Online Information Disclosure in Argentina: the Cristal Project Presentation by Alejandro Razzotti, Esq., MBA, MPP Argentina State Modernization Project General Coordinator IBRD Loan 4423-AR arazzotti@sgp.gov.ar

Background - Launched in February, 2000 as the national government’s budgetary transparency Web site (relaunched in August, 2000) Implemented pursuant to Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 25152, to make available information related to the administration of public funds “to whatever institution or interested person” Subjects (among others): Budgeting, Procurement, Human Resources, Retirements and Pensions , Tax Liabilities

Background Organized around three main points: National State Management Control Citizen Control Collecting all the information was not easy Involvement of NGO’s: “Transparency Forum” - Information Auditors - Information Producers: “NGO’s section”

Context Identified as a part of a political campaign within the Administration (2000/2001) Related projects Anticorruption Office, Ministry of Justice Transparency & Anticorruption Strategy, National Plan on State Modernization, Undersecretariat of Public Administration (SGP)

b Current Status Online, with minimum update Overlapping with information offered in other public Websites Relaunching under review (value)

National Procurement Office

                 Other Websites                                                       

Challenges Argentina, post 2002 GDP, Poverty “Digital divide” Does Internet facilitate transparency? Skepticism on government: ”voto bronca”

Lessons Learned Argentina rebuilds the State using OID tools although it can’t be the only instrument (or even the main one) The Cristal Project didn’t fully achieve its goal Lack of a continuos political will Created as an external program Data collection difficult NGO’s involvement should be reinforced

Lessons Learned Commitment of Argentina will grow out of this experience - LAC Conference on Information Society