"From Crisis to Opportunity: How can open and accountable COVID-19 fiscal measures support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda?"

The global health, economic and human crisis driven by the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and to keep the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on track. The mobilization of public resources and other sources of funding, emergency spending, redirection of funds and debt management are essential to address the consequences of the crisis. The pandemic requires decisive action, but transparency and accountability should be embedded in all COVID-19 fiscal responses and efforts to building back better.

Strengthening transparency and accountability in budget and fiscal processes, including through the active role of oversight institutions, is critical for monitoring public resources generally and, more than ever, in the short and longer-term response and recovery efforts. Open budget systems and processes contribute to more effective institutions, stronger democratic engagement, greater equity and better development outcomes. They can help societies to mend broken social contracts and reconnect government institutions and citizens in ways that promote sustainable development. The openness of COVID-19 response and recovery plans is crucial to building trust in public institutions and to ensuring that they deliver results that support making progress in the implementation of the SDGs.  Read more