Raad Mahmoud Al-Tal

Public budgets are no longer viewed merely as technical financial documents detailing revenues and expenditures. In today’s global economy, they have become a key measure of governance quality, institutional accountability, and the strength of the relationship between governments and citizens. Against this backdrop, Jordan’s results in the 2025 Open Budget Survey provide important insight into the country’s broader reform trajectory and its efforts to modernise public financial management.

According to results announced by Partners-Jordan, Jordan scored 62 out of 100 in the transparency pillar, placing it within the “sufficient” category internationally. The country also scored 18 out of 100 in public participation and 46 out of 100 in oversight. While participation and oversight remain relatively weak, the overall results indicate gradual progress compared with previous survey cycles and position Jordan above regional averages across all three pillars.

The improvement in transparency is particularly significant. Jordan’s score increased from 60 in the previous survey cycle to 62 in 2025, more than double the regional average of 30. This reflects continued efforts by the government to improve fiscal disclosure through the publication of key budget documents, including the executive budget proposal, enacted budget, citizens’ budget, in-year reports, year-end reports, and audit reports.

This progress is not merely symbolic. Fiscal transparency plays a critical role in strengthening investor confidence and improving perceptions of economic stability. The clearer and more accessible a country’s financial information becomes, the easier it is for investors, credit rating agencies, and international financial institutions to assess fiscal risks and evaluate policy credibility.

Institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank increasingly consider public financial management standards when assessing reform performance and financing conditions. Consequently, stronger transparency indicators can positively influence Jordan’s economic reputation and support efforts to attract investment and external financing.

However, the survey also highlights persistent structural weaknesses, particularly in public participation. Despite Jordan’s improvement from 4 to 18 out of 100, the country still falls within the “weak” category. Most notably, Jordan scored zero in public participation during the budget preparation stage, indicating that citizens, civil society organisations, and economic stakeholders remain largely excluded from shaping fiscal priorities before the budget is finalised.

This issue carries important economic implications. Public participation is not only a democratic principle but also a mechanism for improving spending efficiency. Local communities and economic sectors often have better knowledge of development needs and service gaps, whether related to healthcare, education, infrastructure, or employment. Limited participation reduces the government’s ability to align spending decisions with actual public priorities.

The report’s recommendations regarding participatory budgeting therefore deserve serious attention. Expanding citizen engagement at the municipal and sectoral levels could strengthen public trust while also improving resource allocation and policy effectiveness.

The oversight pillar also reflects mixed progress. Jordan’s overall oversight score rose from 39 to 46, while parliamentary oversight improved from 42 to 47 and Audit Bureau oversight increased from 33 to 45. Although these improvements are meaningful, both indicators remain within the “limited” category.

The core challenge is not simply the existence of oversight institutions, but their effectiveness and independence. Effective financial oversight requires stronger parliamentary engagement before budget approval, broader involvement of specialised parliamentary committees and more systematic monitoring of budget execution throughout the fiscal year.

The recommendations concerning the independence of the Jordan Audit Bureau are equally important. Strengthening institutional independence enhances the credibility of financial oversight and improves the state’s ability to combat inefficiency and waste in public spending.

Ultimately, Jordan’s performance in the 2025 Open Budget Survey reflects a broader transition toward greater fiscal openness and institutional modernisation. Yet the findings also demonstrate that transparency alone is not enough. Sustainable reform requires deeper public participation, stronger accountability mechanisms and more effective oversight institutions.

The real success of fiscal reform will not be measured solely by improvements in international rankings, but by whether these reforms lead to more efficient public spending, better public services, and stronger trust between citizens and the state. Jordan has made important progress, but building a fully transparent, participatory, and accountable budget system remains an ongoing challenge central to the country’s broader moderniation agenda.