Review and assessment of STFS and PLG support and the SeilaPLG execution systems

1
Review and assessment of STFS and PLG support
and the Seila/PLG execution systems

• Presentation to the DD Donor sub Working Group
• Phnom Penh April 7, 2005

2
Rational for the Study

• Erosion of accountability and transparency
• Considerable change in the DD environment since
  formulation of PLG
• Changes in composition and structure of TA
  support
• Follow-up on the results of the Mid-Term Review

SPM Consultants
3
Objectives of the Study

• Review and assess performance and effectiveness
  of STFS and PLG support at all levels
• Review and assess performance and effectiveness
  of Seila execution and implementation systems at
  all levels.

SPM Consultants
4
Report framework
SPM Consultants
5
Seila funding, execution and implementation
arrangements
SPM Consultants
6
DD structural framework
SPM Consultants
7
ACCOUNTABILITY

• Strong focus on building and ensuring greater
  accountability and transparency.
• RGCs systems and structures, incl Accountability
  Board, conditionalities and milestones
• strong civil society

C/S Councillors should be accountable to all
residents
Roles and responsibilities within a function
should be separated to minimise the scope for
collusive behaviour.
The internal auditing system needs strengthening,
including support to NAA.
Technical support on financial management
national and sub-national level (separate between
fund management and financial management advisors)
Commune commercial bank account
Stronger involvement and support to the civil
society
SPM Consultants
8
DEMAND DRIVEN RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE
The next DD support programme should include TA
capacity to strengthen the demand driven process.
TA should also be more demand-driven
The commune level planning process needs to be
based on more solid understanding of broad and
complex development processes
Poverty Policy Adviser with such functions will
have to be filled at the national level.
The next phase of the DD support programme
should focus on ways to ensure strong linkages
between NSDP policies and DD operations.
A Policy Adviser should be responsible for
assisting the PMC/LDU/LGU to build and maintain
links between core ministries and the DD
programme and to strengthen links between the
policy level and operations.
SPM Consultants
9
PLG STFS proposed advisory services

• PLG International Advisors
• Policy advisor
• Development advisor
• Financial and fiscal decentralisation advisor
• Auditing service advisor
• Stipulate gender balance in recruitment

• PLG Provincial Posts
• Financial management advisor
• Gender balance in recruitment
• TA design and supply should become more demand
  driven
• Separation of roles and functions
• New competence in provincial advisory TA

• STFS positions financed by PLG
• Changes in competence in line with DD framework
  increase in staff could be considered.
• Recruitment should be on competence (outside Gov.
  should be an options) and gender balanced
• Decentralisation to province to a higher degree

• Seconded staff on salary supplement
• Recruitment on competence and open competition
  with a gender balance
• Separation of roles and functions to minimise
  collusive risks

SPM Consultants
10
Harmonisation
Basket-fund arrangement and eventually a SWAp as
the ongoing donor and government mechanisms to
support overall coordination and funding these
reforms Address the Seila inner circle
syndrome
Continue the greater reliance on the use of the
RGCs own systems and procedures, with a parallel
improvement in accountability and transparency of
these systems, should be the goal of donor
support.
If a SWAp is achieved in DD could also
contribute to solving the current problems of
different TA contractual arrangements.
SPM Consultants
11
Incremental approach and transitional phase
The formulation of the new DD support programme
to be based on a transitional phase of two years
(2006-7) and a consolidation phase 2008-2010 with
a set of well-planned incremental steps.
A continuation of the present STFS during larger
part of the transitional period
During this transition, RGC should meet certain
conditions and milestones that would be agreed
upon during the partner negotiations of donor
support for the next phase
SPM Consultants