J&K Finance Dept to link budget allocations with SDG outcomes

Workshop at Civil Secretariat focuses on SDG budget tagging, scheme mapping and outcome-oriented financing

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 17: The Jammu & Kashmir Finance Department is working towards integrating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) priorities into the regular budget formulation process by linking public expenditure with identified development gaps, measurable targets and development outcomes.

A workshop on “SDG Budget Tagging & Outcome-Oriented Financing Framework” was held at the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, on Thursday to strengthen the linkage between budgetary allocations and the SDGs.

The workshop was presided over by Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Shailendra Kumar and focused on moving from SDG monitoring to SDG financing without creating a separate SDG budget.

Existing budget to be mapped against SDG targets

The workshop emphasised that SDG Budget Tagging would bring an SDG perspective to the existing budgetary framework, enabling departments to assess whether public expenditure is addressing identified development gaps and delivering intended outcomes.

Participants deliberated on mapping existing Union Territory schemes, Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Central Sector Schemes with relevant SDG Goals and Targets.

The exercise aims to promote convergence, avoid duplication, identify financing gaps and strengthen the linkage between resources, expenditure and development outcomes.

SDG-wise action plans to be aligned with annual budget

Emphasis was laid on outcome-oriented planning, with departments required to prepare SDG-wise Action Plans covering identified gaps, targets, interventions, beneficiaries, responsibilities, resources, indicators and timelines.

The Action Plans are proposed to be aligned with the Annual Budget formulation process so that SDG priorities become an integral part of the regular planning and budgeting cycle.

The workshop also discussed the integration of the existing SDG Dashboard with the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) to improve tracking of expenditure against SDG priorities without creating any parallel financial system.

UNDP proposal under examination

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) team apprised participants of its proposal covering three broad pillars:

• Evidence-to-Action.

• SDG Financing.

• Institutional and Capacity Building.

The proposal is presently under examination.

Master Trainers to support departmental implementation

The workshop highlighted the role of Master Trainers in operationalising the SDG Budget Tagging framework at the departmental level.

They will facilitate departmental sensitisation, scheme and expenditure mapping, outcome-based budgeting and inter-departmental convergence.

Roadmap for SDG-linked financing

The workshop concluded with a roadmap focused on measuring progress, identifying gaps, planning interventions, converging resources, financing priorities, implementing actions and measuring outcomes.

Departments will prepare SDG-wise Action Plans aligned with the Annual Budget cycle, alongside scheme mapping, sensitisation and integration of the SDG Dashboard with IFMIS.

Participants

The workshop was attended by Director General Budget, Director General Codes, Director General Resources, Director General Audit & Trainings, Director SDG, Director DED-II, Directors Planning and Directors Finance of various Administrative Departments, besides senior officers and resource persons from UNDP.