lifeofmshaba
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 19, 2011
- 867
- 219
By Judica Tarimo
Whether or not the General Budget Support (GBS) is a visible modality for attracting foreign aid to support Tanzanias development strategies, the question is still a subject for lengthy discussion, as some development partners expressed skepticism over lack of accountability and transparency and corruption controls in public expenditures.
Senior government officials and some representatives of development partners are optimistic that GBS is an appropriate model for channelling foreign aid to enable the government to meet its budgetary obligations.
However, some donors are hesitant to disburse their aid through GBS because of what analysts and diplomats described as lack of government seriousness in public finance management and massive corruption in public institutions.
This can be testified by the recent pullout of two potential development partners, Switzerland and The Netherlands, from the GBS. Speaking at the GBS Day here on Friday, which saw donors official endorsement of over Sh840bn in support of the 2011/12 budget, the Finance Minister, Mustafa Mkulo said five years ago, 14 donor countries signed GBS framework, but now we have only 12 development partners.
Twelve development partners signed Partnership Framework Memorandum (PFM), signifying their (donors) readiness to financially support Tanzanias development strategies through GBS package on annual basisstarting with the next financial year-2011/12 budget.
But the pullout of two partners is a major blow to the government, which faces fierce criticisms for its failure to mitigate the impact of the economic hardships triggered by high fuel and food prices. There are indications that the pullout stemmed from the fact that some donors do not view GBS as a suitable modality through which their aid could be channeled for supporting the countrys development endavours.
They are concerned that it becomes difficult for them to monitor and evaluate results of their fundingin the face of widespread corruption and misuse of public funds in public systems.
But finance minister, Mkulo said: Those who pulled out of the GBS are still dishing out their financial assistance through other modalities.
They decided to withdraw themselves from GBS package, but they are still supporting other development programmes in the country, he told reporters shortly after the endorsement of a pact under which twelve development partners agreed to disburse more than Sh812bn in support of the next year budget.
At home, some diplomats are scrutinizing the viability and potentiality of GBS, a proof which could serve as the basis for their governments to continue releasing funding to Tanzania through the modality (GBS).
General budget support is under intense scrutiny in many of our home countries. We need to show results that GBS is achieving and that we (donor countries) are getting good value for money from every dollar, Euro, Pound, Yen and Kroner, given to Tanzania, said Ingunn Klepsvik, Norwegian Ambassador and outgoing GBS Group of development partners, at the opening of GBS day.
He tasked the government to improve budgetary transparency and strengthen oversight and accountability mechanism in the context of enhancing effective management of funds and resources on behalf of Tanzanians.
Head of EU Mission and incoming chair of the GBS Group, Tim Clarke said: I am taking this responsibility when the GBS is critically under scrutiny and the concern of many donors is that GBS should be seen as demonstrating positive results.
We strengthen domestic accountability as a key issue of the GBS instrument, he added.
Ngosha Said Magonya, Commissioner of External Finance in the Ministry of Finance, admitted that some donors are skeptical in channeling their financial assistance through GBS, noting that this was a big challenge which needs to be addressed by both parties (government and development partners).
Opening the GBS meeting, the Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda said the pullout of two development partners from GBS was not a good signal to the future of GBS, urging government representatives and development partners to productively engage and sort out anomalies detected in the operationalisation of GBS package.
Lets continue to work together, strengthen our partnership, and be open to each other when things go wrong, said the premier, adding the government will prudently and properly utilizes GBS financial resources, as per the GBS Partnership Framework Memorandum (PFM).
Finance minister, Mkulo said donors should not be worried by the two development partners, pledging government resolve to attract new development partners to the GBS and ensure that donors currently in the GBS expand their financial aid to Tanzania.
IPP MEDIA (Guardian)
MY TAKE: MKULO IS BLIND AND SENSELESS ON THE COUNTRY ECONOMY,
kama kikwete hataona kwamba tume ya mipango na mkulo ni
sio tu kwa kupoteza donor kiuchumi kwa ujumla wanaimba kila
siku mtekisiko wa uchumi dunia la ni plan gani walizonazo hawasemi
lakini pia mkuu wa kaya anatusaliti wananchi kwa kucheza na kucheka na wezi hali nchi inaangamia. kama kikwete ana mpango wa kuthibiti mianya ya rushwa na wala rushwa nchi hii itakuwa ngumu sana kutawalika katika kipindi cha mwaka moja ujao
Whether or not the General Budget Support (GBS) is a visible modality for attracting foreign aid to support Tanzanias development strategies, the question is still a subject for lengthy discussion, as some development partners expressed skepticism over lack of accountability and transparency and corruption controls in public expenditures.
Senior government officials and some representatives of development partners are optimistic that GBS is an appropriate model for channelling foreign aid to enable the government to meet its budgetary obligations.
However, some donors are hesitant to disburse their aid through GBS because of what analysts and diplomats described as lack of government seriousness in public finance management and massive corruption in public institutions.
This can be testified by the recent pullout of two potential development partners, Switzerland and The Netherlands, from the GBS. Speaking at the GBS Day here on Friday, which saw donors official endorsement of over Sh840bn in support of the 2011/12 budget, the Finance Minister, Mustafa Mkulo said five years ago, 14 donor countries signed GBS framework, but now we have only 12 development partners.
Twelve development partners signed Partnership Framework Memorandum (PFM), signifying their (donors) readiness to financially support Tanzanias development strategies through GBS package on annual basisstarting with the next financial year-2011/12 budget.
But the pullout of two partners is a major blow to the government, which faces fierce criticisms for its failure to mitigate the impact of the economic hardships triggered by high fuel and food prices. There are indications that the pullout stemmed from the fact that some donors do not view GBS as a suitable modality through which their aid could be channeled for supporting the countrys development endavours.
They are concerned that it becomes difficult for them to monitor and evaluate results of their fundingin the face of widespread corruption and misuse of public funds in public systems.
But finance minister, Mkulo said: Those who pulled out of the GBS are still dishing out their financial assistance through other modalities.
They decided to withdraw themselves from GBS package, but they are still supporting other development programmes in the country, he told reporters shortly after the endorsement of a pact under which twelve development partners agreed to disburse more than Sh812bn in support of the next year budget.
At home, some diplomats are scrutinizing the viability and potentiality of GBS, a proof which could serve as the basis for their governments to continue releasing funding to Tanzania through the modality (GBS).
General budget support is under intense scrutiny in many of our home countries. We need to show results that GBS is achieving and that we (donor countries) are getting good value for money from every dollar, Euro, Pound, Yen and Kroner, given to Tanzania, said Ingunn Klepsvik, Norwegian Ambassador and outgoing GBS Group of development partners, at the opening of GBS day.
He tasked the government to improve budgetary transparency and strengthen oversight and accountability mechanism in the context of enhancing effective management of funds and resources on behalf of Tanzanians.
Head of EU Mission and incoming chair of the GBS Group, Tim Clarke said: I am taking this responsibility when the GBS is critically under scrutiny and the concern of many donors is that GBS should be seen as demonstrating positive results.
We strengthen domestic accountability as a key issue of the GBS instrument, he added.
Ngosha Said Magonya, Commissioner of External Finance in the Ministry of Finance, admitted that some donors are skeptical in channeling their financial assistance through GBS, noting that this was a big challenge which needs to be addressed by both parties (government and development partners).
Opening the GBS meeting, the Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda said the pullout of two development partners from GBS was not a good signal to the future of GBS, urging government representatives and development partners to productively engage and sort out anomalies detected in the operationalisation of GBS package.
Lets continue to work together, strengthen our partnership, and be open to each other when things go wrong, said the premier, adding the government will prudently and properly utilizes GBS financial resources, as per the GBS Partnership Framework Memorandum (PFM).
Finance minister, Mkulo said donors should not be worried by the two development partners, pledging government resolve to attract new development partners to the GBS and ensure that donors currently in the GBS expand their financial aid to Tanzania.
IPP MEDIA (Guardian)
MY TAKE: MKULO IS BLIND AND SENSELESS ON THE COUNTRY ECONOMY,
kama kikwete hataona kwamba tume ya mipango na mkulo ni
sio tu kwa kupoteza donor kiuchumi kwa ujumla wanaimba kila
siku mtekisiko wa uchumi dunia la ni plan gani walizonazo hawasemi
lakini pia mkuu wa kaya anatusaliti wananchi kwa kucheza na kucheka na wezi hali nchi inaangamia. kama kikwete ana mpango wa kuthibiti mianya ya rushwa na wala rushwa nchi hii itakuwa ngumu sana kutawalika katika kipindi cha mwaka moja ujao
