Deadline: 3-Aug-21
The U.S. Embassy in Kigali of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to improve fiscal transparency of the central government and state-owned enterprises.
In its 2020 Fiscal Transparency Report, U.S. Embassy Kigali assessed that Rwanda did not meet the U.S. State Department’s minimum fiscal transparency requirements because it did not publish detailed allocations to, and earnings from, significant state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
In addition, an audit opinion on the consolidated financial statements of the general government is not published.
While information on debt servicing obligations and new public loans undertaken by the Government of Rwanda (GOR) is available online, the GOR does not provide a detailed breakdown of SOEs’ public guarantees.
Program Objectives
- The overall objective of the grant is to expand the amount of publicly available budget information and increase the public’s capacity to analyze it. On the supply side, the project will seek to encourage the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the Parliament, and local governments to make pre- and post-budget enactment information available. It will also aim to encourage the government to provide feed-back on inputs from the public. On the demand side, the project will strengthen the capacity of CSOs, media, and community-based institutions to engage in budget preparation and demand accountability.
- Objective 1: Encourage the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda Parliament, and local governments to make pre- and post-budget enactment information publicly available.
- Objective 2: Encourage the government to provide feedback on inputs from the public.
- Objective 3: Enhance the knowledge of CSOs and other stakeholders in budget literacy.
- Objective 4: Increase the engagement of CSOs and other stakeholders in the budget process.
- Objective 5: Raise public awareness on budget issues.
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: 2 years
- Number of awards anticipated: 1
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $200,000 to a maximum of $250,000
- Total available funding: $250,000
- Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 24 months or less.
Expected Results
Specific results could include the following:
- The GOR significantly improves access to information on allocations to and earnings from key SOEs.
- The audit opinion of the consolidated financial statements of general government is published.
- Pre-Budget Statement, Mid-Year Review and Year-End Budget Report are published online on the GOR’s websites.
- Citizen’s Budget guide is widely disseminated and explained.
- Executive Budget Proposal is published on Parliament’s website under “Bills in Parliament.”
- Local governments’ budgets and planning information (District, Sector and Cell-levels) is available on respective websites.
- Rwanda’s Parliament publishes its own analysis and recommendations on its assessment of the Executive Budget Proposal and in-year budget implementation reports.
- The GOR expands on mechanisms to engage CSOs and members of the public on the budget process.
- Parliament allows an increasing number of members of the public and CSOs to testify during parliamentary hearings on budget proposals and the Office of the Auditor General audit reports.
- Time allocated to consultations on local governments’ budgets is increased.
- Invitations to parliamentary and local government pre-budget hearings are extended to all interested stakeholders.
- Any CSO or individual willing to testify in budgetary public hearings is able to do so.
- Media, CSOs, and local government officials receive training in budget literacy and develop an increased understanding of budget process.
- The number of media professionals, CSOs, and local government officials that meaningfully, knowledgeably, and enthusiastically participate in pre-budget consultations is increased.
- Media, CSOs, and local government officials demonstrate an improved ability to advocate for changes in budget proposals prior to approval by Parliament.
- The number of television and radio programs that encourage public discussion of budget issues increases.
Priority Region
- Rwanda
Participants and Audiences
- The intended target audiences include the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda Parliament, local governments, CSOs, and other stakeholders.
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- U.S. non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c) (3) status with the IRS
- Overseas-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations,
- U.S. and foreign public and private educational institutions
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333957