MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF THE WADAKKIN WASANTHAM PROGRAMME
Field Visit to Jaffna District

A team of officials of the Ministry of Plan Implementation (MPI) visited the Jaffna District from 28th February to 02nd March, 2010, to monitor the progress of the Wadakkin Wasantham Programme. During the visit, discussions were held with Mr. K. Ganesh, District Secretary, Jaffna, the Divisional Secretaries in the Jaffna District and the Director (Planning) of the District Secretariat. Field visits were conducted to assess the progress in selected Wadakkin Wasantham development projects.

The Ministry team was led by Mr. C.M.M.Chandrasekera, Additional Secretary, who made a presentation on the Managing for Development Results (MfDR) initiative of MPI to the District Secretary and other key officials at district level. This presentation helped to create among these officials, a better understanding of MPI's monitoring role and process towards the achievement of real results in development projects and also helped to establish a better link to obtain the support of district level officers, for MPI's monitoring activities.

Progress Review Meeting of Foreign funded Mega Development Projects

The Ministry of Plan Implementation (MPI) organized a series of progress review meeting for selected mega projects to discuss project progress, implementation issues and constraints during the month of March 2010. 15 Project Directors and other officers attended these meetings.

Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary, Ministry of Plan Implementation chaired the meetings. Director General of the Department of Foreign Aid and Budget Monitoring also participated in the meetings.

The Project Directors presented their projects progress and discussed issues in relation to the land acquisitions, procurement problems, delay in releasing of imprest which had been identified as key concerns in project implementation.

Senior officers from the line Ministries, representative of the Department of the Budget, Department of External Resources and Department of National Planning participated and discussed as to how some of these issues could be addressed.

UNDP/TA Project for Strengthening Plan Implementation Capacity Project Board Meeting - 2010

The Project Board meeting under the UNDP funded Technical Assistance Project for Strengthening Plan Implementation Capacity was held on February 23rd, 2010 at the National Operations Room of the Ministry of Plan Implementation.

The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary, MPI and was attended by UNDP officials Ms. Beate Trankmann, Deputy Resident Representative (Programme), Dr. Fredrick Abeyratne, Senior Project Analyst and Mrs. Geraldine Ratnasingham, Programme Associate.

Representatives of the National Council for Economic Development also attended this meeting. Further, the Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Plan Implementation and the Director General, Department of Foreign Aid and Budget Monitoring also participated. Director General presented last year achievement of the project. After that discussions were held.

Exposure Visit for the Course on Advanced Project Analysis Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management University of Peradeniya

University of Peradeinya – Post Graduate Students visited the National Operations Room of the Ministry of Plan Implementation on 10th December 2009 to study the National Monitoring and Evaluation system and the Managing for Development Results (MfDR) initiative.

The team was headed by Dr. Anoma Ariyawardana and Dr. Jeevika Weerahewa Senior Lecturers of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management of the University of Peradeniya and included 40 over participants from University.

The presentations on National Monitoring and Evaluation Systems was delivered by the Secretary / Ministry of Plan Implementation and Director General of the Foreign Aid and Budget Monitoring and it was followed by discussion.

Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary, Ministry of Plan Implementation discussing the MfDR initiative with the participants.

Asia Regional Forum: Mainstreaming Managing for Development Results (MfDR)

The Asia Regional Forum for the Managing for Development Results (MfDR) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 13th to 14th October 2009 collaboration with Ministry of Plan Implementation under the Asian Development Bank Regional Technical Assistance (RETA) programme.

Delegates from Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Malaysia, and Philippines in the Asia Pacific Region attended this meeting and discussed methods, approaches and their experience.

The program aims to facilitate a process through which government officials, donor partners, experts and other stakeholders work together towards a new view of mainstreaming MfDR as an essential component of larger public sector reforms.

The meeting was chaired by Hon. P. Dayaratne, Minister of Plan Implementation (MPI) and was attended by Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary, MPI Mr. Kunio Senga, Director General ,Asian Development Bank (ADB) , SARD Mr. Richard Vokes, Country Director ADB.

Hon. P. Dayaratne,Minister of Plan Implementation gave the key not address and Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary, MPI made the opening address and explained the objectives of the workshop. Mr. Kunio Senga, Director General ADB addressed this forum and explained regional experience. Mr. Richard Vokes, Country Director, ADB appreciated that commitment of MPI to take MfDR government wide.

