Kayah Steps Up Accountability in Budget Process

The workshop was initiated and designed by the Kayah State Budget Director as a part of the government’s efforts to sustain recent efforts to promote fiscal transparency and civic engagement, which have included regular citizen budget publications and budget literacy trainings.

According to the new fiscal year cycle, proposals for a new sub-national budget should be gathered at the township level between January and February, meaning that the timing of this Kayah consultation will allow for citizen’s voices to be included in proposals for the first time.

The proposals will then feed into a draft budget, which will be developed by the State Budget Department in May.

The consultation was opened by the Kayah State Chief Minister U L Phaung Sho who announced that his regional government seeks wider recommendations and feedback from multiple stakeholders including the public, civil-society organisations and parliament.

“As we all are working towards democracy, it would be very good if we engage more and encourage people to participate in the planning and budgeting process in constructive ways,” he said.

Kayah State Budget Director U Ye Naing Aung emphasised the objective of the event is to collect information and recommendations for the coming fiscal year by creating the space for civil-society organisations, government departments and other relevant stakeholders as a preparatory step.

Dr Matthew Arnold, country representative of The Asia Foundation in Myanmar said, as Myanmar continues to democratise, “this type of event really helps to show local people that the government is trying to be more transparent and accountable about how their public finances are being used.”

The event demonstrated CSOs and the public have a role to play in the process. However, CSOs still need more information to be able debate and make evidence-based suggestions, such as how to identify and prioritise the duties and responsibilities of state-led implementation committees and task forces.

A representative from the Alin Thit Social Development Group highlighted how good it was to see CSOs getting involved in pre-budget consultations led by the government.