Egypt's Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait has confirmed that31.3% of the country's programme and performance budget allocations for fiscal year (FY) 2021/22 have been allocated to achieving economic development. This will also go towards raising the efficiency of government performance. Meanwhile, 30.6% of the next budget allocations were allocated to projects improving citizen living standards, and 27.3% for building Egypt's human capital. Maait said that that there are efforts in place to link ministry and agency programmes with government goals. This is one of the economic reform tools that is being implemented as part of Egypt's Vision 2030, along with the efforts to achieve sustainable development in its various economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The minister's remarks came as the first volume of the budget for programmes and performance for FY 2021/22 was issued. He noted that 82% of budget authorities and 69% of economic authorities have committed to presenting their budgets for the next fiscal year, in accordance with programmes and performance. Maait explained that 1,800 representatives of budgetary authorities have been raised, as part of the National Programme for Building Staff Capabilities and Qualifications, to use the standard form for preparing programme and performance budgets. This includes preparing a guide that defines programme structures, basic concepts, objectives of performance measurement indicators, how to design them, and steps for preparing and implementing the budget. Ahmed Kouchouk, Deputy Minister for Financial Policies and Institutional Development, said that financial and economic policies are witnessing an unprecedented development to achieve development in Egypt. He noted that the programmes and performance budget is an opportunity to modernise Egypt's budget cycle, as it requires ministries, departments, and other government agencies to harmonise planning strategically with financial allocations. It also means changing the focus of budget operations from annual activities based on inputs, to a performance-based approach. The latter contributes to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of resource allocation and activities over the medium term, or within three years. He added that the use of gender-responsive budgeting helps the government to lay the foundations for equality and social integration for all citizens, especially for the most vulnerable groups. It also allows the government to raise the efficiency of the programmes and performance budget, by deepening the close links between strategic planning and budgetary appropriations.
