U.S. Embassy Abuja Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund

Description: Since 2012, the State Department and USAID have provided foreign assistance to help governments to improve budget transparency and to support civil society organizations promoting fiscal transparency. This work complements the role of the Fiscal Transparency Report. U.S. embassies largely manage these projects, which range from small assistance efforts aimed at training civil society and the media on budget transparency, to larger projects that assist government officials in strengthening budgeting and auditing processes. Programs that facilitate timely release of audit reports and promote access to simplified audit information for citizens, civil society and community-based organizations, media, and other accountability actors are encouraged. 

Program Component: Grantee will develop a project that will efficiently and effectively capture mechanisms for improved public audit impact in public expenditure and revenue generation.

Expected Outcomes:

·        Increased compliance in submitting audited financial statements to the Auditor-General by government agencies

·        Reduced time lag between end of financial year and publication of annual audit reports by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF.)

·        Increased transparency and public awareness about the administrative hurdles and lag times that inhibit effective fulfillment of Public Accounts Committees.

·        Enhanced policy actions towards enacting modern audit legal framework for the Federal Government of Nigeria.

·        Publicizes sanctions by Public Accounts Committees and or Anti-Corruption Agencies for fiscal abuses

Anticipated Activities

The following are suggested activities. Applicants are welcome to propose other activities and outputs relevant to the primary objectives and expected results of the project.

·        Conduct Fiscal Responsibility Index to assess the level of fiscal prudence across government agencies

·        Train heads of finance, procurement, and internal audit within government agencies on compliance guidelines with existing audit laws, procurement statutes, and financial regulations

·        Stakeholders’ workshop to review proposed federal audit law and map targeted advocacy initiatives to accelerate passage and assent. We will engage with members of Civil Society Coalition on Audit in Nigeria (CSCAN) - a Coalition which PLSI leads, and members include media executives, civil society leaders, community-based organizations. We will equally engage key social media and public policy influencers (this includes former legislators/government officials).

·        Host roundtable discussion with social and policy influencers on the need for a modern audit legal framework to facilitate advocacy

·        Review 2019 audit report of the federation to analyze/highlight key irregularities/recommendations as they concern fiscal abuses in government agencies

·        Develop creative infographics and explainer videos to simplify audit issues/recommendations to facilitate evidence-based citizens engagement with duty bearers

·        Disseminate and amplify audit issues on social media (Twitter, Facebook & YouTube), and Value for Money web platform

·        Host radio show to disseminate key 2019 audit findings to stimulate citizens interest in utilizing audit data to demand accountability

·        Produce copies of summarized and simplified 2019 audit reports to engage accountability actors

·        Mobilize CSOs and Media partners to monitor Public Accounts Committees’ review of 2019 Audit Report of the Federation

·        Capacity building to encourage investigative reporting on audit issues contained in 2019 Audit Report of the Federation

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

• Programs relating to partisan political activity;
• Charitable or development activities;
• Construction programs;
• Programs that support specific religious activities;
• Fund-raising campaigns;
• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs
• Scientific research;
• Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or
• Programs that duplicate existing programs. 

FULL TEXT OF THIS NOFO INCLUDING APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND AWARD INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE U.S. MISSION NIGERIA WEBSITE.