ISLAMABAD: After wasting three years of its present term, the government is presently engaged in concluding agreements between the prime minister and 11 federal ministries and divisions to achieve measureable progress against stated goals so that the performance of the government could be improved.
This programme has been launched by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which through its consultants will ensure reliable tracking of progress against committed targets at the organisational level besides supporting necessary strategic planning and management at the sub-organisation level. The process of hiring of consultants has already been started.
In the first phase, the 11 ministries/divisions are being targeted for the initiative, including Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Ministry of Textile Industry, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Education Training and Standards in Higher Education, Ministry of Health Services Regulation and Coordination, Aviation Division and Ministry of Water and Power.
According to a UNDP document, the government has developed the Vision 2025, which recognises institutional reform and modernisation of the public sector as one of the seven pillars of development and growth framework. “To actualise this pillar of Vision 2025, the prime minister has directed the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform to propose and implement a programme for enhancing efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of the public sector.”
Consequently, it is said, the Planning Commission through assistance from the UNDP, is implementing a project for reform and innovation in public service delivery. Under this programme, the ministry is rolling out a number of innovative initiatives. One of these initiatives intends to conclude agreements between the prime minister and target ministries/divisions to achieve measurable progress against stated goals relating to their respective core areas of business.
These performance contracts will entail organisational level Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the outcome and output levels. They will also cascade top-down to the unit/department level to plan and measure contribution toward organisational KPIs.
Through this initiative, the government-UNDP want to align organisational plans and policies with the strategic priorities of the federal government; enhance performance of federal government organisations in terms of effectiveness and efficiency; and build accountability and transparency into the work carried out by the federal government organisations.
According to the UNDP, a number of workshops have already been held with representatives from target ministries/divisions to familiarise them with the fundamental concepts of performance management (including tools for result-based management), the aims and objectives of the performance contracting initiative, and the roles and responsibilities of their respective organisations.
Building on these activities, the programme plans to appoint focal persons within each ministry who will act as liaisons to facilitate communication and coordination as well as agents of change to drive forward the reform agenda within their respective spheres of influence.
Last year, the Ministry of Planning had signed an agreement for $11.6 million with the UNDP to support the implementation of key governance reforms at federal and provincial levels. Under the said agreement, the UNDP would contribute $7 million whereas the government’s share is $4.66 million.
This joint project between the Planning Commission of Pakistan and the UNDP will develop and expand the capability and accountability of the public sector over a four-year period. It will further improve the effectiveness of the commission to convene, analyse, propose and support the implementation of select key reforms, including monitoring and evaluation of development programs, poverty and inequality monitoring and state structure modernisation.