Senegal: IBP Budget Transparency Score Hits 42, Below Adequacy

• Senegal achieved a budget transparency score of 42 out of 100 in the 2025 International Budget Partnership survey, falling below the reference threshold of 61.
• While citizen participation in the budgetary process saw a slight improvement to 6 points, budgetary control declined to 31 points from 33 in 2023.
• The International Budget Partnership identifies public participation and the publication of certain documents as Senegal's most significant budgetary transparency weaknesses.
• Officials from ONG 3D and the Senegalese Ministry of Economy, Finance and Plan acknowledge the need for improvement and an action plan to address these shortcomings.
• Once a leading performer in Francophone Africa, Senegal now lags behind countries like Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cameroon in budget transparency.

The nation's 2025 International Budget Partnership (IBP) score of 42 out of 100 places it significantly below the recognized transparency benchmark of 61, signaling persistent challenges in public finance openness.

The 2025 International Budget Partnership (IBP) survey has cast a spotlight on Senegal's public finance transparency, revealing a score of 42 out of 100. This figure falls considerably short of the 61-point benchmark deemed necessary for adequate budgetary transparency. The findings of this independent assessment, conducted by the IBP, were publicly released in Dakar on Thursday, with the non-governmental organization (ONG) 3D, focused on development, human rights, and decentralization, actively participating in the research.

A closer look at the individual components of Senegal's performance reveals both incremental gains and notable regressions. While the nation demonstrated a marked improvement in citizen participation within the budgetary process, climbing to 6 points out of 100 in 2025 from a mere 0 points in 2023, this still represents a very low level of public involvement. Cheikh Tidiane Cissé, the administrative director of ONG 3D, acknowledged efforts made by the Senegalese state to enhance access to budgetary information, yet highlighted a concerning decline in budgetary control.

Specifically, oversight by institutions such as the National Assembly and the Court of Accounts saw a two-point drop, moving from 33 points in 2023 to 31 points in 2025. According to Abdoul Aziz Diagne, a representative from the Senegalese Ministry of Economy, Finance and Plan's budget directorate, the International Budget Partnership Senegal report pinpoints public participation and the timely publication of certain documents as the most significant shortcomings. Diagne, however, expressed optimism, suggesting these issues are not inherently difficult to resolve, emphasizing that public access to budgetary documents should be straightforward given that budgets are enacted on behalf of the populace.

In light of these findings, calls for substantial reform have emerged from participating organizations. Cheikh Tidiane Cissé of ONG 3D urged Senegalese authorities to draw inspiration from countries like Benin, which significantly outperforms Senegal in this domain. He advocated for greater openness in budget management mechanisms to foster increased citizen engagement. Cissé also stressed the importance of identifying the root causes of these low scores and developing a concrete action plan to improve Senegal's standing in future surveys.

Djibril Badiane, the IBP's Director for Francophone Africa programs, underscored the critical need for accountability at the end of each fiscal year, a practice essential for enhancing Senegal's public finance transparency. He recalled that in earlier IBP surveys conducted between 2017 and 2019, Senegal was considered a strong performer among Francophone African nations. However, the current Senegal Open Budget Survey 2025 results indicate a shift, with the country now trailing behind regional peers such as Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cameroon. The IBP continues to offer technical assistance to governments seeking to bolster their public resource management capabilities.

The persistent challenges highlighted by the Senegal IBP budget transparency score carry significant implications for the nation's governance framework and its attractiveness for public sector engagement or investments. The identified weaknesses in budgetary control Senegal and the limited public participation suggest potential governance risks that could impact the efficiency and accountability of public spending. A lack of robust transparency can erode public trust and create an environment susceptible to mismanagement, making the findings of the ONG 3D Senegal budget report particularly pertinent.

Lawyers advising clients on public sector engagement or investments in Senegal should carefully consider these identified weaknesses in budgetary transparency and control. Such conditions may signal increased governance risks and could foreshadow future reforms in public finance management, which could, in turn, affect the operational landscape for businesses and investors. Addressing these transparency deficits is crucial not only for Senegal's internal development but also for its international reputation and economic partnerships.

Lawyers advising clients on public sector engagement or investments in Senegal should note the identified weaknesses in budgetary transparency and control, which may indicate increased governance risks and potential for future reforms in public finance management.

Source: Original reporting via Dakar news outlet