South Sudan launches programme to improve financial transparency

JUBA – South Sudan government, with the help of the the United Nations Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund, has launched a programme to improve transparency of the country’s financial system to facilitate economic recovery and consolidate peace.

The ceremony conducted in Juba was attended by the country’s newly appointed Minister of Finance and Planning, Athian Ding Athian, the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare and the new deputy commissioner general of the National Revenue Authority.

Athian said the programme is expected to facilitate the allocation of greater resources to critical social services and ensuring their efficient, effective and transparent utilization.

“…as well as to operationalizing institutional mechanism to promote citizen engagement and participation, as critical pathways to sustainable development,” the finance minister was quoted as saying by the Eye Radio.

The programme is aimed at ensuring that 15 percent of the country’s national budget is allocated to social services.

“More national budget allocations are required for a national social protection programme as a central policy for COVID-19 to protect the most vulnerable and children and women of South Sudan, during recurring stresses and shocks,” said Ayaa Benjamin Warille, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.

For his part, Alain Noudehou, the UN resident coordinator, said: “COVID-19 shows how important it is for South Sudan to strengthen its public financial management institutions.”

“It is vital government institutions provide basic social services as reflection of the needs of its citizens.”