Introduction

Transparency of public finances is a key element of a public financial management (PFM) system enabling public scrutiny of government actions and intentions. From our September 2020 “Improving PFM digital transparency in African finance ministries” presentation we now examine recent trends in Central Africa PFM from a digital transparency perspective by presenting data for seven Central African countries that was identified during our examination of 45 African ministries of finance (MoFs) current use of digital platforms to promote PFM transparency.

PFM transparency is important

Transparency of public finances is achieved by providing information on PFM which is comprehensive, consistent, and accessible to users. The World Bank’s September 2020 report “Enhancing Government Effectiveness and Transparency – The Fight Against Corruption” (link to be provided) has highlighted the importance of ensuring greater transparency in government operations.

Identifying PFM digital transparency trends

The following statistics were prepared to help identify PFM digital transparency trends:

• Country internet usage

• MoF website visits during May/July 2020 and projected annualised visits for 2020

• Domestic and non-resident visits to MoF websites

• Country Facebook usage

• MoF Facebook page follower numbers

• Country Twitter usage

• MoF Twitter follower numbers

Penetration levels for MoF website users, Facebook and Twitter followers were subsequently identified to demonstrate the level of usage of these digital platforms and key recent PFM digital transparency trends.

Key trends

Trends in the key PFM digital transparency indicators for the seven Central African finance ministries with websites during the period May/July 2020 are available. These can be accessed by clicking on to the country links below:

• Burundi

• Cameroon

• Central African Rep.

• Chad

• Congo

• Congo, Dem. Rep.

• Gabon

A video showing Central African country PFM digital transparency trends for key PFM digital transparency indicators is available here.

An additional video showing comparative results on a PFM digital transparency indicator basis across Central African countries is available here.

Questions?

Please contact us at team@pfmconnect.com if you have any questions about this material.

by John Leonardo

Introduction

This note provides an introduction to our “Improving PFM digital transparency in African finance ministries” presentation which is also available as a video. Transparency of public finances is a key element of a public financial management (PFM) system enabling public scrutiny of government actions and intentions.  Transparency of public finances is achieved by providing information on PFM which is comprehensive, consistent, and accessible to users.

Ministries of Finance (MoFs) play a leading role in promoting transparency of public finances. The World Bank’s September 2020 report “Enhancing Government Effectiveness and Transparency – The Fight Against Corruption” has highlighted the importance of ensuring greater transparency in government operations.

Transparency is an important factor in African public financial management (PFM) in view of historically relatively weak PFM in many African countries, including transparency activities, and relatively poor recent progress in curbing corruption. 

PFM digital transparency

In a PFM context, digital transparency can be defined as the process of providing PFM related information using digital platforms such as websites and social media; for example, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. PFM digital transparency should be an important part of African MoFs’ digital government strategies.

Currently African MoFs employ PFM digital transparency practices using a range of platforms such as websites and social media (Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, LinkedIn). They publish a range of PFM and related material on the latter platforms.

Current PFM digital transparency trends analysis

We have examined MoF website, Facebook and Twitter use to obtain an understanding of Africa MoFs’ current use of digital platforms.

The following statistics are presented and reviewed in the presentation:

• Country internet usage

• MoF website visits during May/July 2020 and projected annualised visits for 2020

• Domestic and non-resident visits to MoF websites

• Country Facebook usage

• MoF Facebook page follower numbers

• Country Twitter usage

• MoF Twitter follower numbers

We have also examined penetration levels for MoF website users, Facebook and Twitter followers to demonstrate the level of usage of these digital platforms. In addition, we have identified correlations that may exist between digital platform use and leading economic and governance indicators including those relating to e-government.

Some key findings

Some of our key findings from our analysis are as follows:

• Six of the twenty-five MoFs with Facebook pages had higher Facebook follower numbers than estimated 2020 MoF visits to the respective websites demonstrating the role that MoF Facebook pages can play in boosting PFM transparency

• MoF social media content approaches differ quite markedly with MoFs generally publishing a wider range of material on their Facebook pages compared with the material included in tweets on Twitter.

• African MoF social media activity is helping to raise awareness about African MoFs’ PFM activities. Some African MoFs have generated considerable interest in their activities using social media.

