The Transparency Portal of Brazil

Mário Vinícius Claussen Spinelli, Secretary of Corruption Prevention and Strategic Information, Brazilian Office of the Comptroller General described the “Transparency Portal” in Brazil, He began his presentation by describing the institutional framework and audit and anti-corruption mandate of the CGU unit. The CGU unit has been able to investigate and dismiss over 2,000 public servants changed with fraud and corruption.

Mr. Spinelli described the preventative actions taken by the CGU unit including:

• Increased Transparency


• Incentive to Social Control


• Management Strengthening


• Implementation of International Conventions


• Improved Legal Framework


• Studies and research on corruption


• Education for Ethics and Citizenship

The CGU unit has developed on-line games that teach the advantage of ethics to children. Mr. Spinelli pointed out that transparency and "right to know" goes beyond publicity, because it involves the delivery of understandable information and public access to official documents.

Mr. Spinelli described the timeline for the creation of the Brazil Transparency Portal. Procurement and budget execution information is available on the portal. Companies found to have engaged in corrupt practices are listed on the portal. Brazil is now moving to support IFRS and IPSAS standards. Full information about public servants are provided on the portal. Full information on the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic games contracts and expenditures are provided.

Mr. Spinelli described how the transparency portal provides easy access without passwords and accessible information. He emphasized that the information and navigation needs to be simple.

The Brazil Transparency Portal has disclosed $4.4T in total amounts since 2005, with over 1 Billion in registered payments with almost 250,000 monthly accesses and over 30,000 paid subscribers to push services.

The Brazil Transparency Portal has won numerous international awards. It takes approximately 4 1/2 hours for daily document updates.

The Transparency Portal in Brazil is compliant with many international standards:

• International Public Sector Accounting Standards


• XBRL


• IMF Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency Code


• OECD Best Transparency Budget Practices


• Open Government;

Mr. Spinelli described the Three Laws of Open Government Data

1. If it can’t be spidered or indexed, it doesn’t exist


2. If it isn’t available in open and machine readable format, it can’t
   engage


3. If a legal framework doesn’t allow it to be repurposed, it doesn’t empower

Surveys at the conference agreed with Mr. Spinelli

• 95% agree that transparency required for social participation and preventing transparency


• 67% agree that citizens have interest in social control and transparency


• 86% agree that citizens can be encouraged to participate in social control transparency


• 74% agree that Transparency portal best way for public sector transparency

According to the web site:

“The Transparency Portal was created in November 2004 for the purpose of making it possible for public managers and citizens at large to follow up on the financial execution of all programs and actions of the Federal Government more easily. The information available in it includes: funds transferred by the Federal Government to states, municipalities and the Federal District; funds directly transferred to citizens; direct spending of the Federal Government with procurement or contracts for projects and services, including the spending of each agency with per diems, office supplies, equipment, projects and services; as well as spending through Payment Cards of the Federal Government.

The Portal shows all data on the SIAFI's (Federal Government Integrated System for Financial Management) financial execution, as well as data provided by the National Health Fund, by Caixa Econômica Federal ( Brazil 's federal savings bank), by the National Treasury Secretariat and by Banco do Brasil . Apart from publishing all these data and information, the Transparency Portal makes a communication channel available: the Talk to Us link. Through this channel, users of the Portal can clear any doubts regarding accessibility or its contents, as well as post congratulations or suggestions.”

Spinelli transparencia para los ciudadanos la experiencia brasileña del portal de la transparencia

View more presentations from icgfmconference.

Spinelli transparence pour les citoyens l'expérience brésilienne du portail de transparence

View more presentations from icgfmconference.

Spinelli transparency for citizens the brazilian experience of transparency portal

View more presentations from icgfmconference.

Job Opportunity: IMF Looking for Public Sector Cost Accounting Expert to be Based in Sao Paolo, Brazil

The IMF Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) is looking for candidates to work in a project on public sector cost accounting in the State of Sao Paolo, Brazil. The project aims to improve the budget preparation, budget execution, and cost control at the state level. We are looking for highly-qualified public sector cost accounting experts for two assignments: (i) a long-term assignment (one year, renewable for one more year); and (ii) a short-term peripatetic assignment (a two-week visit every quarter during two years). The assignments are in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is expected that the short-term expert will be a leader in his field and have a strategic guidance role in the project, while the long-term expert will work more intensively on the implementation of the project with Brazilian counterparts.

