AMMAN — Partners Jordan announced on Wednesday the results of the Open Budget Survey 2025 for Jordan.

 

The results show that Jordan scored 62 out of 100 in the transparency pillar, placing it in the "sufficient" category for the publication of budget information, compared with 18 out of 100 in the public participation pillar, which falls within the "weak" category, and 46 out of 100 in the oversight pillar, which falls within the "limited" category.

 

The Open Budget Survey is the only "independent" global research tool that "comparatively" measures, based on internationally recognised criteria, the public availability of budget information, opportunities for public participation in the budget process, and the role of formal oversight institutions, including the legislature and supreme audit institutions.

 

According to Partner's Jordan statement, the Survey’s methodology assesses whether key budget documents are published in a timely manner and whether their content is comprehensive, in addition to examining formal practices for public participation and oversight throughout the budget cycle.

 

In its current round, the Survey covered 83 countries, and the assessment was based on documents, events, and developments published or taking place through 31 December 2024.

 

The results of the Open Budget Survey 2025 show that Jordan has made progress compared with the previous round, while at the same time outperforming the regional averages across all three pillars.

 

In the transparency pillar, Jordan scored 62 out of 100 in this round (Open Budget Survey 2025), compared with 60 out of 100 in the previous round (Open Budget Survey 2023), exceeding the regional average of 30 out of 100.

 

In the public participation pillar, Jordan’s score rose to 18 out of 100 in this round, up from 4 out of 100 in the previous round, exceeding the regional average of 11 out of 100.

 

In the oversight pillar, Jordan scored 46 out of 100 in this round, compared with 39 out of 100 in the previous round, exceeding the regional average of 36 out of 100.

 

Legislative oversight also improved from 42 out of 100 in the previous round, where it was within the limited category, to 47 out of 100 in this round, remaining within the limited category.

 

Likewise, Audit Bureau oversight rose from 33 out of 100 in the previous round, where it was within the weak category, to 45 out of 100 in this round, moving into the limited category. This reflects a "clear" improvement in indicators of openness and financial governance in Jordan.

 

The report also showed that Jordan made a number of key budget documents publicly available, including the Executive’s Budget Proposal, the Enacted Budget, the Citizens Budget, In-Year Reports, the Year-End Report, and the Audit Report, while noting that the Pre-Budget Statement and the Mid-Year Review were published late.

 

The results also revealed variation in the comprehensiveness of the information contained in these documents.

 

In this pillar, the report recommended the timely publication of the Pre-Budget Statement and the Mid-Year Review, and called for the Executive’s Budget Proposal to include more comprehensive data on macro-economic forecasts and fiscal risks.

 

It also recommended that the Year-End Report include a dedicated section comparing original non-financial estimates with actual results at the level of inputs, outputs, and outcomes, in line with the results-oriented budgeting approach adopted in Jordan.

 

In addition, it recommended strengthening the publication of citizens’ versions of key budget documents, particularly the Audit Report and the Year-End Report, and expanding efforts related to dissemination, public awareness, and accessibility.

 

The report further recommended adopting a participatory approach to preparing the Citizens Budget, through consultation with the public, target groups and civil society representatives on its; content, presentation and priorities, as well as expanding disclosure on the measures taken in response to the observations and recommendations in the Audit Report.

 

In the public participation pillar, Jordan’s score remains within the weak category, but it nonetheless reflects clear progress compared with the previous round.

 

The Survey also showed that opportunities for public participation continue to vary across the different stages of the budget cycle, with the formulation stage scoring 0 out of 100, the approval stage33 out of 100, and the implementation stage25 out of 100, while the audit stage scored 44 out of 100, placing it within the limited category.

 

In this pillar, the report recommended piloting mechanisms for public participation during budget formulation, such as participatory budgeting across different government entities, expanding participation mechanisms during the implementation stage.

 

The report recommended ensuring broader engagement of civil society organisations and members of the public, in addition to strengthening engagement with underrepresented groups, either directly or through entities representing them.

 

The report also recommended enabling citizens and civil society organisations to provide testimony and input during parliamentary hearings on the Executive’s Budget Proposal and the Audit Report, and strengthening mechanisms that allow the public to contribute to the work of the Audit Bureau and relevant investigations.

 

As for the oversight pillar, Jordan’s overall score reached 46 out of 100, placing it within the limited category, with legislative oversight scoring 47 out of 100 and Audit Bureau oversight scoring 45 out of 100, both within the limited category.

 

The report noted that Parliament exercises "limited" oversight during both the planning and implementation stages, and recommended some measures, most notably debating fiscal policy before the Executive’s Budget Proposal is tabled, submitting the Executive’s Budget Proposal to the House of Representatives at least two months before the start of fiscal year.

 

In addition to enabling legislative committees, not only the Finance Committee, to examine the proposal and publish their reports and analyses online in a timely manner, in addition to examining budget implementation and publishing follow-up findings more regularly.

 

The report also emphasised the importance of ensuring consultation with the legislature before the executive reduces spending during the budget cycle, and that the relevant parliamentary committees examine the Audit Report and publish reports on their findings and observations online.

 

It further recommended strengthening the independence of the Audit Bureau by requiring legislative or judicial approval for the appointment and removal of its head, and ensuring that audit processes are reviewed by an independent body.

 

The report also highlighted the importance of expanding the application of gender-responsive budgeting across the budget cycle through a "broader institutional" framework, including more advanced tools such as impact assessments, the integration of this analysis into performance indicators, and regular public disclosure of results.

 

This announcement comes within the framework of the role played by Partners Jordan as the independent researcher in Jordan for this Survey, and as the national partner of the International Budget Partnership in Jordan since 2012.

 

The organisation works to support fiscal transparency, strengthen public participation in budget issues, and advance public dialogue on spending priorities and the efficient use of resources, in a manner that serves reform efforts and reinforces the path of financial governance in Jordan.

 

Partners Jordan stresses that these results represent an important indicator of the progress achieved in Jordan’s path toward greater transparency and fiscal openness.

 

At the same time, they confirm the need to continue reforms and strengthen institutional practices related to public participation and oversight, in ways that contribute to entrenching the principles of transparency and accountability and improving the efficiency of public financial management.

 

This progress also intersects with Jordan’s three modernisation tracks, political, economic and administrative, reflecting the importance of strengthening fiscal openness, public participation and institutional oversight as part of the broader modernisation process, and supporting the development of institutions that are more efficient, transparent and responsive to citizens’ priorities, according to Partner's Jordan statement.