Cape Verde’s Financial Management System: Recent Developments

The aim of Cape Verde Government is to transform the archipelago into a “modern, competitive country, with social cohesion and justice, and environmental quality”(*). Consequently, the development of Information and Communication Technologies to establish an Information and Knowledge Society was defined as a strategic option and Electronic Government, in particular, was identified as a key pillar. Two main strategic orientations were defined for the E-Government platform:

i) Improve the performance and the efficiency of the Public Administration and;
ii) Re-engineer, streamline and automate processes to improve quality and reduce public service delivery time.

The financial management system also known as “SIGOF” integrates tax revenue, the federal government budget, the Controller’s Office, and the Treasury. The system is being enhanced to incorporate monitoring and evaluation, increase security, and integrate with a Geographical Information System.

The Budget Office has reaped most gains in efficiency. The process of auditing and approving budgets for each State Department, which used to take one to three months, has now been shortened to just four days. The government is now also able to provide financial information more quickly and efficiently to foreign aid donors.

This transformational process has increased transparency, increasing the openness of government processes and procedures while reducing intermediaries and public service delivery time. Furthermore, it has enhanced tax collection, and reduced opportunities for fraud and corruption.

(*) Message by H.E., The Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Dr.Jose Maria Neves, Information Society Strategic Program, pg 15.

Source: Jorge Lopes, General Manager, Operational Centre for the Information Society, Cape Verde.