District Level Program and Budget Making Process and Monitoring and Evaluation System

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Ambrose Bruno Wilkerson
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1 1. Introduction: District Level Program and Budget Making Process and Monitoring and Evaluation System [A Workshop Organized at Kaski District] The budget is the government s key policy documents. It should be comprehensive, encompassing all government revenue and expenditure, so that the necessary trade-offs between different policy options can be assumed. Budget is also an instrument to control expenditure and facilitate financial administration. It is an important tool to implement national plan and streamline the development activities in a democratic way. It is a basis of economic policies and program of the government, administration of authority, revenue and expenditure policies, and development of common citizen. All types of regime practice budget to manage the country. Nepal has also been practicing this exercise at national and district level for a long time. After organizing two days Workshop on Budget Making Process intending CA members as its target group, PRAD Nepal, under the financial support of the World Bank arranged the district level workshop on District Level Program and Budget Making Process and Monitoring and Evaluation System at Kaski District. About 40 people took part in this workshop. 2. Objectives of the workshop: The major objective of the workshop was to make different authorities and representatives from different political parties aware of the district program, budget making process, role of government related agencies and district authorities in the formation and implementation of district budget program. However, the specific objectives were a. to make understand how budgetary framework is determined and its linkage with the threefive year plans. b. to make understand how district level program and budget are prepared at central level c. to make understand about the district level annual development program/budget guidelines d. to make understand about the district poverty monitoring and analysis system, and e. to make understand about the assessment of minimum conditions and performance measures of DDCs, and assessment of minimum conditions of VDCs. 3. Workshop Design and Format: The workshop highlighted on the role of National Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Local Development and District Development Committee in the formulation and implementation of district level program and budget. Aspects of the directives and guidelines 1

2 required for the District Budget Formulation and District Poverty Monitoring and Analysis System were also discussed in the workshop. 4. Workshop Topic/Presenter/ Speaker: The topic of the workshop was District Level Program and Budget Making and Monitoring and Evaluation System. The sub headings of presentation included District Level Plan, Program and Budget Formulation Process; role of National Planning Commission, Ministry of Local Development and District Development Committee in the Formulation of District Level Plan and Program, and Budget Releasing; District Level Program and Budget Making; Manual for Assessment of Minimum Conditions and Performance Measures of DDCs; Manual for Assessment of Minimum Conditions of VDCs; District Level Annual Development Program; and Outline of Budget Allocation for different Ministerial Programs. Mr. Sanjay Adhikari, Program Officer of DDC, Kaski chaired the program. Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, former member of National Planning Commission, presented on District Level Program and Budget Making and Monitoring and Evaluation System. He also responded to the comments and queries raised by participants during the discussion period. Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, former Vice-Chairman of National Planning Commission expressed his views on the subject matter of the workshop in brief. He was the Chief Guest of the program. 5. Workshop Format: It was a half day workshop organized inside the DDC Hall of Kaski District, which lies in the hilly region of Nepal. Workshop started at 9 00 a.m. and ended at 1.00 p.m. Workshop was designed to make participants understand about the budgetary process; role of National Planning Commission, Ministry of Local Development and District Development Committee in planning and formulating district level programs and budget releasing; manual for assessment of minimum conditions and performance measures of DDCs; and manual for assessment of minimum conditions of VDCs etc. Different sector district officers and representatives from non-profit organizations, major political parties, VDCs and DDCs took part in the workshop. Participants seemed very active and enthusiastic. More questions were raised during the discussion period. There was an active involvement of the majority of the participants and the discussion looked very productive. Participants also recommended by providing several plausible suggestions which they believe would help in making the district level program and budget more practical and successful in the future. 2