The objectives of the project are to (i) implement the public cost system in phases, starting with four pilot entities (health, education, prisons, and social assistance); (ii) develop a cost methodology adequate to the public services at the state level; (iii) organize seminars, courses, and other training events to educate the state officials on how to prepare and use cost information; (iv) document the cost methodology used in the existing projects; (v) prepare guidelines for external dissemination of cost data; and (vi) prepare progress reports.

The State of Sao Paolo will create a unit in the Secretary of Finance dedicated to implementing the project. The authorities are also enrolling the University of Sao Paolo to provide support on capacity building and research methodology. The consultants will work directly with this unit and in collaboration with the University.

The State of Sao Paolo has some similarities with US states because Brazil is also a federation. Sao Paolo relies strongly on its own tax resources to implement local policies, and is responsible for the provision of the main public services (education, health, police, etc.). The State has well-functioning integrated financial management information system (IFMIS). The State of Sao Paulo has a population of more than 40 million people and an economy of the size of Argentina. It is indeed a nice place to work and live.

The positions are funded by the State of Sao Paolo itself through a Trust Fund administered by the IMF. The IMF will provide guidance and support (“backstopping”) to the consultants during the entire project, and introduce and support the consultants during the kick-off phase.

Qualification requirements include at least ten years of relevant professional experience, including in cost accounting in the public sector. The ideal candidates would have a degree in accounting, business management, or economics. Portuguese language skill is a plus but it is not a requirement. Fluency in Spanish or English is also acceptable.

The deadline for applications is September 30, 2010. Please send your CV to Mr. Mario Pessoa (mpessoa@imf.org) indicating if you are applying for the short-term or long-term position.

Using XBRL to Improve Transparency in Brazilian Government

Ana Cristina Bittar de Oliveira, IT Department, National Treasury Secretariat, Ministry of Finance, Brazil described how new technologies are bringing greater access to public information. She described how information technology can be used to bring transparency and reform to governments. She described the Financial Data Collection System (SICOF) Project in Brazil.

States and Municipalities in Brazil had different standards making it difficult to compare across governments. Transparency and standard reports were difficult to prepare. She described the Fiscal Responsibility Law for transparency in government entities. Government entities need to be transparent to receive transfer payments. Brazil has developed accounting standards through a common chart of accounts. These standards are being rolled out to all levels of government.

The data collection system in use, called SISTN, was developed quickly. The system is difficult to maintain because it uses an Excel-type manual data entry. The reporting process is complex. The output in PDF format is not user friendly, according to Ms. de Oliveira. It does not support re-use of data. The system is high maintenance.

•

The government of Brazil decided to create a more effective standard and automate the system. The motivation was to reduce administrative costs, make data more flexible and ensure that all data is consistent across the government, according to Ms. Oliviera.

Ms. Oliveira described the integration approach using XBRL. The eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is a language for the electronic communication of business and financial data which is revolutionising business reporting around the world. It provides major benefits in the preparation, analysis and communication of business information. It offers cost savings, greater efficiency and improved accuracy and reliability to all those involved in supplying or using financial data.

Ms. Oliveira described how XBRL supportse the Common Chart of Accounts in a very convenient format. The Chart of Account is the basis for the definition of the Reports data dictionary or taxonomy. And, the taxonomy can be extended to support other government needs. She said that part reporting burden is managed the taxonomy. This reduces the cost and burden of the reporting process in local and regional governments. She said that the Government of Brazil has not encountered a better approach than XBRL.

Governments in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the Netherlands are leveraging XBRL. The Government of Mexico is also considering XBRL. Ms. Oliveira emphasized that the use of open standards enables more cooperation on good practices across governments.

Ana cristina bittar de oliveira icgfm xbrl in brazil government espanol

View more presentations from icgfmconference.

Ana cristina bittar de oliveira icgfm xbrl in brazil government english

View more presentations from icgfmconference.

Ana cristina bittar de oliveira icgfm xbrl in brazil government francais

View more presentations from icgfmconference.

