1

Welcome to the Presentation of Zhidas Welcome to the Presentation of Zhidas Daskalovski, PhDDaskalovski, PhD

Welcome to the Presentation of Zhidas Welcome to the Presentation of Zhidas Daskalovski, PhDDaskalovski, PhD

• Sub-national Budget Watch in Macedonia

2

Part One: Introduction to the Part One: Introduction to the Topic and ResearchTopic and Research

3

What is Sub-national Budget Watch?What is Sub-national Budget Watch?What is Sub-national Budget Watch?What is Sub-national Budget Watch?

• investigating the rhetoric of public officials, • matching it with the budget lines, • understanding what the funds are spent on

4

What is the Effect of Citizen’s Budget What is the Effect of Citizen’s Budget Watch?Watch?

What is the Effect of Citizen’s Budget What is the Effect of Citizen’s Budget Watch?Watch?

• identification of the weaknesses and strengths of governmental policies,

• holding governments accountable • safeguards from corruption • increased trust in governments and social

cohesion

5

Who Does Budget Watch on Local Level in Who Does Budget Watch on Local Level in Macedonia?Macedonia?

Who Does Budget Watch on Local Level in Who Does Budget Watch on Local Level in Macedonia?Macedonia?

• State Audit Office• Internal Units within the Local Government• How About the Citizens?

Let us See...

6

Why Research in Shtip and Gostivar Why Research in Shtip and Gostivar Municipalities?Municipalities?

Why Research in Shtip and Gostivar Why Research in Shtip and Gostivar Municipalities?Municipalities?

Similar and Different Representative Sample

– Towns with 45,000 inhabitants– Multiethnic Gostivar & Macedonian Shtip– Gostivar in the West, Shtip in the East– Shtip industrial, Gostivar trade & remittances– Ruled by different political parties

7

8

Part Two: Research FindingsPart Two: Research Findings

9

Shtip RealitiesShtip Realities

• Mayor cooperative “budget is available to the citizens, they can monitor, etc.”

But! • Staff gives only a shortened version of the

budget• Municipality Information Center does not have

the budget but also “it could not be given without the permission of the mayor”

10

Gostivar RealitiesGostivar Realities

• Old mayor bluntly refuses to give a copy of the budget claiming that we have no right to such information.

• New mayor more transparent.

But the staff hold to old ways!

“When in MoD do you ask for secret files?”• “Make a written request, we will discuss

maybe we will approve giving you a copy.”

11

Macedonian Realities- Access to Information

Macedonian Realities- Access to Information

• 40 % of citizens asking information from state institutions obtained it but 70% of these had difficulties getting it

• 27% of those asking information did not receive any answers from the state organs

• 33% were refused access to the needed information with no explanation

12

Political Culture in MacedoniaPolitical Culture in MacedoniaPolitical Culture in MacedoniaPolitical Culture in Macedonia

• Low Accountability of Public Officials• Low Level of Citizens Participation in Policy

Processes • Lack of Public Policy Evaluation and Monitoring

13

Part Three: RecommendationsPart Three: Recommendations

14

Recommendations Recommendations 1: Public Availability of Budget 1: Public Availability of Budget MonitoringMonitoring

Recommendations Recommendations 1: Public Availability of Budget 1: Public Availability of Budget MonitoringMonitoring

Need for legal obligations of local government to• keep a file of the budget accessible to the public in the

local government unit • organize quarterly sessions for public overview of the

budget execution• disseminate info on budget execution to public,• have sufficient human resources to deal with interested

citizens

15

Recommendations 2: Influencing Recommendations 2: Influencing Budget Budget FormationFormation

Recommendations 2: Influencing Recommendations 2: Influencing Budget Budget FormationFormation

Need for legal obligations of local government to:

• hold public hearings before adopting key

decisions, such as the annual budget or

changes of fee for local public services. • Such formulation was part of the draft law!

16

General Recommendation: Adopt an Access General Recommendation: Adopt an Access to Information Law to Information Law

General Recommendation: Adopt an Access General Recommendation: Adopt an Access to Information Law to Information Law

• Many of the problems with transparency in budget monitoring occurred due to the lack of freedom of information law.

• The law is adopted but yet to see the results.

17

Recommendation To the Civil Sector- Recommendation To the Civil Sector- Engage!Engage!

Recommendation To the Civil Sector- Recommendation To the Civil Sector- Engage!Engage!

• CRPM produced a Budget Watch Guide, conducts trainings

• OSI Macedonia also works on Budget Monitoring

• Others?

18

Part Four: ConclusionPart Four: Conclusion

19

Improved Citizen’s Budget Watch in Improved Citizen’s Budget Watch in Macedonia Will:Macedonia Will:

Improved Citizen’s Budget Watch in Improved Citizen’s Budget Watch in Macedonia Will:Macedonia Will:

• Supplement Government Audit and Increase Transparency

• Better Public Policy & Services to Citizens• Link Public Officials and General Interests• Increase Public Trust in Politicians• Win Votes

20

To do this We Need to:To do this We Need to:To do this We Need to:To do this We Need to:

• Amend the Law on Financing the Municipalities, the Law on Self-Government, and the Law on Audit

• Engage the Civil Sector Use the Freedom of Information Law

• Start a Citizen Information Campaign

We Start Working on the Issue Now!We Start Working on the Issue Now!

21

Comments and Questions:Comments and Questions:

Zhidas Daskalovski

daskalovski@crpm.org.mkCenter for Research and Policy Making

www.crpm.org.mkMirche Macan bb1000 Skopje