Democratic Republic of Congo

Sep 8, 2015

Transparency (Open Budget Index) 39/100

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo provides the public with minimal budget information.

Public Participation 13/100 

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is weak in providing the public with opportunities to engage in the budget process.

Budget Oversight

By legislature 39/100

Budget oversight by the legislature in the Democratic Republic of Congo is weak. 

By auditor 50/100

Budget oversight by the supreme audit institution in the Democratic Republic of Congo is limited. 

Recommendations

Improving Transparency

The Democratic Republic of Congo should prioritize the following actions to improve budget transparency:

  • Publish a Year-End Report in a timely manner.
  • Produce and publish a Mid-Year Review and an Audit Report.
  • Increase the comprehensiveness of the Executive’s Budget Proposal by presenting information on the classification of expenditures for future years and the classification of revenues for future years.
Improving Participation

The Democratic Republic of Congo should prioritize the following actions to improve budget participation:

  • Establish credible and effective mechanisms (i.e., public hearings, surveys, focus groups) for capturing a range of public perspectives on budget matters.
  • Hold legislative hearings on the budgets of specific ministries, departments, and agencies as well as on audit reports at which testimony from the public is heard.
  • Establish formal mechanisms for the public to assist the supreme audit institution to formulate its audit program and participate in audit investigations.
Improving Oversight

The Democratic Republic of Congo should prioritize the following actions to strengthen budget oversight:

  • Ensure the executive receives prior approval by the legislature before implementing a supplemental budget.
  • In both law and practice, ensure the legislature is consulted prior to the virement of funds in the Enacted Budget, the spending of any unanticipated revenue, and the spending of contingency funds that were not identified in the Enacted Budget.
  • Ensure the supreme audit institution has adequate funding to perform its duties, as determined by an independent body (e.g., the legislature or judiciary).