Srinagar, Sep 17 (KNS): A workshop on “SDG Budget Tagging & Outcome-Oriented Financing Framework” was held at the Civil Secretariat here on Thursday to strengthen the linkage between public expenditure, budgetary allocations and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The workshop was presided over by the Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, and attended by senior officers, including DG Budget, DG Codes, DG Resources, DG Audit & Trainings (A&T), Director SDG, Director DED-II, Directors Planning and Directors Finance of various administrative departments, besides resource persons from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The workshop focused on moving from SDG monitoring to SDG financing by linking identified development gaps with appropriate schemes, budgetary allocations and measurable outcomes.

It was emphasised that SDG Budget Tagging would not involve creation of a separate SDG budget. Instead, it would bring an SDG perspective to the existing budgetary framework, enabling better assessment of whether public expenditure is addressing identified development gaps and delivering intended outcomes.

Participants deliberated on mapping existing UT Schemes, Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Central Sector Schemes with relevant SDG Goals and Targets to promote convergence, avoid duplication and identify financing gaps.

The exercise is aimed at strengthening the linkage between resources, expenditure and development outcomes.

Emphasis was also 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.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

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 deliberated on integrating the existing SDG Dashboard with the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) for improved tracking of expenditure against SDG priorities without creating any parallel financial system.

The UNDP team apprised participants about its proposal covering three broad pillars — Evidence-to-Action, SDG Financing, and Institutional and Capacity Building. The proposal is presently under examination.

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

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

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, along with scheme mapping, sensitisation and integration of the SDG Dashboard with IFMIS.(KNS)