Our June 2020 video “Improving PFM digital transparency in SIDS finance ministries” examined finance ministries (MoFs) use of digital platforms such as websites and social media to provide public financial management (PFM) related information in small island developing states (SIDS). Recent PFM digital transparency regional trends in Africa and Asia (including the Middle East) SIDS are examined in our “Regional Africa/Asia SIDS PFM digital transparency update” video.

Africa/Asia SIDS PFM digital transparency regional trends

PFM digital transparency trends were analysed for 7 Africa/Asia SIDS where MoF websites were active in the 2020 September quarter to provide the basis for this regional trends analysis:

• Bahrain
• Cabo Verde
• Maldives
• Mauritius
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Timor-Leste

Three Africa/Asia SIDS did not have active MoF websites in the 2020 September quarter.

Charts for the following regional indicators are presented:

• MoF website penetration levels for the 2020 March and September quarters. The figures used in these charts were obtained using a two-step process. Actual visit data for the March and September 2020 quarters was annualised to provide projections of estimated 2020 visits. The resulting 2020 annual MoF website visit projections were divided by the number of country internet users to obtain MoF website penetration levels.
• Domestic and non-resident visits to MoF websites for the 2020 March and September quarters; these charts reflect the percentage of visits to MoF websites attributable to local residents and non-residents in the 2020 March and September quarters based on actual visit data.
• Rates of change in MoF website visits; this data is based on changes to MoF visit levels between the 2020 March and September quarters. 
• MoF Facebook penetration levels as at June 2020 and October 2020; these figures were obtained by dividing actual MoF Facebook follower numbers by the number of country Facebook subscribers.
• Changes in Facebook follower numbers between June 2020 and October 2020; these charts reflect changes in the respective MoF Facebook follower numbers.
• MoF Twitter penetration levels as at October 2020; these figures were obtained by dividing actual MoF Twitter follower numbers by the number of country Twitter subscribers.
• Changes in Twitter follower numbers between June 2020 and October 2020; these charts reflect changes in the respective MoF Twitter follower numbers.

Key regional analysis findings

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

• Estimated total Africa/Asia SIDS MoF 2020 visits in the 2020 September quarter were 11.53% higher than in the 2020 March quarter for the 6 MoFs where data was available for both quarters

• Total Africa/Asia SIDS local resident MoF visits to the above-mentioned 6 MoF websites increased by 26.89% in the 2020 September quarter over the 2020 March quarter whilst total non-resident MoF visits fell by 29.17%

• Africa/Asia SIDS MoF Facebook follower numbers (and overall Africa SIDS average MoF Facebook penetration levels) increased by 7.16% between June 2020 and October 2020 where comparative data was available

• Africa/Asia SIDS MoF Twitter follower numbers (and overall Africa SIDS average MoF Twitter penetration levels) increased by 41.03% between June 2020 and October 2020 where comparative data was available

Our June 2020 video “Improving PFM digital transparency in SIDS finance ministries” examined finance ministries (MoFs) use of digital platforms such as websites and social media to provide public financial management (PFM) related information in small island developing states (SIDS). In this “Global SIDS PFM digital transparency update December 2020” video recent SIDS PFM digital transparency trends are examined on a regional and country basis.

Regional PFM digital transparency analysis

Global SIDS PFM digital transparency trends have been analysed using the following regional classifications for countries where MoF websites were active:

• Africa/Asia/Middle East (7 countries)

• Caribbean (18 countries)

• Pacific (11 countries)

Non-active SIDS MoF websites in the 2020 September quarter in the above-mentioned regions were as follows:

• Africa/Asia/MiddleEast (3 countries)

• Caribbean (11 countries)

• Pacific (8 countries)

Charts for the following indicators are presented:

• MoF website penetration levels for the 2020 March and September quarters. The figures used in these charts were obtained using a two-step process. Actual visit data for the March and September 2020 quarters was annualised to provide projections of estimated 2020 visits. The resulting 2020 annual MoF website visit projections were divided by the number of country internet users to obtain MoF website penetration levels.

• Domestic and non-resident visits to MoF websites for the 2020 March and September quarters; these charts reflect the percentage of visits to MoF websites attributable to local residents and non-residents in the 2020 March and September quarters based on actual visit data.

