealing with Roma people’s rights and policies, two trainings were organised for their representatives, and a conference was organised to present research findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Games of Chance – How to reach a more efficient and transparent system

It was implemented by the Institute for Legal Studies, with an aim to contribute to more efficient and accountable management of public finances in Montenegro. More precisely, the specific goal of this subgrant was to define guidelines for the development of new public policy for collecting and spending public funds from games of chance. Within this subgrant a publication ‘’Improving the efficiency and transparency of the games of chance system of Montenegro’’ was prepared, published and printed in 250 copies, with a total of 28 recommendations for different types of games of chance. One infographic with key research findings was prepared and published, and a conference was held to present research findings to interested parties and stakeholders. Also, 12 meetings with stakeholders were held to discuss institutional and overall reform of the games of chance system.

Our budget is our business!

Implemented by the Association of Youth with Disabilities, with an aim to contribute to control the spending of special contributions for the employment of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the process of budget planning for measures of professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. Within this subgrant was produced an Analysis on the financial aspects of the Law on professional rehabilitation and employment of PWDs 2019, with 33 recommendations; and a roundtable for presenting the analysis with more than 70 participants/stakeholders was organised. Additionally, guidelines on the payment of special contributions for people with disabilities were adopted and published on the Tax Administration’s website. A public advocacy campaign, including one TV show on the payment of special contributions for people with disabilities was conducted.

Common money – common responsibility

Implemented by the NGO Natura, with an aim to increase the level of knowledge and information of NGO sector and citizens in Kolašin on public spending at local level. During its implementation period, a local campaign on participatory budgeting was conducted and a budget for citizens of Kolašin Municipality was prepared, published and printed. Moreover, two trainings on citizens’ participation in decision making on budget planning and spending, were organised for 30 participants from the local municipality, media and NGO representatives.

How is our budget spent? (Non)Public spending in Montenegro

It was implemented by the Centre for Investigative Journalism, with an aim to improve oversight and transparency of public spending at the national level. This was achieved by expert analysis, investigative articles and regular public dissemination of information on public expenditure, public debt structure and projects financed from the capital budget. The publication “Analysis of Montenegro’s Public Debt for the period 2006-2018” was prepared, published and printed in 200 copies, with 5 recommendations prepared for stakeholders. Three investigative journalism articles on public debt and infrastructure projects were prepared and published in printed and online media. Also, within this subgrant was organised a panel discussion and presentation of research findings and recommendations.

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