Enhancing Aid Effectiveness – short report

A meeting of government institutions who are leaders in aid utilisation, donors and development partners took place on Thursday 15th October. The purpose of the meeting was to consult with stakeholder to obtain their ideas in formulating an action plan for improving aid effectiveness. The half day meeting was organised by the Ministry of Plan implementation and the Department of Foreign Aid and Budget Monitoring.

After key presentations from the Secretary MPI, the Director General FABM and Senior Operations Officer WB set the context by describing facts and figures, and the principles of aid effectiveness and relevant data from previous years on donor funded initiatives, a brainstorm session was held to gather do-able realistic actions. These were collected and classified under themes; three major themes emerged. The themes were distributed among participants working in groups who then made suggestions for actions and assigned responsibilities to create a draft plan of action.

The draft plan of action pointed out cruicial areas for further action. The government agencies that participated in the meeting will be invited back for consultation in order to finalise an action plan for improving capacities for the effective utilisation of aid.

Study Visit on Monitoring and Evaluation Systems in Sri Lanka, by a Delegation from the Bangladesh from
19th to 23rd October , 2009

The Government Delegation from Bangladesh comprising 7 members headed by Secretary, Ministry of Planning visited Sri Lanka to study the Managing for Development Results (MfDR) and Monitoring and Evaluation Systems.

The team included Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Directors and other senior officers in the Government of Bangladesh.

At the end of the programme a diner reception was hosted by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh where the team informed that the proagramme has been very helpful to improve their knowledge on monitoring and evaluation practices.

Budget Call 2010: Introduction of MfDR/ Performance Budgeting to the line Ministries.

The Ministry of Plan Implementation in close collaboration with Ministry of Finance and Planning and Department of National Budget introduced and operationalised  the concept of Performance Budgeting by integrating MfDR initiative to the National Budget process.  All 55 line Ministries were oriented to identify KPIs  with thrust areas to operationalize the Budget Call 2010 issued by the Secretary to the Treasury.

Consequent to the Budget Call 2010, MPI and FABM assisted Line Ministries to select key indicators and targets for inclusion with budget estimates for 2010. Mr. V. Sivagnanasothy DG/FABM and Mr. S. Rahubadde, Consultant /MPI facilitating at one such meeting.

Institutionalization of Performance Budget in Government: Workshop held with the Ministry of Finance and Planning on
Linking MfDR to the Annual National Budget 2010

The workshop was held on 16th July 2009 for the senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and Planning.  This workshop was chaired by Secretary Ministry of Plan Implementation Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake and the participation included two Deputy Secretaries to the Treasury, four Heads of Department of the Ministry of Finance and   over 40 senior officials from the Treasuary.
 
Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary Ministry of Plan Implementation delivery the opening address outlined the strategy formulated and the implementation mechanisms that have been put in place, in the initiative of institutionalizing MfDR in Government. She also expressed appreciation of the high importance given by the Secretary to the Treasury to this initiative and also thanked the Director General, Department of National Budget for the cooperation extended.

Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunga, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury in his address outlined the significance of placing focus on planning and performance based budgeting to ensure the achievement of National Development Plans. He stressed on the necessity to work towards implementing the concept of Managing for Development Results (MfDR) to make progress in this regard.

Mr. V. Sivagnanasothy, Director General/ Department of Foreign Aid and Budget Monitoring made a detailed presentation on the overall concept of Managing for Development Results and Performance Based Budgeting. His presentation provided insight into the strategies and implementation mechanisms adopted in several States in USA, the approach of the Canadian Government as well as the focus of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and OECD/DAC in this regard.

Mr. S. Rahubadda, Consultant MfDR/ Ministry of Plan Implementation delivered his presentation on Agency Results Frameworks and Development of Sectoral Performance Frameworks targeted towards linking the budget and achievement of the goals of the overall National Development.

All participants agreed on the need to introduce MfDR in the 2010 budget and the budget call 2010 has incorporated the MfDR considering its national importance. The workshop also discussed the follow up actions needed to support the implementation of the national budget guidelines.

