e-Budgeting
Modernization of the National budgeting process

Purpose
To provide a modern, efficient electronic tool for preparation of the national budget and the monitoring of its execution.

Application functionalities
The system covers the overall process of preparation of the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia.
1. Preparation of the budget circular - The Department of Budgets and Funds can develop the e-Budget circular for each budget cycle.;
2. Preparation of the budget requests - Budget users can prepare and submit their budget request on-line.;
3. Simulations - Offers the possibility to run various scenarios of the budget - "what if" option
4. Preparation, adoption and execution of the budget.

Users
The primary user is the Ministry of Finance. In addition, all budget users/ government institutions will be using the application for secure on-line submission of the annual budget requests to the Ministry.

Specific Benefits
- For the Ministry of Finance and the government institutions included:
o More efficient and standardized work procedures
o Quicker process with improved transparency
o Better analysis and planning of the Budget
o Monitoring of the spending
o Improved transparency and communication between all budget users

- For the citizens:
o Better planning and spending of the Macedonian tax payers money

Status
The system was completed and installed in the Ministry of Finance June 2007.
National budgets for 2008 and 2009 have been prepared and submitted to the Parliament in a much more efficient manner compared to the past.

e-Budgeting - Modernization of the Process - June, 2007

The e-Gov Project and the Ministry of Finance presented the new system for electronic preparation and monitoring of the execution of the Budget of Republic of Macedonia.

During today's promotion of the electronic system to the budget users and media, the Minister of Finance PhD. Trajko Slavevski stressed that "The new software solution for preparation of the Budget is based on the actual needs of the Ministry of Finance and it is already put in function for the preparation of proposed Budget of Republic of Macedonia for 2008. We are expecting that the system will be providing us with significant improvements in the process of planning, creating and use of historical data bases; as well as with increased possibilities for parallel analysis of larger amount of data and preparation of indefinite number of simulations and reports".

This new electronic system will significantly improve the work of the Ministry of Finance. At same time, it will provide to the budget users a modern tool for secure on-line submission of the annual budget requests to the Ministry.

In this context, Mr. Jerker Torngren, e-Gov Chief of Project sad "One of the most frequently asked questions any international donor asks is the following; Will our actions be sustainable? Will our assistance be used and contribute to the development and well-being of the country also after we have left?
I'm personally convinced this e-Budgeting application will be sustainable and used in the long term perspective, to the benefit of the Republic of Macedonia. The dedicated support from the Ministry of Finance demonstrates the determination by the Minister to use modern technology to increase the efficiency of the budgetary process. The application will make the work of the civil servants by far easier and more accurate.
You can download his full speech here

	For the e-Gov Project, the people that are working with us in the partner institutions on development of the applicaions, are always seen as our greatest assets. Therefore, we are finding ways to honour this remarkable individuals who's actions and willingness to change the processes should be example to many others. The US Agency for International Development on the proposal of the e-Gov Project, has awarded Mr. Miroslav Jovanovic and Mr. Stefco Bozinovski, both from the IT Department of the Ministry of Finance, with Certificate of Appreciation. The Certificates were presented personally by Mrs. Patricia Rader, USAID Mission Director.
During the technical part of the presentation on "How to Use the e-Budgeting application" the guests from the budget/ government institutions used their chance to share their thoughts on the system as well as share positive comments for the presented features. More on the e-Budgeting Application

e-BUDGETING, June 2006

The e-Gov Project and the Ministry of Finance are designing and creating an e-Budgeting software application to be used for the preparation of the budget for the Republic of Macedonia. The application shall facilitate the preparation of the budget and will improve the dialogue between the Ministry and the budget users and funds. It will also improve the possibilities for analysis, planning and revision of the Budget.

The e-Gov Project signed contract with Pexim for the development of the software. Prototype was delivered according to the time table on 17 July, 2006.

Presentation of the first two modules was held on 27 September 2006, in the premises of e-Gov Project, for the representatives of the Ministry of Finance and e-Gov Project.