Iraq: Launch of Program to Strengthen the Open Budget Process
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FSVC is excited to announce the launch of a new program in Iraq funded by the U.S. Department of State, which is administered by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. This program will assist the Government of Iraq (GoI) in enhancing the open budget process.
In recent years, the GoI has taken strong steps to provide greater access to budget information to citizens, for example, by publishing more information on the Ministry of Finance’s website, and by releasing its first Citizens Budget and Enacted Budget. Despite these encouraging initiatives, much more needs to be done to meet international standards in fiscal transparency, as highlighted by Iraq’s transparency score of 9/100 in the 2019 Open Budget Survey (OBS).
To build on these efforts, FSVC will work with the GoI to assess the strengths and vulnerabilities in the current budget process, and develop and implement an action plan to address the gaps identified. FSVC will also work with GoI institutions to ensure the timely and complete publication of several key budget documents moving forward.
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Help support FSVC’s critical work to improve lives in developing and emerging market countries. Make a tax-deductible donation to FSVC today!
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Jordan: Enhancing Screening for Targeted Financial Sanctions
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FSVC Expert Ghaith Zubi working with the Central Bank of Jordan.
Amman, Jordan, August 2021
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FSVC is providing technical assistance to Jordanian government institutions to help them better align with international standards in anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT).
As part of this work, FSVC mentored the Jordanian Non-Profit Organization (NPO) Registry and the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) in establishing a sanctions screening mechanism for NPOs. In addition, responsible staff at the NPO Registry, MoSD and 13 other relevant ministries and governmental institutions were trained in how to screen sanctions in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) lists 1267 and 1373, as well as report matches to the UNSCR Technical Committee. Thanks to this training and mentoring, Jordan is better positioned to be in line with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 6, which focuses on targeted financial sanctions related to terrorism and terrorist financing.
This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT).
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Eswatini: Strengthening the Auditor General’s Budget
Oversight Process
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From left to right: FSVC volunteer expert Roger Mayer and Auditor General for the Kingdom of Eswatini, Timothy Matsebula. Mbabane, Eswatini, August 2021
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In 2018, Eswatini adopted the Public Finance Management Act to address several structural challenges inherent in the budgeting and auditing systems. The Government of Eswatini (GoE) still suffers, however, from financial misreporting of assets and liabilities, which affects its capacity to maintain sufficient official reserves.
To help the GoE address its fiscal situation, FSVC is providing technical assistance to the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to strengthen oversight of national budget management with the aim of reducing corruption. As part of this support, in August, FSVC organized a training for 30 OAG staff members in auditing best practices. The FSVC experts worked with participants to design a roadmap that articulates the auditing process, including timelines, roles and responsibilities, and key indicators.
This project was implemented with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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Celebrating the International Day for Universal Access to Information
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Public access to information is critical to empower citizens to hold government institutions accountable and participate in public decision-making. It also creates an environment that enables inclusive and innovative economic growth. FSVC has implemented programs in numerous countries to increase fiscal transparency and public access to government information, including in Tunisia, Niger, and Jordan.
In Tunisia, FSVC launched three portals to host data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Transport and Municipal sectors in Open Data formats (i.e., machine-readable formats that are reusable). FSVC also created an easy-to-use right-to-information platform on which citizens can directly request information from government institutions in Arabic or French. FSVC is proud to partner with reform-minded institutions across the world to help increase access to information.
In Niger, FSVC is working with government institutions and civil society organizations (CSOs) to strengthen transparent and accountable governance. As part of this work, FSVC and the Nigerien Anti-Corruption Commission have trained 50 journalists and 35 CSO representatives in how to monitor, investigate and report corruption. FSVC also organized the first event in Niger to celebrate the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
In Jordan, FSVC assisted the government in improving and disseminating the Citizens Budget and in designing the first Jordanian Mid-Year Review. In addition, FSVC helped establish the Jordanian Budget Alliance, a coalition of CSOs, and helped to develop its strategic plan.
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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 31 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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