Mid-Term Review briefing session of the Project Steering Committee members at the Ministry of Finance

The World Bank Mission in country has completed a two-week long Mid-Term Review Mission of Accountable Governance Project with recommendations for possible restructuring and review of the project results framework to be able achieve the set Project Development Objective as against the end of the project in July 2027. The PDO is to improve resource management, transparency and accountability of government systems for enabling the delivery of local development projects and basic services.

The AGBSDP is a US$ 40 million investment grant from the World Bank to the Government of Sierra Leone, with a projected implementation span of 5 to 6 years. The project encompasses four main objectives that seek to: (i) strengthen institutional systems and capacity within local councils to improve accountability and resource management; (ii) enhance intergovernmental fiscal transfers and policies for fiscal decentralization, aiding local councils in development planning; (iii) improve government monitoring and evaluation of resource utilization for key local services, particularly in health and education; and (iv) ensure activities supported under the project are well coordinated to achieve intended development objectives.

As part of the key deliberations during Accountable Governance project Mid-Term Review, covered the status of overall project implementation, which actual implementation of the entire five-to-six-years project was rated as slightly behind schedule – moderately satisfactory. Updates on the four Project Components and project implementational arrangements were provided to which concerns were raised regarding the level of implementation of each of the four project components while a couple of adjustments were suggested to the later particularly to the Grants Management Team, which is responsible for leading on and managing the implementation of the Local Development Grants (LDG). The LDG is a financing mechanism provided by the project to 15 Local District Councils to fund/undertake small subprojects in their communities (under Component II of the project).

Importantly to note during the MTR deliberations, was the complete implementation of all 29 subprojects under Round 1 of the Local Development Grants by Local District Councils which first out of slated five rounds is deemed as a pilot and thereby giving rise to an adoption of a minimum standard for subprojects – comprising of additional components for rehabilitation, completion or reconstruction of schools and community health care facilities in subsequent rounds of the LDG. A clear implementation timeline has also been agreed for the implementation of Round 2 and subsequent rounds of the LDG.

During the two-weeks Accountable Governance Project MTR, an independent project stakeholders’ consultative report on the project and satisfaction survey report findings on Round 1 implementation of subprojects were presented. The survey reported 94% of respondents’ satisfaction over the implementation and quality of work done on the 29 subprojects and the stakeholders’ consultations revealed that the Accountable Governance Project Development Objective and intermediate result indicators remain relevant and are largely on track to be met in the remaining three years of implementation. However, the independent review findings among many others recommend for review of the project result framework and splitting of couple project results indicators to make them more specific and realistically achievable.

Key amongst major milestones in strengthening systems for enhancing delivering of services at both central and local levels of government includes the contracting of the Public Financial Management (PFM) – SMART and complete evaluation of both technical and financial bids for the Electronic Government Procurement (EGP) System which contracting is eminent and is considered major project leap in implementation. This EGP System is intended to digitize public procurement procedure from the current manually done procurement system and would help improve management of public funds/resources.

Other significant gains because of the Accountable Governance Project interventions include the establishment and enhancing functioning District Development Coordination Committees (DDCCs) in all Local District Councils which serve as hub of coordinating development activities at district levels and which mandates are being carried on with excellent success stories across the country. Another is the re-establishment of Audit Committees in all 22 Local Councils which provides control measures including checks and balances in management of Local Councils’ funds and enhancing owned source revenue generation drive of the Local District Councils.

Beyond these gains, the Technical Team Lead who doubles as the MTR Mission Lead Mrs. Lida Bteddini recommends increase capacity building for the core staff f Local District Councils for them to be able to implement well and within the agreed timeframe, improve coordination amongst the Project Management Unit and Implementing Units, complete overhauling of activities under component three which surrounds improving government monitoring and evaluation of resources utilization for key local services, immediate submission of concept notes for pending activities for approval captured in the 2024 Annual Work Plan by IUs and review of them by the Bank Team as against the end of this June month.

MTR meeting with Government Officials on the possibility of interoperability of IT Financial Management, Electronic Procurement and Audit Systems in country

The World Bank MTR mission of the Accountable Governance project also held discussions with officials drawn from the National Revenue Authority (NRA), the Ministries of Finance, Information and Technology, National Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (NaMED) and National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) and the Project Management Unit on the interoperability of Information and Technological Financial Management and procurement electronic systems being supported by the World Bank and other donors in country.

The World Bank Country Manager, Abdul Muwonge, in his wrap-up remarks expressed concerns over delays caused in implementing the project and he therefore recommends something to be done fast to have a turnaround. “Looking at the MTR findings, we can work backwards to address the delays – having clear timelines for activity implementations and flow of communications amongst all project stakeholders. It should be collective responsibility – like the question of institutional restructuring. “We must get the project out of the rocks and release funds for the implementation of the project”, said the Country Manager.

The MTR mission ended with a briefing of the Project Steering Committee; chaired by the Deputy Minister of Finance 1, Madam Kadiatu Allieu and an exit meeting with the Ministry of Finance and all project stakeholders on deliberations, recommendations and decisions for the implementation of the project in the remaining two and half years.

Credit – World Bank Communication Team

Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Wednesday, June 28th , 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)