Administrative and Institutional Arrangements This section of the District Medium-Term Development Plan deals with administrative and institutional issues, which need to be tackled to ensure effectiveness in the implementation of the plan.
The issues discussed include structure, procedures and roles. Detailed specification of expected roles of the District Assembly, the Area Councils, the Community, Traditional Authorities, Public and Private Sector agencies, including NGOs have been specified in the medium and short (annual) term plan as indicated in Tables 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4. All these development agents re stakeholders in the development of the district.
One of the principal purposes of this medium-term plan is to provide a framework for development activities in the district in order to ensure coordinated efforts at reducing poverty. The District Administration has a central role to play to ensure coordination in the implementation of the plan.
The District AssemblyThe District Assembly, as a planning authority, is fully responsible for the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programmes and projects. Performance of this role can be enhanced by tapping available human and technical resources of the District Coordinating Unit (DPCU), the sub-committees of the Assembly as well as the technical staff of the Assembly. The District Assembly is to perform the following specific functions.
i. Generation and provision of funds for selected programme and projects
ii. Setting up a framework and platform for coordination and cooperation among the institutions involved in the implementation of the plan
iii. Identification of bottlenecks and provision of appropriate antidotes
iv. Identification, invitation and attraction of potential donors into the district
v. Periodic revision of plan implementation procedures and effective adjustments in response to changing circumstances
District Planning Coordinating Unit/Decentralized DepartmentsThe District Planning Coordinating Unit (DPCU), made up of a minimum of eleven officers of the decentralized Departments and Agencies, is a major actor in the process of implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
The DPCU will therefore provide technical support and facilitate appropriate procedures for the execution of programmes and projects. To perform this function effectively, the DPCU will co-opt representatives from other sector agencies, persons from the private-sector and civil society organizations whose input will be needed.
The DPCU shall perform specific roles including the following:
i. Undertake periodic project site inspections
ii. Convene quarterly DMTDP performance review meetings with all stakeholders and representatives of NDPC and RCC
iii. Facilitate dissemination and public awareness creation DMTDP, GPRS II, the Annual Progress Reports and other documents from NDPC at district and sub-district levels
iv. Directly responsible for the development and implementation of the District Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
v. Collect and collate feedback from the sub-district levels for the preparation of the District Annual Progress Report
vi. Define indicators for measuring change, especially on gender equity and other cross-cutting themes in GPRS II, such as vulnerability, exclusion and social protection
vii. Prepare an action plan each year based on the MTDP to detail out the projects, activities and investments for the year. (The first annual plan has been prepared and included in this document)
viii. Produce District Quarterly and Annual Progress Reports and make recommendations for policy review, and,
ix. Conduct Mid-Term and Terminal Evaluation of the DMTDP
Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) It is expected that the Regional Coordinating Council and RPCU will not relent in its responsibility to support the Sene District Assembly in the areas of technical backstopping, direction, monitoring and evaluation. The RPCU may have to continue with its regular review meetings with the districts to keep implementation on course.
Private SectorAll development actors operating in the district must equally be briefed about the annual action plans. This will ensure, as much as possible development assistance in the district fits into those outlined in the plan.
Coordination will be enhanced if all agencies and partners in the district work in concert towards the achievement of the district goal. Actors starting a new programme will have to be guided by the DMTDP. Actors should be prepared to provide reports and feedback during stakeholder meetings.
Traditional Authorities and CSOsTraditional Authorities (Chiefs and Queen Mothers) and Civil Society Organizations (NGOs, CBOs, Voluntary, Professional and Religious Associations, etc) have a major role to play formulating, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the DMTDP. These stakeholders will be encourage to play important role in the implementation of the plan.
The participation of Traditional Authorities (TAs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the DMTDP implementation and monitoring will add real value to the process itself and its policy outcomes. Traditional Authorities and CSOs have contacts with the grassroots and are therefore well positioned to express the views and experiences of people whose needs the DMTDP aim to address.
On the whole, TAs and CSOs can contribute to hold District Assembly more accountable and responsible for the delivery of goods and services as well as exposing malpractices and choices do not benefit those whose needs the DMTDP is supposed to address. TAs and CSOs are therefore to be involved in the various steps of preparing, implementing, and monitoring and evaluation of the DMTDP.
The Role of Development PartnersDevelopment Partners (DPs) will also be encouraged to play a significant role in shaping and enhancing implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the plan at the district level. Specifically, DPs would be encouraged to:
- Strengthen district level institutional framework for evidence based planning, monitoring and evaluation
- Shift from the heavy reliance on consultants and single project monitoring towards support for the preparation and implementation of district development and M&E Plans
- Assist the District Assembly to develop an efficient information and reporting system and reduce the support for separate, additional monitoring and reporting procedures
- Provide financial support to the District Assembly towards implementation of programmes and projects of the DMTDP
Area Councils and Unit CommunitiesArea Councils as one of the key implementors and collaborators in the plan implementation is to prompt the District Assembly to carry out implementation of activities.
Area Councils could also support the plan implementation by helping to raise funds. Communities should offer labour, local expertise and knowledge in project implementation.
They should be trained to offer maintenance and reliable and sustainable measures to implement project. The community members should assist the District to identify and establish links with citizens of the District living abroad for financial assistance.
Central GovernmentIt is the wish of central government that district development plans are tailored on national priority goals and objectives. Once this has been done, it is expected that the central government will contribute substantially to the district by enhancing budget allocation through the DACF and other programmes for the implementation of its development projects.
Marketing The DMTDP And Resource MobilizationIt is expected that the Sene District Assembly and its DPCU will market the DMTDP at home and outside in order to raise funds and mobilize skills for implementation. It is suggested that all local and foreign donors and investors interested in the district should be aware of the existence of this plan especially aspects that relate to their fields of operation and investments. Some of the measures that could be used to attract investors include access to land, rebates and tax holidays.
In its efforts to mobilize funds, the District Assembly’s potential sources could include the following:
- Internally Generated Fund (IGF)
- District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF)
- M-SHAP funds from Ghana AIDS Commission
- HIPC Relief Fund
- Getfund
- Social Investment Fund (SIF)
- MPs Common Fund
- Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
- Banks
- Private Firms
- Levies and voluntary contributions
- CSOs (Religious bodies, NGOs, CBOs, etc)
In its bid to mobilize funds, the following approaches may yield results.
o Encourage and train various actors (DPCU, Community leaders, groups, etc) to development project proposals based on the DMTDP to raise funding
o Encourage corporate bodies such as financial institutions and other profit making organizations to respond to their social responsibilities by supporting the plan
o Disseminate the plan at the Area Council and Community levels to solicit community support and commitment of the successful implementation
District Composite Plan of ActionThis section of the plan presents projects that are to be implemented within the Medium-Term (2006 – 2009). These projects have been selected from the list of community aspirations and needs, as well as projects of the decentralized and agencies. The type and location of projects, together with their duration of implementation, sources of funds, indicators, budget and implementing agencies are indicated in Tables 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.
Annual Action PlanThe action plan is indicated in Table 5.4. The Annual Action Plan was prepared for 2006. The DPCU is to subsequent Annual Action Plans by selecting projects from the Composite Plan of Action indicated under each year for 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively.
The criteria used in the selection of projects for the annual plan include the following
a) On-going projects
b) Abandoned projects
c) Projects with short gestation periods
d) Projects whose cost could be accommodated within the first year development budget
e) Projects which the potential of alleviating poverty and in line with district’s priorities
For tables refer to pdf file attached
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