81270429-Implementation of the Component ‘Agenda 2030 Reporting’ and Management of Short-term Expert Pool for Public Finances — Kopie

The module ReFORME is part of the Good Governance and Digital Reforms of State Services Program (ProGRES) of the German Cooperation in Benin. The objective of ReFORME, which runs from January 2021 to December 2023, is ‘national and municipal budget processes are implemented according to the principles of good financial governance’. The central problem underlying the implementation of the module is that the principles of good financial governance are not yet sufficiently applied throughout the budget cycle at both central and decentralised levels. The political partner of ReFORME is the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), implementation partners are the technical and operational directorates of the MEF, Planning and Development (MPD), and Decentralisation (MDGL), as well as some other sectoral ministries. Civil society organisations are also partners. ReFORME's works with 19 municipalities. The technical and strategic approach of the project is closely aligned with the priorities of the government of Benin. The module has five outputs. Output 1: (Budget) will strengthen the capacity for legally compliant implementation of budget processes in national and local financial management. The impact hypothesis at the national level is that the performance of ministries will be improved through the implementation of program budgets and greater transparency in the budget execution in accordance with law and rules. Output 2: (Taxes) aims to improve the performance of the tax administration at the national and communal level. The impact hypothesis is that a more efficient tax administration will improve the quality of the taxpayer register, ensure the broadening of the base and the operationalisation of strategies for a more transparent and reliable monitoring of tax returns and revenues through computerisation, digitalisation, improvement of internal administrative processes, capacity building in policy making, and improved revenue predictability. Output 3: (Transparency and accountability) aims to promote dialogue between state and non-state actors to increase transparency and accountability in the spending of public expenditure. The impact hypothesis is that the public involment in national and municipal budget processes and the institutionalisation and improvement of the quality of dialogue, makes budget processes more understandable and transparent because civil society actors will be able to demand accountability for public revenues and expenditures. Output 4: (Investments) aims to improve the quality of public investment planning at national and communal levels, especially regarding considering the needs of the private sector. This output is closely linked to the dialogues between state and non-state actors (output 3). The impact hypothesis is that public investments that are planned in a financially sustainable way and that are adapted to local needs are more likely to find their way into national and municipal budget planning and to be effectively implemented. Output 5: (Agenda 2030 and data) supports the coordination of actions related to the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the monitoring of prioritised development targets. The project will assist the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis (INSAE) in setting up a monitoring system to which the municipalities will also regularly provide data on local implementation of the Agenda 2030. The impact hypothesis is that by establishing a national and decentralised review system of the implementation of the national priorities of the Agenda 2030, a basis for monitoring Benin's development progress is created, which in turn will serve as an indicator and benchmark for setting (sectoral) priorities in the preparation and implementation of national and municipal budgets. Furthermore, it constitutes an important basis for policy dialogue.