Study Visit to Sri Lanka by members of the IPDET and IDEAS to study the MfDR Institutionalization initiative and the Monitoring and Evaluation Systems

The above study visit was facilitated by the Ministry of Plan Implementation and its Department of Foreign Aid and Budget Monitoring from 17th – 20th February, 2009. The event was inaugurated by the Hon. Minister of Plan Implementation at the Ceylon Continental Hotel in the morning of 17th February.

A 17 member study team was lead by Dr. Ray Rist, President of the IPDET and comprised of the alumni of the International Programme for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) and members of the International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS) representing governments of several developing countries, donors and international and regional evaluation organizations.

The coverage of the study focused on the initiatives of the Government of Sri Lanka to institutionalize the Managing for Development Results (MfDR) concept, and the systems, applications and procedure that have been adopted for Monitoring and Evaluation of government development programmes. The Results Based Management approach adopted for development programmes in the Health Sector, Information and Communications Technology Development, Implementation of Development Projects and the systems of Development Information and Poverty Mapping as well as the performance review arrangements put in place by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) of Parliament were presented and discussed at length during the study visit.

At the conclusion of the study visit the team expressed that they were impressed with the approach adopted and work being done in regard to inculcating a results based management and also expressed appreciation of the willingness, opportunity and cooperation extended by the Hon. Minister and the Secretary, Ministry of Plan Implementation in hosting and facilitating the study visit. The IPDET also expressed a keenness establish a closer collaboration with the Ministry of Plan Implementation by including a study visit to Sri Lanka in the regular annual training curriculum of the institute.

Study Visit on Monitoring and Evaluation Systems in Sri Lanka, by a Delegation from the Ministry of Finance, Afghanistan from 26th January to 3rd February, 2009

A thirteen (13) member delegation from the Ministry of Finance, Government of Afghanistan  visited the Ministry of Plan Implementation and the key Ministries and development projects on a one (01) week Study Tour to study the monitoring procedure, systems and applications being used in Sri Lanka to monitor the progress and result achievement of development programmes and projects.

The scope of the study for the visiting delegation was drawn-up in order to provide the team an in-depth exposure to the following areas:

• Current National Monitoring arrangements

• Project Evaluation Methodology and Evaluation Information System

• Managing for Development Results (MfDR)

• Managing Results: Application of Readiness Assessment Tool

• Monitoring Non ODA Development Programmes of the NGO

• Evaluation Information System

• Sectoral Monitoring Procedures

- Water Sector Performance Indicators
- Health Sector Development  Results
- Development  Information; Poverty Mapping and Poverty Monitoring
- Community Development and Livelihood Improvement

• Application of Managing for Development Results at the Ministry level

The presentations on the subject areas were made by Senior Staff Officers of the Ministry of Plan Implementation and Senior Officials representing the key institutions in the relevant sectors which were covered in the study visit and followed by discussions.

The visiting delegation expressed their satisfaction and appreciation of the scope of coverage of the study topics and the level of development of the M&E system in Sri Lanka, which they indicated would be considered for modeling the development and implementation of the M&E Systems in the Government of Afghanistan.

Launch of the Project Management Capacity Enhancement Programme

The Project Management Enhancement Programme, an initiative of the Presidential Secretariat which is implemented by the Ministry of Plan Implementation was launched on 15th January, 2009. The event was conducted in collaboration with the Project Management Institute – Colombo Chapter.

The programme was launched with a Workshop for Ministry Secretaries.

Mr. Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to the President, addressing the participants at the launch,  emphasized the need for Ministry Secretaries to give their unstinted support for the development initiatives being taken by the Government. He stated that as Chief Executive Officers, Ministry Secretaries  have an enormous responsibility to ensure that projects are completed on time, that they are cost efficient and that the intended benefits are delivered to the  target beneficiaries. Mr. Weeratunge further said this Initiative had been conceived by the Presidential Secretariat in collaboration with the Project Management Institute – Colombo Chapter, to enable public officers who are responsible for implementing the Government's development programme to be better trained and equipped to deliver results  in programmes  coming within their purview.

Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary to the Ministry of Plan Implementation addressing the gathering stated that the Ministry was currently engaged in introducing Managing for Development Results  (MfDR) as a strategy to all Government Ministries so as to ensure a focus on achieving real results from the Government’s development  programme and to shift the focus from mere activities and outputs to outcomes and impacts. The MfDR strategy, if followed will ensure that the development programmes  will contribute meaningfully towards improving the quality of life of our people. The current initiative of building Project Management capacity is one which complements the MfDR initiative since it focuses on one important component of project implementation.

