Transparency of Data as an Impetus for Donations to Vulnerable
Transparency – Serbia (official chapter of Transparency International) considers announcements on transparency of data on donations to Serbian budget account and subsequent control of assets spending, issued by the Government recently, as very useful, but insufficient. Government of Serbia, autonomous province organs and municipalities should provide transparency of data on donations and spending immediately, during collection of donations process, by publishing information over internet, because that could represent impetus for even greater donations for victims of flood.
On Monday, TS submitted initiative[1] to the Government of Serbia and Republic Sector for Emergency, to immediately publish data on payments of humanitarian donations for victims of flood and method of spending it. We proposed that data on funds received to RSD and foreign currency account should be made public, bypublishing account statements on a Governmental web-site (period and amount of payment, without stating the name of donor), so that every donor could ensure donation is received. Other, even more important preposition is to provide transparency and daily update of data on method of distributing collected assets. Similar initiatives appeared in numerous forums. We emphasize that these types of data should also be published by autonomous province organs and municipality organs that opened special accounts for donations,as soon as it technically becomes possible.
Initiative was already supported by the public and Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and protection of Personal Data[2]. Government announced that data will be made public[3], but so far without specifying how it will be done or commenting concrete solution we proposed. Potential obstacle mentioned is asking for permission from donors to publish their names, which is in this moment needles, because Government bank account statements could be published without stating the names. That data, in our opinion, is necessary for controlling assets spending and there will be enough time for expressing public gratitude to those who want to go public when the accident passes.
Minister of Finances spoke about some important control mechanisms[4]– establishing of Governmental Commission that could control validity of damage estimation of municipal headquarters and subsequent audit of SAI. We think that one step further should be taken – if the estimations of damage are published, citizens from vulnerable areas could indicate to potential falsifying of data. Also, besides damage estimation, one should bear in mind that increased control is necessary for money spending, because due to urgency of situation many public procurements that are to be implemented either by using direct agreement without implementation of Public Procurement Law or in negotiating procedure.
We are convinced that this form of transparency will act as a stimulant to potential donors and bring more money to vulnerable. At the same time, that would prevent possible suspicions to abuse of humanitarian aid that occurred in Serbia recently. Since records on incomes and expenditures are already kept in electronic form, we believe that publishing it would not be a burden to state organs, and that it would bring benefits, in a form of greater assistance to vulnerable, and by strengthening trust in institutions.
Transparency – Serbia
Belgrade, 22 May 2014
