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Projects and Programs that have been Managed for Results Timor-Leste Experience. Emilia Pires Advisor on Development Planning and External Coordination 05 Feb 04. Background: 1999 crisis. 25 years of occupation Vote for independence August 1999
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Projects and Programs that have been Managed for ResultsTimor-Leste Experience Emilia Pires Advisor on Development Planning and External Coordination 05 Feb 04
Background: 1999 crisis • 25 years of occupation • Vote for independence August 1999 • Post-ballot destruction (85% public buildings destroyed, state collapse, two-thirds population displaced) • Joint Timorese-international assessment mission • Produced sectoral plans and budgets: no results target • Division of labour: civil service/judiciary versus economic and social reconstruction • A good start but………
Loss of control of reconstruction process during 2000 • Fragmented aid delivery mechanisms • Reconstruction programs moved faster than civil service establishment - therefore lack of Timorese involvement in design and implementation • Results not specified clearly, so expectations too high • Results not measured - therefore perception that there were no results
Reconstruction benchmarks • Established in late 2000, driven by need to get back on track: focus efforts and measure progress • Criteria: • frequent achievable targets and monitoring, to build momentum • simple user-friendly format, to encourage cabinet and donor ownership • political, institutional, economic and social targets - strong links between sectors
Political Affairs Administrative Handover Public Finance EconomicReconstruction Social Reconstruction Dec2000 üTraining Plans completed o>85% of DG recruited oPower billing in place ü2 rounds of immunization done Mar2001 üVoter registration complete o>85% of DG recruited ü20% capital budget o>Budget spending at least 60% üEstablishment of for infrastructure regional offices ühealth administrators recruited ü600 schools basic level operation Jun2001 üConstitutional commissions formed o40% of training delivered xPlan for rural power station completed üSchool mapping study completed Sep2001 üFinalization of party candidates üOfficial start of 6 weeks election campaign oPerformance Mgt Training introduced ü90% level 1-4 recruited xStudy of power station completed xPublic Works Office reconstructed ü37 pre-school ready to open oHospital reconstruction plan completed Sample benchmarks
Achievements • Successfully accelerated pace of reconstruction • Became central to government process - introduced accountability in Cabinet and civil service • Helped Timorese leadership manage expectations • Helped improve Timorese-donor relationships and secured consistent aid flows • Created demand for better targets and more information
Disadvantages • Developed by small number of Timorese and international partners, endorsed by cabinet members - lack of wider ownership • Only measured government, not donors • Targets were generally outputs rather than outcomes, not linked to overall development vision
Next steps – the National Development Plan • Comprehensive bottom-up participatory process on vision and priorities, to meet national expectations (full independence May 2002) • Baseline data available • Reliant on new (weak) government structures and traditional civil society structures. Acted as capacity-building exercise for government • Included outcomes, heavily influenced by MDGs…… • ………..but a christmas tree, lacked clear prioritisation of results and sequencing
Operationalisation of NDP • Transitional support program - “priorities of priorities”, links results to medium-term expenditure framework • Monitors both government and donors (budget support, technical assistance) • Still short-term and output-based, but much less than benchmarks • Work in progress - adapting MDGs to national context, matching targets to resources
Results frameworks are relevant for post-conflict reconstruction • Prioritisation is a particular problem when everything has been destroyed - helps government and donors prioritise efforts • Expectations are particularly high after peace agreements and pledging meetings - helps government and donors manage expectations • Government typically has little experience - simple management tool for new leaders and civil servants • Easier to introduce good systems, transparency and accountability right at the beginning than later
But are adjustments needed? • More need for short-term results to stabilise political situation • No baseline data ( and cannot do survey as first reconstruction project!), therefore initial results may need to focus on outputs • Needs specific capacity-building efforts, simple formats and frequent monitoring with new governments with little experience • Needs very strong information campaign to disseminate expected and actual results