Monday 16 February 2023

Press Release

BudgIT launches operations in Senegal

BudgIT, a leading civic-tech organisation that facilitates civic and institutional engagement in Africa through the use of technology, has officially begun operations in Senegal. This development follows the organisation’s successful expansion into Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone since 2020.

In 2022, BudgIT collaborated with Enda Lead Francophone Africa (LEAD) to track the use of COVID-19 resources in Senegal as part of its COVID-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP).

“Our experience of tracking COVID-19 grants has highlighted the need to raise awareness of annual national budgets in order to increase transparency and accountability in Senegal,” said Abiola Afolabi, Head of International Growth at BudgIT.

It is important that people understand how public money is managed and spent, and they should also be able to participate in the budget process. This keeps the spirit of democracy alive.

According to Afolabi, BudgIT will be launching its Budget Access programme to provide citizens with essential information about the provisions of budget items and how they affect them. This will strengthen government accountability and ultimately service delivery across the country.

Without doubt, BudgIT’s presence in Senegal will strengthen technology and innovation to increase citizen engagement with government. We will develop an online engagement platform where citizens, media, CSOs and government can access simplified budget information.

Abiola Afolabi

Head of International Growth at BudgIT