Results-oriented budgeting in Egypt

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2013
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Fourth, upon the expansion of the piloting program and perhaps when the whole-of-government has undergone 
a PBB transformation, there may be a need for a legislative amendment of the current budget law (2005 
amendment) rather than a mere reclassification of the system. Such an amendment would change the budget 
presentation system from one that is based on “Chapters” to one that demonstrates results. The need for 
legislative changes could arise in the future and may, in fact, act as a driver for the adoption of multi-year 
budgeting; the setting of hard-budget envelopes and performance benchmarks; the increase of ongoing 
government work on transparency and accountability; and the construction of a results-based MTEF for the 
country.
Before closing, we wish to reiterate that although the Egyptian experience is in its nascent stage and has relied, 
since its inception, on international good practice in the field, a fair share of learning can still be drawn amidst 
such cultural exclusivity. It was foreseeable for the project team to face initially, some cultural resistance to 
reform, but if all team members manage to build and sustain a “climate of performance,” a major 
barrier would 
have been removed. Indeed, the current revolution environment and the newly elected Parliament can possibly 
push for expenditure effectiveness rather than public cost cuts. The social development agenda leading to the 
25
th
of January 2011 Revolution will require addressing the effectiveness of public expenditures and their 
tangible measures from a result orientation perspective. 
Despite the changing political, economic and social priorities of the present Egyptian Government compared to 
its predecessor, the authors envision that the day will come for the GOE to recognize the necessity of reviving 
the discontinued program to ensure that mutual trust is built between the citizens and the authorities, on one 
hand, and the nation and donor community, on the other hand. Eventually, none should fear engaging a civil 
society that is looking for enhanced public service delivery. It may well work as catalyst for further reforms. 
The economic recession that loomed over the global economy since the Asian crisis, 9/11 episode, Iraq crisis, 
global financial crisis and the harping calls for a new Middle East indicate a strong need to find effective cures 
for the many decades of isolation that were adjoined with the dominance of a ‘welfare state’ that was over
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burdened by a long ‘wish list’ of social goals than maintaining a clear vision of where we stand, where we want 
to be and what does it take to achieve sustainable socioeconomic and democratic development.