71860 TH E WORLD PRATIBIMBA BANK GROUP Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 2 June 2012 Message from the PRAN Team Message from the Country Manager The PRAN team was delighted by the feedback we received on the first issue Welcome to the second edition of “PRATIBIMBA�. In this of “PRATIBIMBA�. It is, therefore, with edition you will be able to see the range of activities supported much enthusiasm, that we bring to you by the Program for Accountability in Nepal (PRAN) to this second issue. As the stories in the enable civil society practitioners and government of Nepal newsletter will elaborate, we have had to effectively promote and implement Social Accountability some very interesting events and activities (SA) approaches. In particular, you will see that PRAN has in the last few months. These include undertaken a number of Social Accountability Schools on PRAN Mid-Term Review, various Social specific SA issues and an inventory of SA materials in Nepal for SA purposes, Accountability Schools, as well as some among many other activities. All these initiatives aim to strengthen SA new grant-making. There is also a story knowledge and help stakeholders with the tools and resources they need to about the Public Expenditure and Financial improve services and functions. Accountability (PEFA) Secretariat’s involvement in the Social Accountability School on Public Finance Management in PRAN has sought to bring a wider understanding of the importance of SA Nepal, penned by the Member Secretary through the release of a range of publications in Nepali, training sessions of the PEFA Secretariat. A brief discussion for trainers, and study tours focusing on municipal good governance. This on an “Inventory of Existing Materials on newsletter concludes with a case study of an approach in which PRAN Social Accountability in Nepal� is included. supported one civil society organization’s attempt to assess government Finally, we report on the recent PRAN services in one district, using a Citizen Report Card. This process revealed sharing event, where we showcased our a reassuring absence of corruption but low levels of satisfaction with some grant making and publications. services, and responses are already underway to address some of these. We do hope that you will find the second I am pleased that the first edition of this newsletter was so warmly received. issue of "PRATIBIMBA" as useful and We are keen to promote a wider understanding of PRAN, its activities, and interesting as the first, and as always, upcoming events. I believe these newsletters are one important vehicle for your comments and suggestions are most welcome. disseminating PRAN activities and their impact. PRAN Team Tahseen Sayed World Bank Country Manager for Nepal Inside Summary of PRAN Mid-Term Review -2 Sharing PRAN’s Public Finance Management (PFM) Training-6 Social Accountability Schools on Three Major PRAN’s Public Sharing Event-6 Themes of PRAN-2 “Inventory of Existing Materials on Social Accountability in Nepal�-6 Activities Planned for April- June 2012-4 Major Highlights of PRAN-7 PRAN Grant-Making-5 Summary of PRAN Mid Term Review -John Clark General Impression and Progress Overall, my strong belief is that Finally, the monitoring and despite a slow start, PRAN is making evaluation and research component very good progress. It is well respected has really only recently started. and has good relations with key non- governmental organization (NGO) The main message, therefore, is that and government stakeholders. the program is going well according The four PRAN partners are very to the plan. What needs mentioning is that, in effect, PRAN started to Main Lessons and dedicated and hard-working – especially those responsible work in a real sense from late 2010 Recommendations for training and grant-making and not from late 2009 when the 1. Grant an extension to PRAN until (and who have been operational for State and Peace Building Fund the end of 2013, recognizing that over a year now; contracts for the grant was agreed. PRAN activity its start was delayed by about one other two were signed in June 2011). throughout much of the first year year. The knowledge management and was largely peripheral, pertaining 2. Simplify PRAN as much as networking component is in its early to the overall design of the program possible by cutting non-essential stage. In Chitwan, it was clear that and related more to SA in World Bank tasks. committed staff had been recruited operations, and to political economy 3. More emphasis should be placed for this task. However, I felt that more research. Now PRAN is in full gear on constructive engagement. attention should be given to going and the progress of the components 4. Plan for sustainability. out to engage with potential social indicate overall appropriateness 5. Provide more attention to accountability (SA) practitioners of the program design. However, outreach and communications. rather than inviting them to visit because of the start-up delays, there 6. Ensure better coordination of SA the five Regional Resource Centers. is a sequencing problem that persists. initiatives with various donors. Social Accountability Schools on Three Major Themes of PRAN Municipal Good Governance (MGG) With the objective of increasing the understanding of the Selected Details of Participants CSOS and Government Officials Types of Organization Number Percentage in the process of participatory municipal governance, a School on Civil Society Organization 25 71% Social Accountability on Municipal Media 1 3% Good Governance (MGG) was Government Line Agency 2 6% held January 3-7 at Godavari, Federation and Networks of CSOs 4 11% Kathmandu. The School was held Pro Public 3 9% in collaboration with the Society Total 35 100 for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) International, Delhi. A pre- and post- assessment found that 40-50 percent of knowledge increased over the starting level. There were 35 participants from 27 districts. These participants were selected on the basis of the recommendation of a Training Needs Assessment (TNA). Invited guests who shared their expertise and experience were Girija Gorkhali, Director, Emerging Town Project, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, and Lajina Manandhar, Lumanti. 