3 Women participants also raised number of questions and involved in discussion very actively. 6. Workshop Process Followed: Presentation was made in power point, and the printed hard copies were distributed to all the participants. Presentation was prepared in such a way so that it could be more effective, clear and concise and everybody could understand the subject matter of the presentation in an easy way. Huge chunk of time was provided for discussion to make the workshop more fruitful and constructive. After the presentation was over, several questions were asked by the participants and depth discussion was made on several budget related issues. Female participants also showed more interest and curiosity in discussion, which was very remarkable. Almost three hours was spent in discussion. Presenter answered and put his views on the comments and queries made by the participants. At the end, after delivering a short speech over the significance of the organization of workshop and thanking everyone for taking part in the program, the chairman announced the closing of the workshop. 7. Comments and Questions Raised by Participants: In brief, the following are the questions and comments made by the participants during the half day workshop. What is the significance of MCPM in reference to the district level government bodies? It might be good to implement Rural Development model. District Periodic Plan must be updated. The budget allocated to sectoral offices at district seems in sufficient. Why does budget ceiling not arrive in time and what are the constraints for it? Are the directives made by MoLD followed and used according to the given guidelines? The women participation in budget making at district level must be increased. Why women programs are confined only on employment and training related programs? All district level programs are not supported by central budget. The programs identified by district are not included in budget s program but unidentified programs are included. Adjoining districts should be included in budget program. For example, if tourism program is to be promoted in Pokhara, there should be alike programs in adjoining districts such as in Gorkha, Sanjya, Tanahun etc. Environment friendly programs must be made for sustainability. Programs for dalits/minorities are not addressed in budget program. Programs for these groups must be made according to their actual needs but not randomly. 8. Recommendations Based on Participant s Thoughts: 3

4 Along with the arrays of questions and comments participants in the workshop also suggested with imperative thoughts as recommendations for the future improvement in district level budget making and its allocation procedures. Following are the point wise recommendations made based on the participants suggestions and discussion s outcome from the workshop. District level programs must be made with awareness and based on their importance. While formulating programs, resource map must be made. Representative committee must be formed to make better programs at district. Budget ceiling must come on time. Expand rural development model to make programs execution effective. Amount of budget must be amplified on hydropower, tourism, agriculture and environment. Women development program should be sufficient funding. Human development programs must be prioritized and corruption must be eliminated. There should be proper monitoring and evaluation system at all levels. Local election should be made easier, where VDC secretary can also conduct this election. Local policies must be more inclusive and there should be equal involvement of male and female representatives at planning level. Budgets for cooperatives and training should be increased in remote areas as well. Budgetary system must be made easier and transparent at all levels. Programs for dalits and minorities must be identified and implemented according to their needs. Environment friendly programs must be implemented for sustainable development of the country. 9. Lesson Learned: The participants showed their interest in understanding more about the formulation of district level program and budget releasing processes so that they could also contribute in this sector in the future. Nearly all of the female participants seemed more active in taking participation in the discussion and were eager to know more about the district level budget making process and the criteria of budget allocation prioritization. Participants also willed to take more time in the discussion so that they could ask more questions to be clear on many of the budget related issues. Since Nepali is our native language, a simple presentation in Nepali language becomes more effective and understandable to all the participants instead of English or other languages. Also, it cannot be assumed that everybody knows English language in Nepal. Therefore, the presentation and discussion in this workshop was also done in Nepali language. Organizing such workshops will greatly help concerned authorities and participants/public to understand more about the budget making, budget formulation and budget allocation prioritization processes. If such workshops are organized in remote districts, concerned authorities and public of rural areas could also get a lead better understanding about the budget related arrangements and processes. 4

5 Annex I District Level Program and Budget Making Process and Monitoring and Evaluation System Outline: Date: 17 th Asar, 2068 (16 th June, 2011) Workshop Duration: 8.00 am pm Venue: DDC Hall, Kaski District am am Breakfast am Chair by Mr. Sanjaya Adhikari am am Opening remarks by Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel am am Presentation by Dr. Posh Raj Pandey am am General discussion pm pm Responses to participant s queries/comments by Presenter pm pm Concluding remarks by the Chairman pm pm Vote of thanks pm - onwards Lunch District Level Program and Budget Making Process and Monitoring and Evaluation System Venue: - DDC Hall, Dolakha Date: /03/02 (June, 16, 2011) 5

District Level Progam and Budget Making Process and Monitoring and Evaluation Workshop, Dolakha District

District Level Progam and Budget Making Process and Monitoring and Evaluation Workshop, Dolakha District Introduction Budget is an instrument to control expenditure and facilitate financial administration.