Mr. Grant Jefferson, CEO, NEO Vartis, Middle East, whose services were made available by the Project Management Institute – Colombo Chapter, delivered a presentation on the ‘Best Practices in Project Management’. Mr. Lalith de Silva, President of the PMI-Colombo Chapter discussed findings of studies undertaken by the PMI-CC to ascertain the extent to which best practices our followed in Sri Lanka in some of the key projects.

The Secretaries to Line Ministries who participated at the Workshop expressed their appreciation of the effort and indicated that it would be valuable to develop capacity in Project Management among key staff who are engaged in project implementation.

Workshop for Project Directors to Discuss Project implementation Issues

The Ministry of Plan Implementation (MPI) conducted a workshop for selected Project Directors in charge of mega projects to discuss project implementation issues on 13th January 2009.  22 Project Directors attended the meeting.

Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary Ministry of Plan Implementation made the opening address and explained the objectives of the workshop.

The workshop discussed issues in relation to the following areas which had been identified as key concerns in project implementation, by the Project Directors themselves.

• Land Acquisition
• Procurement
• Contract Management
• Project Management
• Financial Management

Senior officers from the line Ministries and Departments participated as Resources Persons and discussed how some of these issues could be addressed.

Asia Pacific Community of Practice on Managing for Development Results

(CoP-MfDR)

2008 Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Community of Practice on Managing for Development Results was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 11th November 2008 to 14th November 2008 and was co-hosted by the Ministry of Plan Implementation and Asian Development Bank. Delegates from 25 countries in the Asia Pacific Region attended this meeting to obtain first hand progress made to institutionalize Managing for Development Results (MfDR) Government wide in Sri Lanka.

It is indeed an honour for Sri Lanka to be selected as the venue for this meeting, given the fact that the country has made considerable progress on MfDR efforts. This forum was also attended by the Senior Government officials, donors and development partners. The UNDP is supporting the institutionalizing of MfDR within government; and the ADB has provided assistance towards readiness assessment and capacity building.

The Asia Pacific Annual Meeting of the CoP- MfDR was supported by the Asian Development Bank and this meeting offered an excellent forum for the mutual exchange of ideas in the region.          
The Asia Pacific CoP-MfDR appreciated the emerging good practices of MfDR in Sri Lanka.

www.adb.org/MfDR/CoP/

Launch of the e-DIMS

Minister of Plan Implementation Hon. P. Dayaratne is Launching  the e-Development Information Management System  (e-DIMS) of the Ministry of Plan Implementation on 02nd October 2008  at the Waters Edge .

Several donors, NGO’s and senior officials participated in the programme.

National WorkShop on the Evaluation of the Implementation of the Paris Declaration
on Aid Effectiveness, held on 12th August,2008

The Ministry of Plan Implementation in keeping with its mandate as the National Focal point for monitoring and evaluation undertook the evaluation of the implementation of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness in Sri Lanka and based on these finding provided inputs for the global evaluation of the Paris Declaration.
  
The National workshop was conducted to disseminate the findings of the two studies - the Sri Lankan Evaluation and the Global Evaluation Synthesis.  Secretaries to Ministries and other Senior Government officials, representatives of the donor community in Sri Lanka and representatives of the Civil Society organizations participated at the workshop.

Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary Ministry of Plan Implementation made the Opening address and referred to the need to focus on the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness with the view to improve the quality of aid to realize the objective of ensuring highest level of impact on the country’s developments programmes, for which aid is obtained. She also made specific reference to the importance of the concepts of institutionalizing Managing for Development Results (MfDR), which is an important principle of the Paris Declaration on which the major focus of the Ministry of Plan Implementation has been placed.

Mr. Neil Buhne, Resident Representative, UNDP spoke on the importance of the Paris Declaration from the country perspective and appreciated the role played by MPI in national and global context to take the aid effectiveness agenda forward.

Mr. V. Sivagnanasothy Director General Department of Foreign Aid and Budget Monitoring presented the synopsis of the Global Evaluation synthesis on the Implementation of the Paris Declaration while Mr. Asoka Gunawardena, Consultant to the Ministry of Plan Implementation presented the findings of the Evaluation in respect of the implementation of the Paris Declaration in Sri Lanka.    

