Overview
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have established a Joint Programme entitled "Governance and Public Administration Reform – Support for Better Service Delivery (GPAR SBSD)” in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), using a pass-through funding modality. The GPAR SBSD Joint Programme strengthens capacity for strategic planning, financing, and governance reform for more effective, accountable and transparent delivery of services.
The GPAR SBSD Joint Programme encompasses the following elements: it has a strategic focus; it has a strong service delivery component and a clear results orientation; it develops uniform and sustainable capacity building; it moves from a central programme approach to a service provision approach, focusing on health, education, agriculture and rural development; it establishes a cost-effective mechanism for strengthening implementation; it targets the poorest provinces and districts; and it includes partnerships with various sectors of the Government Lao PDR.
The GPAR SBSD Joint Programme is administered by the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in accordance with its financial regulations and rules.
Assistance Strategy
The overall goal of the Governance and Public Administration Reform – Support for Better Service Delivery (GPAR SBSD) Joint Programme in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is to strengthen capacity for strategic planning, financing and governance reform for more effective, accountable and transparent delivery of services. There are five interrelated outputs:
- Strengthen policy development, strategic oversight and monitoring of governance reform;
- Improve organizational and systems development for more effective, accountable and transparent services;
- Strengthen human resource management, development policies, procedures and capacity, and establish a cost effective and sustainable system for civil service training and development;
- Provide a formula-based district development funding mechanism for devolved service delivery - focusing on expanded and improved health, education, agriculture, and rural development service provision; and
- Focus on supporting demand-driven governance reforms at the central and local levels which directly impact the delivery of services.
The commitment of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to the GPAR SBSD Joint Programme is reflected in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). Specifically, UNCDF Outcome 3.3 - Increased efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of the public administration at both the central and local levels.
Governance
The Governance and Public Administration Reform – Support for Better Service Delivery (GPAR SBSD) Joint Programme of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is implemented jointly by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) using a pass-through funding modality. The programmatic and financial accountability rests with the Participating UN Organisations, which manage their respective components of the Joint Programme.
Steering Committee
The main objective of the national Steering Committee is to facilitate effective implementation and coordination of the GPAR SBSD Joint Programme. The Steering Committee consists of: United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), along with relevant governmental and civil society organisations.
Administrative Agent
The Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) of the UNDP serves as the Administrative Agent (AA) of the Governance and Public Administration Reform – Support for Better Service Delivery (GPAR SBSD) Joint Programme. The AA is responsible for concluding Standard Administrative Arrangements (SAAs) with donor(s) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Participating UN Organisations (UNCDF and UNDP).
Decision Making
The Steering Committee discusses and approves work plans and budgets as well as any substantive or financial issues pertaining to implementation of the Governance and Public Administration Reform – Support for Better Service Delivery (GPAR SBSD) Joint programme in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The members assume responsibility for performing joint monitoring of GPAR SBSD Joint Programme activities. Decisions are made by consensus. Members provide regular feedback on its implementation and propose any necessary corrective actions to resolve problems, ensure accountability, and make recommendations.
The Administrative Agent [Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MDTF Office) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)] for the GPAR SBSD Joint Programme is responsible for the receipt, administration, and management of contributions from donors; disbursement of funds to the Participating UN Organisations; and consolidation of financial reports produced by each of the Participating UN Organisations and Participating Non-UN Organisations and provision of these reports to the Steering Committee for onward submission to the donor(s).