ICGFM 24° Conferencia Internacional en Miami

ICGFM se complace en anunciarles los resultados del llamado para oradores/ panelistas/ ponencias para la 24° Conferencia Internacional en Miami, del 16 al 21 de mayo. A través de este proceso se han seleccionado cuatro sesiones de la conferencia. Las mismas incluyen: Sr. Aleksey Lavrov, Jefe del Departamento de Política Presupuestaria y Metodología, Ministerio de Asuntos Financieros y la Sra. Anna Busarova, del Centro de Investigación Presupuestaria, Rusia –Gestión de gastos en un nuevo ambiente económico - [Expenditure Management in a New Economic Environment] Sr. Mario Andrade, Auditor General, Oficina del Ministro de Justicia, Ecuador –Controles internos y riesgos de la administración – [Internal Controls and Risk Management] Sr. Rakesh Verma, Director Contable General, India – El rol cada vez más amplio y las responsabilidades cada vez mayores de los auditores públicos – [The Expanding Role and Increasing Responsibility of Public Auditors] Sra. Maria Betania Xavier, Jefa del Departamento de IT, Secretariado del Tesoro Nacional, Brasil – Nuevas técnicas para aumentar la transparencia las finanzas públicas [New Techniques to Increase Transparency in Financial Management] También se confirmó para nuestros días especiales de capacitación una sesión completa sobre Gestión de fondos en efectivo, presentada por el Departamento del Tesoro de los Estados Unidos. Otras sesiones confirmadas sobre el tema de la conferencia de Gestión financiera pública en la era del “nuevo normal” se anunciarán próximamente. ¡Resta menos de un mes para asegurarse los descuentos por inscripción anticipada! Los precios son los siguientes: Réservation à l’avance si la totalité est payée le 7 avril 2010 ou avant Réservation normale, si la totalité est payée le 5 mai 2010 ou avant Réservation sur place à partir du 6 mai 2010 et jusqu’au début de la conférence # Days Member Non-Member Member Non-Member Member Non-Member
Paquete Completo de la Conferencia	5	USD 960.00	USD1,010.00	USD1,060.00	USD1,110.00	USD1,160.00	USD1,210.00
Días de Conferencia General	3	USD 760.00	USD 810.00	USD 860.00	USD 910.00	USD 960.00	USD1,010.00
Días de Capacitación Especial	2	USD 460.00	USD 510.00	USD 560.00	USD 610.00	USD 660.00	USD 710.00

Se encuentran disponibles las siguientes formas de pago:

- Tarjeta de crédito – se aceptan todas las tarjetas de crédito importantes
- Online vía PayPal con su tarjeta de crédito o información bancaria
- Fuera de línea enviando un cheque o transferencia bancaria a la ICGFM. Envíe un correo electrónico a Pat Cornish aicgfm@icgfm.org para recibir instrucciones.

¡Asegúrese reservando su lugar ahora!

Haga clic aquí para detalles del evento o simplemente haga clic aquí para registrarse.

ICGFM 24e Conférence Internationale

L’ICGFM a le plaisir de vous annoncer les résultats de l’appel à soumission pour orateurs/panels/articles à la 24e Conférence Internationale qui se tiendra à Miami du 16 au 21 mai. Quatre sessions ont été sélectionnées suite au processus, notamment: M. Aleksey Lavrov, Directeur du budget, ministère des Finances et Melle Anna Busarova, Centre de recherches budgétaires, Russie – Gestion des dépenses dans un nouvel environnement économique [Expenditure Management in a New Economic Environment] M. Mario Andrade, Contrôleur général, Bureau du Procureur général, Équateur – Contrôles internes et gestion du risque[Internal Controls and Risk Management] M. Rakesh Verma, Comptable général principal, Inde – Élargissement du rôle et responsabilités croissantes des contrôleurs publics [The Expanding Role and Increasing Responsibility of Public Auditors] Melle Maria Betania Xavier, Directrice du Département TI, Secrétariat de la Trésorerie Nationale, Brésil – Nouvelles techniques pour l’amélioration de la transparence dans la gestion financière [New Techniques to Increase Transparency in Financial Management] Une session de formation exhaustive sur la Gestion de la trésorerie est également confirmée dans le cadre de nos journées spéciales de formation. Elle sera présentée par le Département du Trésor des États-Unis. D’autres sessions confirmées sur le thème de la conférence, La gestion des finances publiques à l’ère du "nouveau normal", seront annoncées prochainement. Il reste moins d’un mois pour bénéficier de la réduction sur les inscriptions faites à l’avance! Les tarifs sont les suivants: Réservation à l’avance si la totalité est payée le 7 avril 2010 ou avant Réservation normale, si la totalité est payée le 5 mai 2010 ou avant Réservation surplace à partir du6 mai 2010 et jusqu’au début de la conférence # Days Member Non-Member Member Non-Member Member Non-Member
Inscription à l’ensemble de la conférence	5	960.00$	1,010.00$	1,060.00$	1,110.00$	1,160.00$	1,210.00$
Inscription aux journées de la conférence	3	760.00$	810.00$	860.00$	910.00$	960.00$	1,010.00$
Inscription aux journées de formation spéciale	2	460.00$	510.00$	560.00$	610.00$	660.00$	710.00$

