ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms on Wednesday signed $11.6 million agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support implementation of key governance reforms at federal and provincial levels.

The joint project aims at developing and expanding the capability and accountability of the public sector over a four-year period.

It will further improve the effectiveness of the Planning Commission to convene, analyse, propose and support the implementation of select key reforms, including monitoring and evaluation of development programmes; poverty and inequality monitoring and state structure modernisation.

The commission will be assisted by the UNDP technical expertise through its global governance and public administration reform practice, its Centre for Public Service Excellence in Singapore and the Bangkok Regional Hub.

The partnership commits both the Planning Commission and the UNDP to finance the support.

The project will sustain synergies and work closely with a range of public institutions, national think tanks, expert groups and universities, other multilateral and bilateral international cooperation institutions.

Minister of Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal while signing the agreement said the Planning Commission through joint initiative with the UNDP wanted to bring a transformational change where civil servants would redefine their role and mission in the light of national development goals and nation’s aspirations.

UNDP Country Director for Pakistan, Marc-André Franche said, “Governance reforms in public institutions have received new momentum thanks to a joint initiative launched by the prime minister. The partnership with the Planning Commission will support governance reforms in public sector institutions, monitor implementation of development plans and improve coordination between provinces and departments.”

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2015

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