Introduction
The adoption of the open budget system will guarantee the participation of citizens in the democratic process. Besides having a direct effect on fighting corruption, it will also contribute to the improvement of the state's financial performance. The system is expected to fulfill the following objectives:
· Achieving higher levels of openness and transparency as well as budget monitoring mechanisms;
· Securing the engagement of citizens and civil society in all stages of budgeting, and promoting coordination with the relevant constitutional entities;
· Seeking to build and sustain the capacities deemed as necessary for developing the open budget;
· Providing a national financial management information system that will also cover the government's strategy in allocating resources; the disclosure process should be done in a regular manner and through a specific framework;
· Developing interactive websites that would provide citizens with access to budget information. These websites may make use of maps, charts, tables and diagrams, and grant citizens the possibility of having some degree over the website by incorporating their preferences. Moreover, these websites will provide channels that would enable citizens’ participation the decision making process as well as offering them an outlet for feedback;
· Making use of modern technology that provide data analysis for the purpose of making detailed integrated information available and developing better skills of re-using it, and providing citizens with applications that would give them a comprehensive account of the economic conditions and a full engagement in the financial process.
"The Open Budget team in the Directorate of Information Technology at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance"