In its book Legislative Oversight and Budgeting: A World Perspective, the World Bank Institute has captured theoretical themes and practical knowledge from parliamentarians to create budget oversight committees.
The book includes an overview of the drafting, approval, and implementation of federal budgets and emphasizes parliament's role in budget formulation to counter corruption and improve the effectiveness of executive action, increase public finance accountability, and reduce poverty.
Responding to demands from Latin American parliamentarians, WBI is seeking support for a Spanish-language translation of the book. A WBI seminar on oversight for Latin American parliamentarians will be hosted by the Government of Finland in Helsinki in May 2009.
It was capacity-building seminars for parliamentarians that prompted Ugandan backbencher Beatrice Kiraso, also Chairperson of the Ugandan Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to begin "...to see the need for Parliament to play a more active role in the entire budget process."
This awareness, in turn, triggered her quest to establish a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) in Uganda. It met with strong opposition from the executive branch and only limited backing from fellow parliamentarians at first. After a year of struggling against these and other obstacles, her effort was transformed into a movement for reform within parliament, with support from the World Bank, USAID, the European Union, and other donor agencies, adding credence to the campaign.
A Budget Bill was introduced to Parliament by Hon. Kiraso and Hon. Musumba as a private Members Bill and finally passed in February 2001, bringing the PBO and a Parliamentary Budget Committee into existence. Through it, Ugandan Members of Parliament hold the executive accountable for its policies and exerts a stronger influence over their country's economic and social policies and, in particular, the formulation of the national budget.
Kiraso's mission in Uganda and other case studies are compiled in the World Bank Institute's recently-published instructional guide, Legislative Oversight and Budgeting. The 300-page manual includes theoretical chapters by scholars, as well as practical accounts drawn from the experience of legislators such as Kiraso.
Despite opposition, Ugandan backbencher Beatrice Kiraso found support for the creation of Uganda's Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).
"The best way for parliamentary oversight to take root where it is unknown or faces challenges is for parliamentarians themselves to share their experience," said Rick Stapenhurst, co-editor of the book with Riccardo Pelizzo, David M. Olson, and Liza von Trapp. "This anthology provides the kind of first-person accounts and case studies that resonate with parliamentarians, giving them guidance that often leads to action."
Stapenhurst, who manages the parliamentarians' capacity-building program at the World Bank Institute (WBI), developed the book by approaching parliamentarians who presented their experiences at seminars he leads for public accounts committee members.
"It has been very well-received in English speaking countries," he said. "We are now seeking support to have it translated to Spanish, to respond to demand from parliamentarians in Latin America." A WBI seminar on oversight for Latin American parliamentarians will be hosted by the Government of Finland in Helsinki in May 2009.
In most states, parliaments have the constitutionally-mandated responsibility to hold government accountable for its policies and actions. With a stronger focus on good governance, the World Bank, academics, and parliamentarians have aimed to revitalize parliament's role in budget formulation, parliamentary oversight to counter corruption and improve the effectiveness of executive action, increase public finance accountability, and reduce poverty.
Following a broad overview of legislative oversight in section I of the book, section II examines related processes in the drafting, approval, and implementation of federal budgets. Public accounts committees and legislative budget institutions are highlighted as well.
Section III provides empirical data in the form of country case studies. With chapters by legislators from Brazil to South Africa to Indonesia, the analyses provide first-hand accounts of establishing parliamentary oversight committees, problems with budget accountability, and engagement by parliament.
Legislative Oversight and Budgeting serves as an instructive reference tool for practical usage by parliamentary staff, legislative strengthening practitioners, and students of legislative development.
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