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion which included Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary Ministry of Plan Implementation, Mr. S. Amarasekera, Secretary Ministry Highways and Road Development, Mr Neil Buhne Resident Representative UNDP and the two presenters.       

The emphasis to broaden and deepen ownership, use country systems, harmonize donor procedures and arrangements, institutionalize results focus and improve accountability, transparency and governance were strongly stressed.

Medium term predictability, use of country systems, untying of aid, mutually agreed conditionalities, division of labour and need based capacity development were identified as core for aid effectiveness.

The need to localized an action agenda on Paris Declaration for Sri Lanka was endorsed by the forum.

Workshop to Institutionalize the Managing for Development Results

Ministry of Plan Implementation (MPI) conducted a workshop on 13th March 2008 to present the Agency Results Frame works (ARF) and score cards developed by the following line ministries in Phase I under the UNDP TA Project.

This workshop chaired by the Mr. Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to the President who addressed participants on the importance of this endeavor and the benefits that will accrue when the MfDR approach is institutionalized in Government.

Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake. Secretary, Ministry of Plan Implementation made the opening remarks which emphasized on the importance of institutionalizing managing for development results in the Ministries and Agencies.

This Workshop was attended by Secretaries, Senior Officers of line Ministries and Development Partners.

The workshop also discussed the experiences of the five Phase I Ministries in developing the ARF’s and the way forward. The workshop concluded that MfDR should be institutionalized all line Ministries and Departments.

National workshop to discuss the Interim Evaluation Report on the Implementation of Paris Declaration in Sri Lanka

Ministry of Plan Implementation (MPI) conducted a National workshop to discuss the interim Evaluation Report on Implementation of Paris Declaration in Sri Lanka on 18th December 2007 in Colombo. This National Workshop was attended by Secretaries, Senior Officers of line Ministries and Development Partners. This National workshop discussed the interim Evaluation findings on the implementation of the Paris Declaration in Sri Lanka. This initiative is supported by UNDP under the TA Project for "Strengthen the Plan Implementation Capacity".

The national workshop was inaugurated by the Secretary, Ministry of Plan Implementation Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake. Secretary MPI made the opening remarks which emphsesed on the importance of the evaluation of Paris Declaration in the national context.

Further, a presentation on Importance of the Evaluation of the Paris Declaration was made by Mr. Niels Dabelstein, Co-chair on Evaluation of Paris Declaration (OECD/DAC) Danish Institute for International Studies where he emphasized on the importance of evaluation in the global learning context. The Interim Evaluation Report on Paris Declaration in Sri Lanka was presented by Mr. Asoka Gunawardena, National Consultant of MPI.

The panel discussion was chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Plan Implementation Mrs. Dhara Wijayatilake and included other members namely Mr. S. Amarasekara, Secretary, Ministry of Highways and Road Development, Mr. Daya Liyange, Chairman, National Procurement Agency, Mr. Niels Dabelstein, Co-chair on Evaluation of Paris Declaration, (OECD/DAC), Danish Institute for International Studies, Mr. Douglas Keh, Country Director, UNDP, Mr. Richard Vokes, Country Director, Asian Development Bank, and Mrs. Naoko Ishii, Country Director, World Bank.

The final evaluation report will take into consideration the views expressed by the stakeholders. Board

Sensitization of Policymakers and senior official on RBM

The UNDP - TA Project titled Strengthening Plan Implementation Capacity supported the Ministry of Plan Implementation to obtain the services of Dr. Ray Rist, Advisor to the World Bank and renowned expert in this field of Results Based Management.

The Ministry of Plan Implementation conducted a sensitization programme on Results Base Management to the Hon. Ministers and Secretaries to line Ministries on 11th December 2007 at Waters Edge, Battaramulla. The Workshop was attended by Hon. Ministers, Members of Parliament and Development Partners such as UNDP, World Bank, ADB. etc. Dr. Ray Rist in his presentation emphasized the need to track outcomes and impacts of development programmes rather than purely monitoring of inputs and activities. Through his worldwide experience, Dr. Rist shared the regional and international experiences of various countries in the efforts to institutionalize RBM.