Ountry Evaluation

Budget Institutions in G-20 Countries - Country Evaluations

The central government publishes comprehensive financial statements, which include the social security funds and balance sheets with all financial assets and liabilities. Audited financial statements are published more than nine months after the end of the fiscal year. The 2004 Fiscal Responsibility Law (LRF), introduced a number of key reforms in public financial management which apply to the central and most of the first layer of sub-national governments. The reforms include establishment of a macro-fiscal framework, fiscal rules, a medium-term budget framework (MTBF), a system of quarterly budget execution reports, and the Federal Council on Fiscal Responsibility (FCFR) which is tasked to enforce the provisions of the LRF However, there are problems with the LRF and its implementation: (i) the out-years of the MTBF are indicative only; (ii) several LRF provisions have been suspended or relaxed since 2009; (iii) some provinces are not complying with their obligations under the law; and (iv) membership in the FCFR is not mandatory and adherence to the LRF is voluntary. The FCFR comprises of representatives of the central government, the city of Buenos Aires,1 and 21 of the 23 provincial governments. Nonetheless, the law has significantly increased the capacity to coordinate fiscal policies across levels of government and individual jurisdictions. Differences between macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts and outturns are not analyzed. Limited information is presented on fiscal risks. Budget execution control and reporting have been strengthened through a series of upgrades to the Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIDIF), which began operations in 1993.

Livestock Genomics and Community-based Breeding Strategies in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Perspectives

Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) are home to diverse populations of livestock species adapted to various agro-ecological zones, production systems, and harsh environmental conditions. However, the livestock in LMICs have not been systematically improved and current low levels of productivity do not meet the demand for livestock products by a growing population. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing and genotyping technologies have enabled the application of genomic selection in various livestock species in some western countries with great success. Despite the low adoption of genomic breeding in LMICs livestock industry, various studies and programs were initiated and some are still ongoing. Furthermore, community-based breeding programs (CBBP) have been initiated in many LMICs with great benefits for smallholder livestock farmers. CBBPs are based on the active participation of farmers from inception through to implementation and consider their needs, views, decisions, breeding objectives, and available infrastructure. In Africa for instance, small ruminants CBBPs have generated substantial genetic gains and socioeconomic benefits for rural poor farmers. However, the current challenges affecting the data recording and genetic evaluation of the CBBPs in LMICS are yet to be fully reported. Furthermore, the CBBPs are yet to integrate genomic selection in their breeding strategies. For sustainable livestock breeding in LMICs, there is a need to assess the current status of livestock genomics and community-based breeding strategies to identify the challenges and suggest mitigating strategies and future improvement strategy plans. In this Research Topic, we aim to collect findings from past and current livestock genomics and community-based breeding programs, the challenges, the lessons learned, the opportunities, and future perspectives.

Annual Evaluation Report on Japan's Economic Cooperation