# Exploring Budget Transparency in the Middle East and North Africa: A Study of Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/exploring-budget-transparency-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa-a-study-of-jordan-lebanon-morocco-and-tunisia Type: Publication or report Published: 2021-03-30 Updated: 2021-10-01 --- 30 March 2021 Recent movements have shed light on the important practice of transparency and participation in the budget process as a way to influence policy, secure better livelihoods for citizens – especially for the most vulnerable and marginalised – and build a more inclusive development model. Despite budget transparency increasingly being considered good practice globally and a key entry point to proactive citizen participation and accountability, many countries are still not able to transform transparency principles into good practice. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has historically performed below worldwide averages on governance and fiscal openness indicators. In MENA, where only 44 per cent of the region’s budget information is publicly available, the lack of transparency seemed to be exacerbated by limited opportunities for engagement. This study looks closely at four countries in the region – Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia – with the aim of investigating the relationship between transparency, public engagement and accountability. It then offers recommendations in the form of strategies for quick wins and longer-term policy actions to advance and reap the benefits of fiscal transparency. ## Additional downloads - [Download '2021 Report Budget Transparency MENA Arabic' \[PDF\]](https://files.transparencycdn.org/images/2021_Report_BudgetTransparencyMENA_Arabic.pdf) ### Related publications ## [Risks of illicit financial flows in Africa: Understanding vulnerabilities to corrupt money flows in nine countries](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/risks-of-illicit-financial-flows-in-africa) Publication • 12 April 2024 This report explores what is known about the types, sources and destinations of illicit financial flows in nine African countries. ## [Leveraging Civil Society to Combat Corruption Risks in Emergency Response Management: The COVID-19 Experience](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/transparency-civil-society-corruption-risks-covid19) Publication • 13 June 2023 This publication shares findings in emergency response funding from the COVID-19 pandemic and makes recommendations for future responses. ## [Speaking Up Locally, Driving Change Globally: True Stories of Tackling Corruption to Build a Sustainable Future](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/speaking-up-locally-driving-change-globally) Publication • 05 July 2021 Drawing on true stories from 12 countries, this publication shows how people can break the cycle of injustice by reporting corruption. ## [Collective Commitment to Enhance Accountability and Transparency in Emergencies: Synthesis Report](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/create-synthesis) Publication • 31 July 2017 This report presents synthesis findings from four case studies developed under the Collective Resolution to Enhance Accountability and Transparency in Emergencies (CREATE)… ## Countries - [Jordan](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/jordan) - [Tunisia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/tunisia) - [Lebanon](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/lebanon) - [Morocco](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/morocco) ## Regions - [Middle East & North Africa](https://www.transparency.org/en/region/middle-east-north-africa) ![Modern looking collage of graphs, coins and numbers.](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/budgettransparency.JPG?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) [Download](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2021_Report_BudgetTransparencyMENA_English.pdf)