Online publication of Ministry Open Budget Index (MOBI) 2020: Results have not improved.

The MOBI 2020 survey results showed that the level of budget disclosure of ministries and central agencies has not been improved compared to MOBI 2019.

There were still many units that have not disclosed or fully disclosed, have not met the requirements under the provisions of the 2015 State Budget Law, Circular 61/2017/TT-BTC and Circular 90/2018/TT-BTC. The average score of MOBI 2020 was 21.64 points, equivalent to the average score of MOBI 2019. In the MOBI 2020 ranking, the Ministry of Finance ranked first with 66.63 points converted, the public rating is RELATIVE full. Ranked second is the Ministry of Justice with 48.41 points.

Availability: There were 27 agencies and organizations out of 44 agencies in the MOBI 2020 survey that have published at least 1 budget document (accounting for 61.36%), an increase of 3 units compared to the survey period of 2019. However, there were still 17 ministries and central agencies that did not publicize any documents at the time of the survey (equivalent to 38.64%).

Timeliness: The results of the MOBI 2020 survey showed that ministries and central agencies have not promptly disclosed budget documents as prescribed. Out of 19 units that have published documents on the 2021 budget estimate, only 6 have published on time as prescribed, which is within 15 days from December 31, 2020. For documents on the 2019 Budget Finalization, 9 out of 16 units have disclosed information on time as prescribed. The remaining documents, including Budget Implementation Report on Quarter I, 6 months, 9 months, and the year 2020 were only disclosed on time by 4, 4 and 3 units, respectively. No unit has published Budget Implementation Report for the whole year 2020 on time.

Convenience: The results of the MOBI 2020 survey showed that 32 out of 44 units have a score of convenience (equivalent to 72.72%), an increase of 5 units compared to the MOBI 2019 survey. Budget documents were published on the electronic portal/website of the unit mainly in the form of pdf or scanned images, so it was still limited for people to read and use budget information from these document formats. The Ministry of Science and Technology is the unit that published documents in the most convenient format (excel file), easy to access and use documents.

Completeness: MOBI 2020 survey results showed that publicized budget documents did not have sufficient content as prescribed in Circular 90/2018/TT-BTC, explanatory reports/ incomplete content of tables were missing. Of the 27 entities that have made at least one of the six budget documents public, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice remain the top two in terms of completeness of budget documents. Ranked third place is Vietnam Social Insurance with 20.93 points.

The survey results of the Ministry and Central Agency Budget Publicity Index (MOBI) in 2020 were “an disappointing phenomenon”. This was the opinion of Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh, Director of the Center for Economic and Strategic Studies (VESS), at the online announcement of the Ministry and Central Agency’s Budget Public Index (MOBI) 2020, which took place this morning, 16 June 2021, at CDI Vietnam Integration and Development Center. According to Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh, while the level of transparency of the provinces has continuously improved (through an annual POBI assessment), the central agencies have not made any significant progress, although The 2015 Budget Law has been in effect for a long time. Central agencies have failed to set an example of building a rule of law state, and at the same time have shown a lack of accountability to the people.

The MOBI 2020 index report also proposeed recommendations to the Ministries, Central Agencies in general, the Ministry of Finance in particular, the National Assembly, the State Audit, and the Government solutions to improve the MOBI index in the following years.

 Dr. Luu Binh Nhuong, Member of the XIV National Assembly, Deputy Head of the Civil Volunteers Committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee, commented: “It is worth mentioning that some important central agencies that need to “set an example” also does not publicize budget documents. It shows that the level of compliance on budget disclosure and budget documents is a problem and have many limitations. Strengthening the role of the State Audit and the supervision of the National Assembly is the right measure, especially the role of verifying the estimates and settlement reports of the Ethnic Council and the National Assembly’s committees, in which the number of explainary sessions, question and clarify the causes/reasons for non-disclosure or delay in budget disclosure must be increased. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the supervisory role of National Assembly deputies in cases and events, the role of the Fatherland Front and its members, the press and public opinion.

The MOBI Index is developed by the Alliance for Budget Transparency (BTAP), and by the Alliance’s two member organizations, the Center for Development and Integration (CDI) and the Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR). implemented, with funding from Oxfam in Vietnam.

2020 is the 3rd year in a row that the MOBI index has been implemented and announced. MOBI 2020 assesses the level of budget disclosure of 44 ministries and central agencies, of which 38 ministries and central agencies are the estimating units and 6 central agencies and organizations are supported by the state budget. The level of publicity and transparency of the ministries and central agencies’ budgets (MOBI 2020) is built through 5 main criteria: availability, timeliness, completeness, convenience and continuity of 6 documents required to be disclosed under the 2015 State Budget Law, as guided in Circular 61/2017/TT-BTC and Circular 90/2018/TT-BTC.

See details of the report HERE.

CDI Vietnam