[OpenSpending] openspending Digest, Vol 47, Issue 8

Thu Nov 14 14:10:43 UTC 2013

Thanks very much Richard for your inputs,

Challenges re integration of BOOST as part of Government process reminds me
of similar issues with other statistical data in developping countries
where external org do the job of aggregating and publishing data but
without reinforcement of internal gov capacity. Then, if so, it would be
interesting to here how Moldova used BOOST to improve its own spending data
capacity.

Also I am not sure how much this is overlapping with the work of IBP but
our objectiv here is not to start a comprehensive list of spending data
projects or index, only highligthing and explaining in few words best
projects implementation. For instance, do the country implemented an export
tool upon its accounting information system or created a new infrastructure
?

Best
Pierre

On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 3:18 PM, Richard Watts <
rjwatts at development-finance.org> wrote:

> Dear Pierre,
>
> In terms of BOOST, the process is as follows (if wrong, somebody please
> correct me..)
>
> i) Preparation - the BOOST team have to get sign off from WB country
> offices to start the BOOST process in country, they need government
> approval, and then after this they would receive budget classification/data
> from Governments to be able construct the BOOST database.
>
> ii) Build the database - BOOST team build the database for the country,
> then they test it
>
> iii) Using BOOST - getting countries utilising the database
>
> iv) Capacity building - training to Government to use BOOST, and on how to
> update/mainstream it
>
> v) Opening up of the BOOST database to public (Governments decision)
>
> With the exception of Moldova, I would say the key issue for BOOST is that
> governments in general after the database has been built have not really
> bought into mainstreaming BOOST as part of country systems. Obviously it is
> a work in progress, but currently the majority of the updating of the
> country databases is actually done by the BOOST team, and not by the
> Governments (although they still provide the data to them). So the key
> issue is not the initial buy in of governments, but the continued interest
> by Governments to invest in BOOST and mainstream it into country systems.
> Therefore, I would say the process is very replicable in terms of
> establishing the database, but not yet replicable in terms of adoption. I
> am not part of the BOOST team, so maybe you want to discuss more with them
> on this, but I am happy to answer any questions or discuss this further
> with you or others at OKF?
>
> In addition, I am sure people are aware (but in case you are not), the
> BOOST team is creating an open budget portal, which will go live on the
> 18th November, which will provide a central location to access the data
> (previously Government's had to create their own portal). The
> countries/regions due to go live are; Peru, Guatemala, Brazil - Mina
> Gerais, Brazil - Rio Grande, Armenia, Poland, Moldova, Togo, Kenya, Solomon
> Islands, Kiribati, Seychelles, Mauritius, Mexico, Paraguay
>
> In terms of the Open data index - Government Spending;
>
> I do not want to comment too much on this, as it is clearly in its
> infancy. However, there does seem to be quite a bit of overlap with the
> open budget index, so I am not sure if you want to discuss with IBP whether
> you want to cooperate with them on this? The other point of note I had was
> that it would be good to state what level of Government you are
> classifying/scoring. An example would be Nigeria and India in your index,
> which are actually at the federal level, which is only about 30 of total
> government expenditure, so you are really only assessing a fraction of the
> 'openness' of a countries spending. South Africa is a great example of a
> budget process that combines both the central and state level together. As
> with BOOST, if you want to discuss this further, then very happy to do so.
>
> Hope this is of some interest to you,
>
> Richard
>
> -------
> Richard Watts
> Development Finance International
> 39 Hatton Garden
> London, EC1N 8EH
> Tel: (+44) 020 7404 9000
> Web: http://www.development-finance.org/; http://www.
> governmentspendingwatch.org/
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <openspending-request at lists.okfn.org>
> To: <openspending at lists.okfn.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 12:00 PM
> Subject: openspending Digest, Vol 47, Issue 8
>
>
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>> Today's Topics:
>>
>>   1. Exploring Open Government Spending Data Best Practices
>>      (Pierre Chrzanowski)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 12:16:00 +0100
>> From: Pierre Chrzanowski <pierre.chrzanowski at gmail.com>
>> To: OpenSpending Discussion List <openspending at lists.okfn.org>
>> Subject: [OpenSpending] Exploring Open Government Spending Data Best
>> Practices
>> Message-ID:
>> <CAB-gMst1o6To3V7v005jhvMk=jcZUNxpEcgq-nnH4x3CMT9m=w at mail.gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> Following the Open Data Index which showed there was still a long way to
>> go
>> re Spending Data, I thought it would be worth gathering information on how
>> countries implemented open publication of their spending data.
>>
>> So after a suggestion of Anders, I started a simple google presentation
>> here [1] where I listed first ranked countries according to the OD Index.
>> And I invite you to add details about the project you may know directly on
>> the presentation or start a discussion about a specific example on this
>> list.
>>
>> Questions to adress :
>> - How do countries deliver in practise?
>> - Which countries publish with thresholds eg. UK and US?
>> - What are the standards used ?
>> - Etc.
>>
>> For instance, I noted the work of Moldova and the World Bank with the
>> Boost
>> program. What were the main steps of that project to get the country to
>> publish its detailed expenditures ? How easy it is replicable ? It would
>> be
>> good to have one simple slide on that.
>>
>> Result of this work will be added to the OpenSpending knowledge base
>>
>> And in case I am replicating an ongoing work somewhere else, please let us
>> know
>>
>> Thanks a lot for your contribution !
>>
>> [1] http://goo.gl/j6TfD0
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Pierre Chrzanowski*
>> *Open Knowledge Foundation France*
>>
>> Mail: pierre.chrzanowski at gmail.com
>> Skype: pierre.chrzanowski | Twitter:
>> @piezanowski<https://twitter.com/piezanowski>
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>

-- 
*Pierre Chrzanowski*
*Open Knowledge Foundation France*

Mail: pierre.chrzanowski at gmail.com
Skype: pierre.chrzanowski | Twitter:
@piezanowski<https://twitter.com/piezanowski>
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