Tunisia Triples Budget Oversight Score in Open Budget Index 2025

Tunisia has made a remarkable leap in the Open Budget Index 2025, tripling its budget oversight score from 12 to 37. This significant achievement, published by the Tunisian Association for Local Governance (ATGL) and the International Budget Partnership (IBP), highlights a renewed commitment to fiscal transparency and accountability.

The report credits the substantial recovery in the activities of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People (ARP) for this leap. Citizen participation also saw an increase, moving from 4 to 6 out of 100. However, the transparency score experienced a decline, dropping from 16 to 11, primarily due to the non-publication of several key budget documents and delays in the Court of Accounts' audit report.

Despite the dip in transparency, the overall progress is a testament to the ongoing efforts to strengthen governance. The recommendations put forth by the report are crucial for further improvement. The Ministry of Finance is urged to ensure timely online publication of all budget documents and to conduct public pre-budget consultations. The ARP is encouraged to facilitate public testimony during budget hearings, and the Court of Accounts is advised to bolster its independence through parliamentary appointment of its president.

This advancement is particularly noteworthy for Tunisia, demonstrating a positive trajectory in its governance reforms. While challenges remain, especially in ensuring consistent transparency, the gains in budget oversight and citizen participation signal a hopeful future for fiscal management and public trust in the country. The focus now shifts to implementing the report's recommendations to solidify these gains and address the identified shortcomings.