2 Pratibimba Dr. Koustuv Kanti Bandyopadhyay, Vishwo Ranjan, and Vinika Koul from PRIA International were the main facilitators for the School and Training of Trainers program. The participants expressed that the School proved to be very useful for understanding the processes of participatory municipal governance. MGG is one of the three priority themes of PRAN. Monitoring Public Service Delivery PRAN, through its partner Pro public sector to be responsive to participants have developed their Public, organized a five-day Social citizens’ needs and to use public potential to serve as practitioners Accountability School on Monitoring funds more conscientiously. The and also as trainers in their respective Public Service Delivery (PSD) March results of the PPM process may also districts and development regions. 20-24. serve as baseline for creating new policies, development programs, The school was facilitated by the team The overall objective of the SA School and projects, thereby completing the of Pro Public and PRIA International, on PSD was to create awareness public financial management cycle. led by Dr. Alok Pandey and assisted and to develop the capacity of Thirty-four participants, comprising by Amitabh Bhusan and Bhavita participants to understand and seven women and 27 men, attended Shreevastab. Anjalee Thakali, utilize the Citizen Report Card and the program. They were selected Deputy Coordinator of PRAN, also Social Audit as tools to monitor from 24 districts on the basis of the facilitated the session. public service delivery. recommendation of the TNA. The The graph below illustrates the percentage of increment in understanding in The Monitoring Public Service six selected fields of knowledge and skills in PSD among 28 participants. Delivery approach is designed for and used by citizens who are the primary beneficiaries of the public services themselves. Participatory Performance Monitoring (PPM) aims to give them a means to influence the efficiency, quality, and accountability of public services. By creating ways for citizens and civil society to monitor performance, increased pressure is placed on the Pratibimba 3 Public Finance Management (PFM) PRAN, through its partner Pro Public, organized a five-day Social Accountability School on Public Finance Management January 19-23 at Sauraha, Chitwan. The objective of the program was to increase understanding of public finance management processes and develop skills in participatory planning, participatory budgeting, budget analysis, and Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys as the entry points. selected on the basis of Training Need the World Bank Emerging Towns Assessment (TNA) recommendation. project is located, i.e. Palpa, Kaski, There were 31 participants from After consultation, four participants Chitwan, and Dhankuta districts. 26 districts. The participants were were invited from the towns where A pre- and post- training assessment found that certain percentage of Personnel from Pro Public, the increment in the knowledge and skills level of participants Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) from Delhi, and an invited resource person from the PEFA Secretariat together facilitated the school. Pro Public’s team comprised Prof. Shree Krishna Shrestha, supported by Narayan Belbase, Binod Upadhyaya, and Hari Ghimire. Pooja Parvati – supported by Jawed Alam Khan and Gyana Ranjan Panda – participated from CBGA, while Babu Ram Shrestha represented the PEFA Secretariat. Region District Covered No. of Districts Participants Percentage Far-western region Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti, Achham, Bajhang 5 5 12% Mid western region Dang, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Rolpa 5 5 11% Western region Kapilvastu, Palpa, Kaski, Arghakhanchi, Lamjung, Gorkha 6 10 29% Eastern region Udaypur, Saptari, Jhapa, Khotang, Dhankuta 5 8 17% Central region Dhading, Chitwan, Bara, Mahottari, Dhanusa 5 6 23% Kathmandu Kathmandu 1 2 8% Total 26 35 100 Activities Planned from April to June, 2012 • South Asia Regional Workshop on Advancing Public Participation and Accountability in the Budget will be jointly organized by the World Bank Institute, Affiliated Network for Social Accountability South Asia, and PRAN from June 4-6 2012. • A report on the pilot project on Community Score Cards, which is being implemented in 16 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Doti, Dang, Morang, and Rasuwa districts in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), will be ready in June 2012. • The World Bank Institute, in close collaboration with PRAN, is offering an e- learning course on social accountability tools targeting 25 participants both from Kathmandu and district-based CSOs, including a few key government representatives. • PRAN held a public outreach event April 10 to commemorate grant-making to the latest batch of CECI 18 sub- grantees. 