Relevant Projects:

FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT INNOVATION IN INDONESIA

IPA has launched a three-year, USAID-funded project to establish the "Foundation for Local Government Innovation" in Jakarta, Indonesia. As Local Government Management Specialist/Resident Advisor, IPA Senior Staff member John Tabor is providing lead technical expertise to create a permanent organization focused on improving public policy and government management. The Foundation will provide expert advice, policy analysis, and training and technical assistance services primarily to local governments and their associations. It is anticipated that the Foundation will operate largely on a "fee for service" basis, thus offering the prospect of generating a significant amount of its own operating income. A further activity of the project is to create a Center for Local Government Innovation. IPA is performing this work in collaboration with The Urban Institute, Chemonics International and Indonesian public officials. 2001-2004.

PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS IN BOSNIA

IPA is leading a team of professionals in developing improved public sector accounting systems with government officials in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzogovina and the Republika Srpska. As lead contractor, IPA directs a multi-disciplinary team whose tasks include: assessing current governmental accounting and budgeting policies and procedures; developing a new, integrated financial management system; providing technical support and training in the use of the new system; and supporting the development of a non-governmental organization to move forward additional accounting reforms. This work is funded by USAID and is being performed in collaboration with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Emerging Markets. 1999-present.

CAMBODIA LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (LDF) PROJECT

A critical aspect of public sector governance in which IPA has considerable experience is the design and implementation of frameworks to guide the process of preparing local government development budgets. IPA Senior Staff member Paul Smoke and former member Leonardo Romeo are working with the Cambodia Local Development Fund (LDF) to introduce decentralized and participatory development planning procedures, and to establish transparent rules and objective standards for resource allocation and project appraisal. This long-term project has achieved considerable success to date in beginning to integrate local planning processes for determining priority projects and a system of standards for project monitoring into the formal budgeting structures of local governments. Funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund, this project is ongoing. 2000-2001.

LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT IN THE PALESTINIAN WEST BANK

IPA Senior Staff Leonardo Romeo led a team of local and regional consultants in the preparation of the "Local Infrastructure and Capacity Building Project" (LICP) in the Palestinian West Bank. The project, financed through a 5.7 million US$ grant of the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC), provided financial and technical assistance to selected Palestinian Village Councils, the local authorities responsible for most basic services delivery in the West Bank. The project had two components. The first one supported immediate investments in critically needed local/rural infrastructure, ranging from repair of village roads and power distribution networks, to construction of kindergartens and integrated community service centers. The second one strengthened the institutions of good local governance by piloting a financial mechanism for modest but predictable annual transfers of resources for development spending to Village Councils and the parallel extension of technically sound and participatory local planning, programming and budgeting methods. In spite of the enormous difficulties due to the ongoing conflict in the area, the LICP, approved by the BTC at the end of 2001, is currently under implementation in selected villages of the West Bank. 2001.

DECENTRALIZATION IN NICARAGUA

IPA staff evaluated the participatory multi-year municipal investment plans adopted by the Nicaraguan Social Emergency Fund and PROTIERRA, a World Bank project assisting 32 municipalities. IPA Senior Staff member Leonardo Romeo has been the leading consultant in the design of PROTIERRA's next phase, a national municipal strengthening program that will offer financial and technical assistance to municipalities, improving their ability to assume the development responsibilities devolved to them by recent legislation and helping them to prepare and implement improved development plans, multi-year investment programs and annual budgets. This project is funded by the World Bank and is on going.

IMPROVING SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

IPA led a team to over two years advising municipalities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their social services programs. As a result of his work, a number of innovative solutions to social service delivery problems were introduced, such as using means-testing as a way of improving the transparency and the targeting of social subsidy programs. The technical assistance provided also focused on cost-effective approaches for social assistance delivery programs, and as well fostered a policy dialogue between local authorities and citizens by expanding the information available to the public on communal services and social subsidy policies. Funded by USAID, this project was a joint undertaking by IPA and The Urban Institute. 1999-2001.

NATIONAL BUDGETING IN UZBEKISTAN

IPA Senior Staff member Rudy Runko assisted Uzbekistan's Ministry of Finance in the development of transparent budgeting and treasury systems. As IPA Resident Advisor for four years ending in 1999, Mr. Runko achieve significant results, including: the drafting of a State Finance Law on budgetary processes and a new Treasury Law; the development of a revenue and expenditure classification system and new agency program structures; the development and management of a number of training seminars for Ministry of Finance officials on topics including program analysis and evaluation, local government budgeting, and the proposed State Finance and Treasury Laws; and, the preparation of a new edition of the Uzbekistan Budget Analyst's Manual, which was translated into Russian and Uzbek. This project was funded by USAID. IPA's partner in this project was the Barents Group of KPMG. 1995-1999.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGETING IN GEORGIA

IPA began its presence in Georgia by providing budgeting assistance to the Parliament of the Republic of Georgia. Through collaborative work with local counterparts a Georgian Parliament Budget Office was established, with the goal of improving the legislature's capacity to perform budget analysis and examine the economic impacts of proposed legislation. This effort was part of a USAID Comprehensive Tax and Fiscal Reform Project in Georgia administered in conjunction with the Barents Group of KPMG. 1997-1998.

ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA

IPA worked in Yerevan, Armenia in the fall of 2000 assessing and evaluating two municipal associations (Union of Communities and Union Yerevan Councilors) and one professional association (Association of Finance Officers). IPA designed business plans that would enhance the capacity, effectiveness and long-term sustainability of these associations. Specific tasks included: reviewing the structure and activities of the associations, including their charters and dues structures; and, training association staff in business planning techniques. This work, performed under a subcontract with The Urban Institute was part of the USAID sponsored Local Government Assistance Initiative. 2000.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

IPA assisted local governments in the Czech Republic to improve procurement systems for public goods and services. IPA developed a manual for establishing administrative processes for obtaining fair and open competition, and cooperated in the organization of a national conference on Conflicts of Interests. An intensive training-of-trainers program institutionalized a training course in procurement systems at both the University of Pardubice and the Fund for the Development of Local Administration. IPA Associate and procurement specialist, Harold Leatherby, completed technical assistance in 5 cities to advise and assist with procurement for such items as vehicles, construction, heavy equipment, and maintenance services. 1995.

DECENTRALIZATION AND DEMOCRACY SUPPORT PROJECT IN MONGOLIA

IPA Senior Associate Graham Watt served as a consultant on the UNDP funded Decentralization and Democracy Support Project in Mongolia. He conducted a comprehensive review of the implementation of the project and developed recommendations for the program's future strategy. Mr. Watt interviewed over 75 members of the national and local government and NGO representatives and visited 3 pilot municipalities. 1998.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM IN MOLDOVA

IPA staff recently completed an assignment leading the Local Government Reform Project in Moldova. This project had three main tasks: help establish legislation to empower local government and implement regulations that clarify and decentralize authority to the local level; build the capacity of municipal officials to implement legislative, administrative and financial reforms through targeted training and technical assistance; and strengthen the capacity of indigenous NGOs and associations advocating local government reform while increasing public participation in the reform process. This USAID-funded work was performed in conjunction with The Urban Institute. 2000-02.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGETING IN MOLDOVA

IPA Associate Ralph Laws, former Secretary of the Ways and Means Committee in the New York State Assembly, served as resident consultant in Moldova, advising the Budget and Finance Committee of the Moldovan Parliament. He assisted in establishing a Center for Budgetary and Financial Analysis to improve its capabilities in budgeting and fiscal analysis. This assignment was built on the success of work completed earlier by IPA Associate Jonathan Gaciala, who helped set up a Treasury system for Moldova within the Ministry of Finance. This effort was part of a USAID Fiscal Reform Project. IPA worked under a subcontract with the Barents Group of KPMG. 1996-1997.

NATIONAL BUDGETING IN KAZAKHSTAN

IPA provided technical assistance in budgeting to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Finance (MOF), focusing on the implementation of the new Budget System Law. This work led to significant reform of the MOF's Budget Department, including: improvement of budget management and analysis practices; more consistent monitoring of the implementation of the budget; the introduction and implementation of the MOF's new budget classification system; the strengthening of financial control and reporting processes at the local level; and the launching of a Performance Budgeting for Education Program to help the Ministries of Finance and Education develop a nationwide performance management system for education. This project was funded by USAID and was conducted in cooperation with the Barents Group of KPMG. 1997-1998.

BUDGETING SYSTEMS IN TURKMENISTAN

Performance budgeting is an important component of public sector governance and a key area of IPA expertise. Working as a team with staff of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Turkmenistan, IPA Associates Edward Lehan, Joseph Kelley, Paul Stroh, Eric Stark and Subramaniam Ramakrishnan focused on improving the performance of budgetary process. Their work helped to: establish a new classification system for revenue and expenditures; develop standards and processes for multi-year investment performance budgeting; provide guidelines for improved financial management and internal control; and prepare an annual budget process law. The IPA team also helped improve the capacity of the central government for macro-economic policy making and intergovernmental financial management. Related training was provided to both central and local governmental units. IPA worked with Booz Allen & Hamilton on this USAID-funded project. 1998-1999.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM PROGRAM IN MACEDONIA

As part of a USAID-funded Public Administration Reform Project in Macedonia, IPA worked with the Ministry of Justice and the Law Faculty of Macedonia's major university to draft the country's first conflict of interest law for government employees, which Parliament is expected to pass as part of a broader anti-corruption law. IPA advisors drafted ethics codes for Macedonia's Central Bank in response to a national banking scandal, the Customs Service, and the Police unit of the Ministry of the Interior. The IPA team conducted numerous training workshops using conflict of interest case studies for ministry, customs and police officials. In addition, IPA arranged meetings for the Macedonian Minister of Justice with U.S. Attorney Janet Reno and the Office of Government Ethics as part of an IPA managed U.S. study tour. 1996-98.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN MOLDOVA

IPA provided technical assistance to institutionalize the treasury function in the Ministry of Finance. This work involved assistance in developing the following management systems: new procedures to execute the budget; norms and procedures for internal audits; instructions for Treasury Staff, spending units, and line ministries regarding responsibilities and requirements; providing on-the-job training for these staff on expenditure approval, cash flow forecasting and management, and internal controls. The work was funded by USAID. 1994-1995.

DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL AUTONOMY IN ALBANIA

A partnership between The Urban Institute and the Albanian National Committee for decentralization produced a national strategy for decentralization and local autonomy for Albania. The strategy was a shared vision backed by consensus of central and local officials, private and community groups to guide long-term changes that reach toward the principles of the Charter of Local Self-Government of the Council of Europe. IPA Associates commented on the strategic plan and worked on the implementation of the plan's intergovernmental finance elements. 2000.