BudgIT, a civic organisation championing transparency and accountability in African public finance, has launched the first simplified Senegal 2022 budget document, available in English and French, under its Budget Access Project.
The organisation said this marked the first time it would produce a dual-language budget analysis, highlighting its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
BudgIT’s Expansion Coordinator, Fauziyyah Abdulrahman, emphasised the importance of the initiative, noting that people should be allowed to participate in the budgeting process and be informed about how public funds are handled and used.
Fauziyyah, who championed and developed the document from data mining to analysis to design and dissemination, said: “I was the project coordinator. It was a challenging report having to be produced in dual language; I relearned my French language and leveraged on our Program Officer based in Senegal named Amadou Samb,
“Our goal is to use a simplified national budget document to engage citizens through various digital platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, radio, TV, and YouTube, as well as through physical engagements. By doing so, we aim to empower citizens with the right information to foster their civic rights and ignite the spirit of participation in demanding service delivery.”
She said through the initiative, BudgIT seeks to inform the public and inspire active participation in the governance process, ensuring that citizens are well-equipped to hold their governments accountable.
According to Fauziyyah, BudgIT is ready to collaborate with civil society organisations and government officials to raise awareness about their budget.
