Сitizens Budget is needed to increase the level of transparency in the use of public funds, facilitate citizen participation in budgeting processes, and simplify budget information for residents as much as possible. The purpose of developing a Сitizens Budget was to provide residents with information in an understandable form about where the government receives and what it spends its money on. It reminds us that the budget is the money of all its inhabitants, and shows that this money in the budget does not appear out of anywhere, and budget expenditures are not made only at the request of someone. We believe that when residents know more about the budget and better understand it, it in turn will help to involve citizens in decision-making processes and determine the common future of the country.

According to Budget 2020, the allocation of the 2020 Budget has been guided by the major Government policies, priorities, and objectives outlined in the 2020 Budget Policy Statement. In 2020, the Government will focus on inclusive and sustainable development including infrastructure, resilience to climate change, productive sectors, improved service delivery, security peace, and justice, as well as the social sectors such as health and education.

The Citizens Budget Guide was developed by the Vanuatu Association of NGOs (VANGO) with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Pacific Islands Association of Non-governmental Organisations (PIANGO) thanks to funding by the European Union.