Convening government officials, policymakers, civil society representatives, and others, this event featured a discussion on the latest findings from the Open Budget Survey 2017 on the state of government budget transparency and accountability in 115 countries around the world. Which countries have made progress and which have regressed? What drives improvements and regressions in budget transparency, participation, and accountability? What can reformers both in and outside government do to encourage and sustain more open and accountable budgets? In the current context of growing distrust in democratic institutions, shrinking civic space, and retreating democratic engagement, we examined how improving countries’ public finance systems and practices can be an important step in bridging the gap between citizens and their governments.
Co-hosted with: Oxfam America and the World Bank
Moderated By: Dr. Sanjeev Khagram, John Parke Young Chair in Global Political Economy
Speakers and Panelists Included:
Jan Walliser, Vice President, Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions, World Bank
Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, Minister of Finance of Georgia
Minister Eklil Ahmad Hakimi, Minister of Finance of Afghanistan
Fernando Galindo Favela, Undersecretary of Expenses in Mexico
Manal Fouad, Division Chief, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF
Mary Beth Goodman, former special assistant to President Obama
Ian Gary, Director, Accountable Development Finance, Oxfam America
Vivek Ramkumar, Senior Director of Policy, International Budget Partnership
