The NDI and WFD policy briefs fill a knowledge gap on parliamentary roles and good practices related to public debt. They are structured into four key themes – 1) General debt management; 2) Debt management legal frameworks; 3) Oversight of debt management; and 4) Debt decision-making and oversight in emergency contexts. Each brief highlights the important components that lead to effective debt management, in addition to noted constraints.
On the issue of oversight, for example, the briefs examine four factors essential for effective parliamentary scrutiny:
- Ensuring debt transparency and improving the quality of debt data;
- Shaping debt oversight through the different stages of the budget cycle;
- Knowing the key players in parliamentary oversight on debt; and
- Understanding the roles of executive agencies involved in debt management.