Transparency (Open Budget Index) 55/100
The Government of Jordan provides the public with limited budget information.
Public Participation 27/100
The Government of Jordan is weak in providing the public with opportunities to engage in the budget process.
Budget Oversight
By legislature 45/100
Budget oversight by the legislature in Jordan is limited.
By auditor 42/100
Budget oversight by the supreme audit in Jordan is limited.
Recommendations
Improving Transparency
Jordan should prioritize the following actions to improve budget transparency:
- Produce and publish a Mid-Year Review.
- Increase the comprehensiveness of the Executive’s Budget Proposal by, for example, presenting more details on macroeconomic forecasts and on issues beyond the core budget.
- Increase the comprehensiveness of the Year-End Report by, for example, presenting more details on planned versus actual performance, as well as on planned versus actual macroeconomic forecasts.
Improving Participation
Jordan 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.
- Publish reports on public budget hearings.
- Establish formal mechanisms for the public to participate in audit investigations.
Improving Oversight
Jordan should prioritize the following actions to strengthen budget oversight:
- Ensure the Executive’s Budget Proposal is provided to legislators at least three months before the start of the budget year.
- In both law and practice, ensure the legislature is consulted prior to the spending of contingency funds that were not identified in the Enacted Budget.
- Require legislative or judicial approval to remove the head of the supreme audit institution.