• Rates of change in MoF website visits; this data is based on changes to MoF visit levels between the 2020 March and September quarters. 

• MoF Facebook penetration levels as at June 2020 and October 2020; these figures were obtained by dividing actual MoF Facebook follower numbers by the number of country Facebook subscribers.

• Changes in Facebook follower numbers between June 2020 and October 2020; these charts reflect changes in the respective MoF Facebook follower numbers.

• MoF Twitter penetration levels as at October 2020; these figures were obtained by dividing actual MoF Twitter follower numbers by the number of country Twitter subscribers.

• Changes in Twitter follower numbers between June 2020 and October 2020; these charts reflect changes in the respective MoF Twitter follower numbers.

The above-mentioned regional analyses are also available here:

• Africa/Asia/Middle East

• Caribbean

• Pacific

Key regional analysis findings

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

• Increases were recorded in SIDS overall regional MoF penetration scores for SIDS MoF websites, SIDS Facebook followers and SIDS Twitter followers. This growth is partially attributable to MoF posts relating to COVID-19 topics. 

• A material increase in the SIDS Caribbean MoF Twitter follower penetration score contributed to strong growth in the SIDS overall regional Twitter follower penetration score.

• The increased interest in MoF digital platforms also resulted in material increases in the proportion of MoF website visits attributable to local residents and a consequent reduction in the proportion of MoF website visits attributable to non-residents. This trend was particularly evident in the Pacific where there was strong growth in Papua New Guinea MoF local resident visits.

• In four of the SIDS countries with MoF Facebook pages, the number of Facebook followers exceeded estimated 2020 MoF website visits demonstrating the role social media can play in boosting transparency about SIDS MoF activities.

SIDS country PFM digital transparency analysis

SIDS PFM digital transparency trends have also been analysed for the 36 countries examined in the above-mentioned regional analysis.

Country charts presenting the following PFM digital transparency indicators are available:

• MoF website penetration levels for the 2020 September quarter. The figures used in these charts were obtained using a two-step process. Actual visit data for the September 2020 quarter was annualised to provide projections of estimated 2020 visits. The resulting 2020 annual MoF website visit projections were divided by the number of country internet users to obtain MoF website penetration levels.

• Domestic and non-resident visits to MoF websites for the 2020 September quarter; these charts reflect the percentage of visits to MoF websites attributable to local residents and non-residents in the 2020 September quarter based on actual visit data.

• MoF Facebook penetration levels as at October 2020; these figures were obtained by dividing actual MoF Facebook follower numbers by the number of country Facebook subscribers.

• MoF Twitter penetration levels as at October 2020; these figures were obtained by dividing actual MoF Twitter follower numbers by the number of country Twitter subscribers.

Each country chart presents the following results for each indicator: the available country results, the average regional score and the average score for all SIDS countries where a MoF website was available.

Analyses of trends in key country PFM digital transparency indicators are also available here:

• Africa/Asia/Middle East

• Caribbean

• Pacific

Introduction

Recent African PFM digital transparency trends were identified in our September 2020 “Improving PFM digital transparency in African finance ministries” presentation which examined the current use of digital platforms to promote PFM transparency in 45 African ministries of finance (MoFs) current use of digital platforms to promote PFM transparency. We now introduce some key results on a country by country basis.

The importance of transparency

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. 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.

Identifying PFM digital transparency trends

The following statistics were prepared to help identify the above-mentioned trends across the 45 African MoFs:

• 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 also identified to demonstrate the level of usage of these digital platforms.

Key trends

Charts showing recent trends in key PFM digital transparency indicators for the 45 African finance ministries with websites during the period May/July 2020 are available. These charts can be accessed by clicking on to the respective regional Africa country groups below:

• Central Africa
• East Africa
• North Africa
• Southern Africa
• West Africa

A video presenting charts showing recent trends in key PFM digital transparency indicators for the 45 African finance ministries with websites during the period May/July 2020 is available here.

Questions?

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

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 North Africa PFM from a digital transparency perspective by presenting data for six North 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 six North 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:

• Algeria

• Egypt

• Libya

• Mauritania

• Morocco

• Tunisia

A video showing North 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 North African countries is available here.

Questions?

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