Niger – Building Engagement for Increased Transparency and Accountability
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The Nigerien Supreme Audit Institution (SAI), the highest oversight body for public financial management in Niger, plays an important role in the transparency and accountability of public resources management in the country. It publishes an annual report that, in the past, mainly went unnoticed by the population.
In March, FSVC organized two workshops in collaboration with the SAI to provide a forum for exchange with the media and civil society. The goal of the two workshops was to provide an overview of the structure and functions of the SAI, and to distribute the recently-finalized audit report for 2020.
Since the organization of the two events, there has been a significant amount of discussion in Niger’s formal
media and on social media about the audit report, and many observers have expressed appreciation for the transparency of the SAI and its willingness to engage. The results of the report have been shared repeatedly on social media, including photographs of particular pages and links to the report on the SAI’s website. One Nigerien journalist wrote, “I now better understand the role and mission of the SAI. We consequently commented and analyzed the 2020 report, particularly the mismanagement of several public companies, and many readers asked us where they could find this document. We simply refer them to the website of the SAI.”
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Tunisia – Supporting Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
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From left to right: Marwene Chortane and Aicha Sindi (Managers, Attamayouz), and FSVC team. Gafsa, Tunisia
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The interior regions of Tunisia suffer from lower economic development, and therefore higher rates of poverty and unemployment. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced these economic disparities, leading to major losses for small businesses that have faced a precipitous drop in commercial activity.
To help stimulate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the interior regions of Tunisia, FSVC, with funding from the U.S. Department of State, has been implementing a program to assist local Chambers of Commerce in better supporting local entrepreneurs. As part of this program, FSVC provided small grants to 30 small businesses to increase their commercial performance.
Thanks to one such grant, the local business Attamayouz – a private primary school – developed an e-learning platform that provides virtual educational content and facilitates communication with parents. As a result, the school was able to increase the number of enrolled schoolchildren from 180 to 220. “This initiative came at the right time given the pandemic circumstances that triggered the need to shift to a more sustainable and modern way of doing business in the education sector,” expressed Marwene Chortane, co-Manager of Attamayouz.
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Eswatini – Creating Citizen Engagement in the National Budget Process
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Eswatini scored 0/100 in “public participation” in the 2019 Open Budget Survey, a global research and advocacy program to promote public access to budget information and the adoption of inclusive and accountable budget systems. To help address this major gap in inclusive governance, FSVC, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is implementing a program in Eswatini to enhance the oversight capacities of key government institutions and civil society organizations (CSOs) to reinforce transparency and accountability.
As part of this program, in March, FSVC held a public-private roundtable with CSOs and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on the 2020/2021 National Budget in Eswatini. During the roundtable, the MoF first presented the proposed budget, and CSOs were then invited to discuss their priorities, which included addressing youth unemployment and ensuring post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
This event provided a unique opportunity for CSOs and the MoF to engage on the national budget, and for CSOs to express their concerns and priorities relating to public services delivery. To build on this exercise, CSOs will next advocate for their budget priorities with MoF Portfolio Committees and Members of Parliament.
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FSVC Pays Tribute to Vartan Gregorian, President of Carnegie Corporation of New York
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Vartan Gregorian (1934 – 2021)
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The FSVC global family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Vartan Gregorian, former President of Brown University and The New York Public Library, illustrious scholar, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and President of Carnegie Corporation of New York. Dr. Gregorian was a towering figure in the academic, policy and philanthropic worlds.
As President of Carnegie Corporation of New York, Dr. Gregorian championed the causes of education, international peace and security. Through a 20-year partnership, FSVC and Carnegie Corporation of New York have organized annual symposia bringing together thought leaders from the United States, Russia, China and other countries to seek solutions to complex problems involving the international financial system, energy security and climate change. FSVC is grateful for this partnership, which has reflected over the years Dr. Gregorian’s commitment to international dialogue and cooperation.
Vartan Gregorian touched many people during his life and through his invaluable work. His contributions to higher education, the humanities and social science are inspiring, and he leaves an enduring legacy. We at FSVC benefited greatly from his extraordinary vision and will continue to be guided by it.
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About Us
The Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) is a not-for-profit organization that helps strengthen financial sectors in developing and emerging market countries. It does so with the ultimate aim of promoting job creation, economic growth and a better quality of life. FSVC structures practical, results-oriented technical assistance and training missions staffed by senior financial sector professionals who serve as unpaid volunteer experts. Over the past 30 years, more than 10,000 volunteer experts from the international financial, legal and regulatory communities have taken part in 3,200 missions, impacting millions of people in 65 countries.
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