Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys - Application in Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and Honduras

Public Expenditure and Tracking Surveys (PETS) was launched in order to expose the anomalies in the process of flow of funds and to gauge the degree to which funds trickle down to their intended destinations. PETS consolidates information from frontline Service Providers who can impart useful insight into and the reasons for the disparity in the outcome of public spending (quantity or input) and quality and performance (output) of service delivery systems. Such information also provides a platform for enquiry into leakage of funds due to corruption or private gain. PETS has a multilevel focus with the service providers being the key unit of analysis. PETS was first introduced in Uganda in 1996. Thereafter a number of countries have implemented it. This case study highlights the application of PETS in Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and Honduras. It analyses the linkage between public spending and development outcomes, the factors responsible for the emergence of inefficiencies in the system, and the role of the culture of accountability and transparency in fostering a sustainable alliance among the different institutional strata. Finally, it outlines the impact of such an initiative.