4 Pratibimba PRAN Grant Making Thirty Civil Society Organizations Cooperation (CECI). With a modest PRAN provides large and small (CSOs) from 25 districts of Nepal amount of US$630,000, PRAN grant- grants. The two categories of grants are Sub-grantees of PRAN through making has reached all the five differ in terms of average grant size Centre for International Studies and development regions and ecological and duration as depicted in the table belts of the country. in following page. PRAN GRANT MAKING COVERAGE Districts of Sub-Grant Projects Implementation 32 districts Mountain: 7 Hill: 14 Tarai: 11 Disclaimer: The boundaries, colors, denominations and any other information shown on this map do not imply, on the part of The World Bank Group, any judgment on the legal status of any territory or any endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Each of the 30 SA practitioners is Category Batch Size of grant Duration being provided on-the-job mentoring Large grants Batch 1 US$ 49,000 10 – 11 months and coaching with arrangements Batch 2 US$ 34,000 6 months from Pro Public. All 30 grant funded Small grants Batch 1 US$ 13,000 10 – 11 months projects are to be completed by Batch 2 US$ 11,000 5 - 6 months September 2012. Thematic distribution of awarded grant projects 14 SA tools being practiced Citizen charter 7 Citizen report card 6 7 Public expenditure tracking survey 6 Community score card 5 Participatory budgeting 5 9 Public grievance redressal mechanism 4 Independent/participatory budget analysis 4 Municipal Governance Participatory planning 4 14 Public Service Delivery Public hearing 3 Public Financial Management Social Audit 2 Zero corruption campaign 1 Citizen jury 1 Public service tracking towards dalits 1 Public help desk 1 Pratibimba 5 PEFA's Sharing on Public Finance Management in the Social Accountability School -Babu Ram Shrestha, Member Secretary, PEFA Secretariat Management (PFM) and Measures Many queries were put forward As a partner in the field of public to Overcome These Challenges.� by the participants of the program financial management, the on these issues, especially on government’s Public Expenditure Specifically, the session tried to performance and the mechanism of and Financial Accountability broaden understanding of, and financial accountability on public (PEFA) Secretariat was also invited encourage insights into, PFM and expenditures of the government. It to the Social Accountability get an overview of key PFM areas gave me great pleasure to share my School on Public Financial such as planning and budgeting, knowledge on those issues based on Management, organized by PRAN management of revenues, budget my working experience and PEFA in partnership with Pro Public. I execution and expenditure framework. It was indeed a great had the opportunity to participate management, debt management, opportunity. as a resource person representing reimbursement, public procurement, PEFA Secretariat in the program. accounting, recording and financial I conducted a session entitled reporting, internal control and “Challenges to Public Financial internal audit, and final audit. PRAN Sharing Event Organized accountability developed by PRAN welcomed the participants on behalf were displayed and distributed to of the World Bank country office in the participants. During the event, Nepal. He highlighted the emerging the profiles of PRAN’s sub-grantees importance of Social Accountability were presented. Additionally, two within the Social Development unit grantees shared their experiences and the Bank itself. The event was of working in the field. Finally, the covered by major media houses in PRAN, organized a sharing event second batch of small grants was Nepal. One of the grant recipients in on April 10 at the World Bank signed with 18 CSOs during the his closing remarks highlighted the office. The objectives of the event program. strength of PRAN on mentoring and were to share the highlights of the coaching on Social Accountability, in Program, including the Mid-Term Chaouhua Zhang, the lead Social addition to the training it provided. Review findings, and its future Development Specialist and the direction. All the materials on social former Team leader of the PRAN, Inventory of Existing Materials on Social Accountability in Nepal out by 28 different government the use of the largest number of agencies, national and international tools: 15 by World Bank-supported NGOs, and bilateral and multi- Rural Water Supply and Sanitation lateral donors in Nepal, which had Fund Board; 14 each by Action Aid not been previously compiled and and Helvetas Nepal, and; 12 by Pro documented. The Inventory was Public. printed and widely distributed among CSOs in Nepal. The digital It was further found that the most version is also available in the web commonly used tools were ‘Public The Total Management Services portal of the National Centre on Hearing’ followed by ‘Participatory (TMS) has recently completed a Social Accountability. Planning’, ‘Public/Social Audit’, study on “Inventory of Existing ‘Right to Information’, ‘Source Book Materials on Social Accountability A quick analysis of this study on District and Village Budget’, in Nepal�. It has inventoried works has revealed that the following ‘Citizens Charter’, and ‘Check Lists on social accountability carried organizations have documented of Entitlements’ respectively. 6 Pratibimba Major Highlights of PRAN Activities • PRAN conducted a Mid-Term (PRIA) International, Delhi. • A study tour to the city of Patna Review of its work by an • A Social Accountability School in India – on municipal good independent consultant - John on Public Financial Management governance was successfully Clark was held January 19-25 at Sauraha, undertaken March 26-30 with the • A number of publications have Chitwan in collaboration with support from PRIA International. been produced and distributed Centre for Budget Governance • The National Centre for Social to relevant stakeholders. Accountability (CBGA), Delhi. Accountability web-based • The first issue of PRAN’s • A Training of Trainers course portal received 176 visits and Newsletter “PRATIBIMBA� was on participatory training users viewed 1,436 pages of the published and disseminated. methodologies was held March website. More than 417 people Altogether 30 grants (20 small 1-6 March in Bharatpur in visited the Regional Centres. and 10 large) had been awarded collaboration with PRIA, Delhi. • Social Accountability as of that date. • A Social Accountability School Geographical Networks were • A Social Accountability on Public Service Delivery, formed in five regions. They met School on Municipal Good focusing on the Citizen’s Report regularly and established SA Governance was held January Card, was organized March forums. 