Cameroon: IBP Budget Transparency Score Improves to 58/100

• Cameroon's budget transparency score increased by eight points, reaching 58/100 in the 2025 Open Budget Survey by the International Budget Partnership.
• The Ministry of Finance (MINFI) presented these results on October 10, attributing the gain to better public access to State budget and public resource management information.
• Cameroon's score is three points below the 61/100 threshold considered sufficient for informed public debate on the budget.
• Scores for public participation and legislative oversight did not improve, indicating persistent weaknesses in these areas.
• The country's transparency performance places it ahead of Côte d’Ivoire (55/100) but behind Benin (77/100).

The persistent weakness in legislative oversight and public involvement indicates that while information access has improved, the mechanisms for the public and elected representatives to influence and scrutinize budget processes still need substantial development.

Cameroon has demonstrated a notable improvement in its budget transparency score, as reported by the International Budget Partnership’s (IBP) Open Budget Survey. The nation's score increased by eight points, moving from 50 out of 100 in 2023 to 58 out of 100 for the 2025 assessment. This positive development was officially presented by the Ministry of Finance (MINFI) on October 10, highlighting enhanced public access to critical information concerning the State budget and the overall management of public resources.

This rise in the Cameroon budget transparency score IBP reflects a concerted effort to make more financial data available to the public. The Open Budget Survey evaluates the availability, timeliness, and completeness of essential budget documents, including initial budget proposals, approved budgets, implementation reports, and audit reports. It also meticulously measures the extent to which governments disclose information on revenue collection, spending allocations, and the ultimate utilization of public funds.

Despite this significant progress, Cameroon still falls short of the benchmark set by the International Budget Partnership for sufficient transparency. The IBP considers a country to be publishing enough information to foster informed public debate on its budget when it reaches a score of 61 out of 100. Cameroon's current score of 58/100 leaves it three points shy of this crucial threshold, indicating that further efforts are necessary to achieve optimal transparency.

In a regional comparison, Cameroon's 58/100 score places it ahead of Côte d’Ivoire, which scored 55/100, but still considerably behind Benin, which achieved a score of 77/100. This comparative data from the Open Budget Survey Cameroon 2025 underscores both the strides made and the areas where the nation can continue to learn from regional leaders to bolster its public finance oversight.

While the MINFI Cameroon budget transparency efforts have yielded better access to information, the same cannot be said for other critical aspects of public financial management. The Open Budget Survey revealed that scores for public participation and legislative oversight did not follow the upward trend seen in budget transparency. These areas remain relatively weak, suggesting ongoing challenges in ensuring comprehensive accountability.

Strengthening citizen participation in budget decisions and enhancing the monitoring of public spending are identified as key areas requiring further attention. The persistent weakness in legislative oversight and public involvement indicates that while information access has improved, the mechanisms for the public and elected representatives to influence and scrutinize budget processes still need substantial development. This highlights a continued need for thorough due diligence when engaging with public sector entities, as accountability structures may not yet fully support the improved access to budget information.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising clients on public procurement, investments, or regulatory compliance in Cameroon should note the improved budget transparency score, indicating better access to some public financial information. However, the persistent weakness in legislative oversight and public participation suggests continued risks related to accountability and the need for thorough due diligence when engaging with public sector entities.

Source: Original reporting via International Budget Partnership