Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of Brazilian Civil Society In The Tax Reform Debate: Inesc’S Tax Campaign For Social Justice, Evilasio Salvador, International Budget Partnership

International Budget Partnership

When the Brazilian government sent a new tax reform proposal to Congress in 2008 that would exacerbate the already high level of economic inequality, the Institute for Socioeconomic Studies (INESC) came together with other leading civil society organizations to form the Movement to Defend Social Rights under Threat by Tax Reform (MSDR). The coalition was united in advocating for fairer taxes on incomes and assets and protecting funding for social programs for the poor. INESC and MSDR worked with the government and parliament, participated in public hearings, and produced several technical analyses which, in combination with a number of external …

Freeing Funds To Meet Priorities And Needs: Sikika’S Campaign To Curb Unnecessary Expenditure In Tanzania, Peter Bofin, International Budget Partnership

International Budget Partnership

In 2008 the Tanzanian Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda, ordered government ministries to reduce unnecessary expenditure on workshops, allowances, seminars, and luxury vehicles. While populist commitments by leaders are not unusual in Tanzania, this particular one seemed to be a direct response to Sikika’s media and advocacy campaign. This case study shows that a focus on media outreach and raising public awareness may not be enough to bring about changes in contexts where budget allocation processes are closed and there are strong internal pressures to maintain the widespread patronage and rents that can be drawn from recurrent expenditures in the budget. …

Ghana: Budget Monitoring By Send-Ghana And Its Partners Helps Improve Nutrition For Children And Support Local Farmers, Tony Dogbe, Joana Kwabena-Adade, International Budget Partnership

International Budget Partnership

Between 2007 and 2010, the Social Enterprise Development (SEND-Ghana) Foundation, one of the IBP’s partners, monitored the performance of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP, a government program that integrates social protection interventions), engaging with 50 district assemblies, 50 focal civil society organizations (CSOs), and 50 District Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)/Citizens Monitoring Committees (DCMC) in seven regions across the country. SEND-Ghana used information from this monitoring exercise to promote improvements in the program with district assemblies and officials from collaborating ministries, departments, and agencies directly at the national, regional, and district levels, but also indirectly through the media.

The …

Evidence For Change: The Case Of Subsidios Al Campo In Mexico, Guillermo M. Cejudo, International Budget Partnership

International Budget Partnership

The Subsidios al Campo campaign used Mexico’s freedom of information laws to obtain official data on the recipients of agricultural subsidies, and then published the data online. Its analysis brought a large amount of new information into the public domain, and managed to shift the debate about agricultural subsidies from a focus on their overall size to a discussion of how equitably they were being distributed, challenging a powerful agricultural industry in the process. The Mexican Ministry of Agriculture reacted by reforming the system to ensure that subsidies were flowing only to those that needed them.

The full version, short …

Federal Initiatives Can Be At Odds With Regional Ones, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

At the Cascade Gateway crossings that serve the I-5 corridor, vigorous initiatives aimed at improving border mobility have been underway for years. Strong cross-border forums exist, and through those forums a number of projects have been undertaken, resulting in changes to both inspection processes and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Canada – U.S. federal ―Beyond the Border‖ (BTB) initiative was launched 14 months ago, and the first BTB Action Plan was unveiled in December 2011. As regional stakeholders evaluate the content of the BTB Action Plan they find much to applaud. However, they also notice aspects of initiatives included in the plan …

Metrics Of Policy Effects At The Canada-Us Border: The National Export Initiative And The Effort To 'Green The Border', David L. (David Lindsay) Davidson, Ian Faulds, Stephanie Messa

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

Following the announcement of the Canada – U.S. ―"Beyond the Border" (BtB) vision, there has been increased emphasis upon measurement of various things associated with national borders. Many of the specific elements within the BtB plan include an associated metric, so that bureaucrats and the public are able to measure progress toward realization of the vision. Of course, BtB is not the only border-related policy goal adopted by governments—other goals have been established by Canada, the U.S., and states and provinces. This article focuses upon two such policy goals: the U.S. National Export Initiative (NEI), and the effort to "green …

Forum Proceedings: "Beyond The Border: Making The Action Plan Work For You", Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

On October 24, 2012, the Vancouver Board of Trade hosted a one day forum to discuss how the new Beyond the Border and Regulatory Cooperation initiatives, announced by Prime Minister Harper and President Obama in December 2011, will improve the border. The plans set out practical targeted measures and implementation timelines designed to make the Canada-US border more secure and efficient.

The "Beyond The Border" Dialogue At Age One: Policy And Political Implications For The Pacific Northwest, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

On February 4, 2011, President Obama and Prime Minister Harper issued the "Beyond the Border" (BTB) Declaration, announcing a new initiative regarding management of the Canada – US border. The Declaration contemplated the creation of an Action Plan, which was released on December 7, 2011. The goal of this seminar was to examine the Action Plan and assess its implications and impact on Canada-US border management going forward.