Les options de paiement suivantes sont possibles:

- Paiement par carte de crédit – les principales cartes de crédit sont acceptées.
- Paiement en ligne par PayPal avec votre carte de crédit ou vos coordonnées bancaires
- Paiement par chèque ou par virement télégraphique à l’ordre de l’ICGFM. Veuillez contacter Pat Cornish par courriel àicgfm@icgfm.org pour en savoir plus.

Assurez-vous de réserver votre place dès maintenant!

Veuillez cliquer ici pour plus de détails sur cette rencontre ou bien cliquer ici pour vous inscrire.

ICGFM 24th International Conference in Miami

ICGFM is pleased to announce the results of the Call for Speakers/Panels/Papers for the 24th International Conference in Miami from May 16-21. From this process, four of the conference sessions have been selected. They include:

• Mr. Aleksey Lavrov, Head of the Department of Budget Policy and Methodology, Ministry of Finance and Ms. Anna Busarova, Research Budgetary Centre, Russia – Expenditure Management in a New Economic Environment
• Mr. Mario Andrade, Auditor General, Office of the Attorney General, Ecuador – Internal Controls and Risk Management
• Mr. Rakesh Verma, Principal Accountant General, India –The Expanding Role and Increasing Responsibility of Public Auditors
• Ms. Maria Betania Xavier, Head of IT Department, National Treasury Secretariat, Brazil – New Techniques to Increase Transparency in Financial Management

Also confirmed for our special training days is a comprehensive session on Cash Management presented by the United States Treasury Department.

Further confirmed sessions on the conference theme of Public Financial Management in the Era of the “New Normal” will be announced shortly.

There is less than one month left to secure the early bird discount!

Prices are as follows:

		Early Bird, if paid in full on or beforeApril 7, 2010		Regular, if paid in full on or beforeMay 5, 2010		On-Site, betweenMay 6, 2010 - conference
	# Days	Member	Non-Member	Member	Non-Member	Member	Non-Member
Complete Conference Package	5	$960.00	$1,010.00	$1,060.00	$1,110.00	$1,160.00	$1,210.00
General Conference Days	3	$760.00	$810.00	$860.00	$910.00	$960.00	$1,010.00
Special Training Days	2	$460.00	$510.00	$560.00	$610.00	$660.00	$710.00

We have the following payment options available:

- Pay by credit card – all major credit cards accepted
- Pay online via PayPal with your credit card or bank information
- Pay offline by sending a check or wire transfer to ICGFM. Please email Pat Cornish at icgfm@icgfm.org for instructions.

Be sure to secure your spot now!

Please click here for details on the event or simply click here to register.

Informing Citizens to Make Governments Accountable

Ernesto Saboia, President, State of Accounts in Northern Brazil spoke about leveraging civil society to improve auditing and reducing corruption.

Government for Informed Citizens Brazil Saboia Portg

View more presentations from icgfmconference.

El Gobierno para una ciudadanía Informada Saboia

View more presentations from icgfmconference.

Government for Informed Citizens SabóIa

View more presentations from icgfmconference.

Why does Brazil have a poor rating from Transparency International? Denmark has 100 auditors for each group of 100,000 people. Brazil has 8. This means that Brazil is not well-audited. Hiring auditors is unrealistic given the financial crisis. Therefore, the Government tried to be creative by training journalists and engaging civil society. This distance learning course is being taken by 35,000 people.

The transparency portal that was created reports on all budget expenditures of the state and municipalities. These portals need to be simple so that citizens can understand what governments are doing. Mr. Saboia, also pointed out the power of social networking tools. The government wishes to harness this power.