3-7 at Godavari, Kathmandu in 19-25 in Manigram, Butwal, collaboration with Society for in cooperation with PRIA Participatory Research in Asia International. Project to Test Social Accountability Tools: A Case Study from Dhading District Pro-civic Society (PCS) is one of the first to get the services from the Land Registration the conduct of the staff, while 45.4 percent receivers of small grants from PRAN Office. said they were moderately satisfied. Only 6 through CECI. PCS’s use of the Citizen’s percent of service recipients are dissatisfied Report Card tool found that the District In contrast to these statements, however, with the conduct of the government staff. Administrative Office (DAO) was less only 69 percent of the respondents reported corrupt and more accountable among the as fully satisfied by DAO services, followed According to this Citizen Report Card five government offices in the district. All the by 59 percent in the case of the District survey, the Citizen Charter and Complaints respondents said that they did not have to Livestock Development Office, 49 percent for Box, which are kept at the premises of the pay any bribe to get services from the DAO. the District Agricultural Development Office, Public Service Provider Offices, are not used Also, 96 percent of the total respondents and 47 percent for the Land Registration effectively. Some 40.2 percent of respondents said they did not have to bribe the District Office. Overall only 29 percent of respondents reported that the Citizen Charter is not used Agricultural Development Office and the reported that they were fully satisfied by at all and another 52 percent of respondents District Livestock Development Office to the services they received from government said it was moderately useful. Only 7.6 get their services. In the case of the District offices. A majority of the respondents reported percent of respondents reported the Citizen Development Committee, the percentage of that staff at those service provider offices Charter to be very useful. respondents who said the same came down behaved well. Of the total 500 respondents, to 88 percent. Only 31percent of respondents 48.6 percent said they were fully satisfied with reported that they did not have to pay bribe Outcomes of the Project Some of the government offices have Card report was disclosed. The District (DEO) Dipendra Subedi visited Salyantar improved their services after the findings Agricultural Development Office has taken Higher Secondary School for inspection after were revealed. Others have promised to many worthwhile initiatives. It has created a the Community Score Card was conducted. improve their services, and have introduced toll free telephone number (16601052419) to He requested that the next follow up new measures. During the meeting of the respond to the problems of farmers. It is also Community Score Card be conducted in his government line agencies in the district, going to initiate an audio citizen charter in presence and under his coordination. where the findings were shared, acting place of Citizen Charter Board, which was not Chief District Officer (CDO) Bijay Poudyal much in use. A complaint box has been kept The executive committee of the Tallo Thulo claimed that they have made the services on the office wall. There are three types of Chaur Besare Pakha Women Community of the District Administrative Office (DAO) color cards that can be placed inside the box: Forest Consumer Group decided to remove more effective and were applying a fast green, yellow, and red depending on the level a passive member. Acting Chief Toyanath track approach to enhancing the services. He of satisfaction of the beneficiaries. These cards Chhatkuli of Salbas Health Post Chainpur further claimed that DAO's service would be can be used easily by illiterate farmers as well. promised to keep staff movement list on more efficient once it was settled in the new his notice board for service recipients' building. The District Development Committee has information. The principal of Salyantar proposed coordinating a public hearing and Higher Secondary School decided to keep The services provided by the Land public audit for providing technical assistance complaint and suggestion box on the school Registration Office have been more effective to address loopholes revealed by the Citizen premises for collecting and consequently and efficient after the Citizen Report Report Card report. District Education Office addressing the complaints of students and guardians. Pratibimba 7 Recent Publications of PRAN TH E WORLD BANK GROUP The World Bank ene for PRAN Setting the Sc Nepal Office lxtfsf @! ;+oGq ;fdflhs hjfkmb] -;|f]t k':ts_ P.O.Box: 798 Yak & Yeti Hotel Complex Durbar Marg Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 4226792, 4226793 Fax: 4225112 Website: www.worldbank.org.np / gful/s cg'udg ;fj{hlgs vl/b ah]6 th'{df / gful/s cg'udg ul/s cg'udg n]vfk/LIf0f / gf cg'udg ª\sg / gful/s sfo{;Dkfbg d"Nof For further information: Anjalee Thakali Deputy Program Coordinator - PRAN The World Bank Nepal Country Office Email: athakali@worldbank.org Tel. (office): 4226792, ext. 6347 Mobile: 9851104539 www.worldbank.org/np/pran 8 Pratibimba