District CSO Leaders Challenge Ministry of Finance Over Budget Process
Aaron Parker A group of District CSO Chairpersons has raised concerns over the ongoing district bilateral budget discussions, calling on the Ministry of Finance and the Fiscal Decentralisation Division (FDD) to strengthen the participation of civil society and other non-state actors in the budget process.
In an open letter dated October 5, 2026, the CSO leaders expressed concern over what they described as a significant reduction in the number of civil society representatives and other non-state actors invited to participate in the district budget discussions.
According to the CSO heads, the reduced participation undermines inclusive governance and limits opportunities for citizens to contribute meaningfully to decisions concerning public resources.
They further alleged that even when civil society representatives are invited to participate, their recommendations often have little influence on the final budget decisions. They said sectors and local councils frequently proceed with their own proposals, resulting in budgets that do not adequately reflect the views and priorities raised during consultations.
The CSO leaders also criticised the amount of time allocated for the discussions, arguing that dedicating only one day to scrutinise sectoral budgets is insufficient.
They said the limited timeframe has, over the years, resulted in what they described as rushed processes that prevent meaningful examination of budget proposals and deny citizens the opportunity to properly engage with decisions affecting their respective districts.
“This approach by state actors weakens transparency and accountability, erodes public trust, and defeats the entire purpose of the bilateral discussions,” the CSO heads stated.
They maintained that meaningful participation by civil society and other non-state actors could provide valuable citizens’ perspectives, improve service delivery and help ensure that government budgets respond to the actual needs and priorities of communities.
The district CSO leaders have therefore called on the Ministry of Finance and the FDD to take their concerns into consideration ahead of next year’s budget discussions.
They urged the authorities to ensure that civil society and non-state actors are adequately represented and that their recommendations are meaningfully considered in the finalisation of district budgets.
The CSO heads emphasised that citizens should be treated as key stakeholders in the budgeting process, stressing that “as citizens, we are the rightful owners of the budget.”