• The proportion of non-domestic visitors to MoF websites varies considerably demonstrating how digital structures enable reach to the diaspora and other international stakeholders

• Use of digital communication mechanisms to strengthen African MoFs’ operational capacity and support PFM reform plans have to date  been limited prior to the onset of COVID-19

• African MOFs overall progress to date in the use of digital platforms to promote transparency has been relatively modest

Recommendations

We recommend African MoFs should take advantage of the opportunities provided by digital platforms to improve their PFM digital transparency by:

• Addressing identified PEFA transparency gaps which will result in more PFM material being published

• Establishing Facebook pages if these are not already in place

• Posting a variety of PFM related information on Facebook pages to increase community interaction and promote transparency

• Preparing PFM digital transparency action plans to improve PFM digital transparency performance and support PFM reform activities.

We have also outlined the nature of the tasks that should be included in PFM digital transparency action plans.

Regional analyses of trends in key PFM digital transparency indicators for all 45 African finance ministries are available for:

Central Africa

East Africa

North Africa

Southern Africa

West Africa

Small island developing states’ economic challenges

Economic challenges faced by small island developing states (SIDS) are frequently greater in magnitude than those faced by larger states. Economic and financial risks often represent a considerable portion of the most significant risks confronting SIDS.

IMF Article IV reports

The International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s regular Article IV consultations conducted usually annually with those small island developing states (SIDS) who are members of the IMF result in the preparation of Article IV reports which provide country analyses of recent economic and public financial management trends, forward economic forecasts and documents the respective economic management challenges that they face.

IMF SIDS members

Which SIDS are members of the IMF? Here is the list of SIDS that are currently members of the IMF:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Cabo Verde
• Comoros
• Curaçao
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Fiji
• Grenada
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Kiribati
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Micronesia
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Sao Tome
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Sint Maarten
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St. Vincent and Grenadines
• Solomon Islands
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Access SIDS Article IV reports

The most recently published International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV reports as at 22 April 2020 for all SIDS can be accessed by clicking on to the country groups below:

• Article IV reports for SIDS countries A-C
• Article IV reports for SIDS countries D-H
• Article IV reports for SIDS countries J-P
• Article IV reports for SIDS countries S
• Article IV reports for SIDS countries T-V

N.B. Reports for Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten are also provided although they are not formal IMF members but participate as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The latest Article IV reports for Antigua and Barbuda (2016) and St Kitts and Nevis (2018) are unavailable as both governments have not given approval for the release of these reports (which they are entitled to do).

Interested in other SIDS’ issues?

Interested in other issues affecting SIDS? Go to PFMConnect’s small island developing states Pinterest Board to access articles on a wide range of issues associated with SIDS.

Small island developing states’ economic challenges

Economic challenges faced by small island developing states (SIDS) are frequently greater in magnitude than those faced by larger states. Economic and financial risks often represent a considerable portion of the most significant risks confronting SIDS.

IMF Article IV reports

The International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s regular Article IV consultations conducted usually annually with those small island developing states (SIDS) who are members of the IMF result in the preparation of Article IV reports which provide country analyses of recent economic and public financial management trends, forward economic forecasts and documents the respective economic management challenges that they face.

IMF SIDS members

Which SIDS are members of the IMF? Here is the list of SIDS that are currently members of the IMF:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Cape Verde
• Comoros
• Curacao
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Fiji
• Grenada
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Kiribati
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Micronesia
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Sao Tome
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Sint Maarten
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and Grenadines
• Solomon Islands
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Access SIDS Article IV reports

The most recently published International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV reports as at 28 January 2019 for all SIDS can be accessed by clicking on to the country groups below.

Article IV reports for SIDS countries A-C

Article IV reports for SIDS countries D-H

Article IV reports for SIDS countries J-P

Article IV reports for SIDS countries S

Article IV reports for SIDS countries T-V

N.B. Reports for Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten are also provided although they are not formal IMF members but participate as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The latest Article IV reports for Antigua and Barbuda (2016) and St Kitts and Nevis (2018) are unavailable as both governments have not given approval for the release of these reports (which they are entitled to do).

Interested in other SIDS’ issues?

Interested in other issues affecting SIDS.Go to PFMConnect’s small island developing states Pinterest Board to access articles on a wide range of issues associated with SIDS.

Small Island Developing States Board