INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS ASF Goal and Purpose The goal of ASF is to support government agencies of PNG to develop and implement accountable policies, plans and systems and thereby contribute to public sector management and administration improvements and enhanced service delivery. The purpose of ASF is to assist the GoPNG to improve public sector management and administration. This is done through adviser placements that focus on capacity building of both individuals and organisations, with an emphasis on systems, policy, planning, accountability, management, administration and compliance. The intended outcome is sustained performance improvement within the public service leading to more effective and efficient service delivery. ASF Focus and Priorities The focus of ASF is on supporting reform and improvement initiatives within GoPNG agencies, particularly in the areas of governance, public sector reform, policy formulation, planning and core functions. ASF advisers help agencies to:
Strategic Direction for ASF The ASF Strategic Plan provides a framework for actively shaping the uses of the Facility. The Strategic Plan takes into account both the overall external environment as well as internal strengths, opportunities and gaps impacting on the dissemination of the ASF resources.This Plan is not a static document – it is reviewed annually. Influences on ASF There are a number of influences operating to shape and direct ASF in 2007-2008. Some of these are similar influences to those that have shaped the facility over the past three years, although there were some new developments during 2006 (and also others planned for 2007) that need to be taken into account. Australia's White Paper on Aid Australian Aid: Promoting Growth and Stability, released in 2006, provides the strategic framework to guide the direction and delivery of Australia 's overseas aid program over the next ten years. It underlines the Australian Government's commitment to a flexible, responsive and effective aid program that has the overall objective of assisting developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia 's national interest. In order to achieve this objective, Australia 's aid program will be organised around four themes: accelerating economic growth; fostering functioning and effective states; investing in people; and promoting regional stability and cooperation. Strategies to ensure the effectiveness of this aid program include: strengthening the performance orientation of the aid program; combating corruption; enhancing Australia 's engagement with the Asia–Pacific region; and working in partnership with regional governments and other donors. The White Paper makes a clear commitment to supporting development in PNG and proposes an increase in the aid allocation to PNG, subject to further reform and continued improved performance by the GoPNG. PNG – Australia Development Cooperation Strategy As an AusAID-funded partnership program, ASF is significantly influenced by discussions and agreements between the Australian and PNG governments. In 2006, following the Ministerial Forum in December 2005, a framework for a new Australian aid strategy in PNG was drafted. This strategy supports PNG in reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development with a specific focus on four core areas: improved governance and nation building; sustainable broad-based economic growth and increased productivity; improved service delivery and stability; and a strengthened, coordinated and effective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Development Cooperation Strategy ‘…reflects a genuine partnership between PNG and Australia that is driven by PNG ownership and leadership with a strong emphasis on sustainability and capacity building…'. It is aligned with the Australian White Paper , the Medium Term Development Strategy 2005-2010 [MTDS] and other key policy elements such as: Australia's whole of government engagement on development issues in PNG; a focus on a id impact and effectiveness; and a Performance Review and Dialogue [PRD] based on PNG's own Performance Management Framework. Taking account of the themes within this Strategy, in 2007 ASF is supporting advisory placements that will contribute to better governance, improved service delivery and a coordinated, more effective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The management of the facility will reflect the concepts of partnership, PNG ownership and capacity building as outlined above as well as picking up on the themes of whole of government engagement and aid effectiveness. GoPNG Priorities and Initiatives PNG's Medium Term Development Strategy 2005-2010 [MTDS] is in place as the overarching plan for social and economic development in PNG and the overall 2007 Budget and the Development Budget were framed to address the priorities outlined within it. As outlined in the MTDS, the GoPNG's development goals are export-driven growth, rural development and poverty reduction. The MTDS priorities remain relevant in 2007 – transport infrastructure, promoting income earning, basic education, primary health care, HIV/AIDS prevention, and law and justice. In addition, as agreed in the Development Cooperation Strategy discussions, governance and corruption are two major focus areas that will be explored further in 2007. Work will continue in implementing public sector reform through the Strategic Plan for Supporting PSR in PNG [SPSPSR] and related annual Workplans . The priorities are clear and central, line and sub-national agencies are implementing, to different degrees and at varied rates, the reforms outlined within this Plan. The objectives for reform are defined in the SPSPSR as: a public sector with a clear sense of priorities; affordable government; improving performance, accountability and compliance; improving service delivery. The plan notes that critical areas for public sector reform in PNG are: reducing costs and waste in national and provincial administrations; correcting the underlying weaknesses that fail to control spending and prevent waste; and strengthening the capacity of the central agencies. These all remain relevant for 2007. However, during this year, GoPNG will conduct a review of progress in the implementation of these reforms and this review will no doubt provide insights that will inform further PSR efforts. Performance of government agencies and individual public servants working within them will continue to be of importance to GoPNG in 2007, with progress expected towards a whole of government Performance Framework during the year. Accountability of government departments will also be a priority area and, with the formation of the new government after the July elections, the issue of right-sizing of government agencies is expected to come to the forefront of public administration discussions once again. The Public Sector Workforce Development Initiative [PSWDI], a GoPNG initiative that has built momentum over the past two years, is making considerable progress in 2007. Under the direction of a major inter-departmental committee [the PSWDI IDC], several working groups are operating across the public service, focussing on different aspects of public sector growth and development. Initiatives such as a revised induction program for public servants and a Graduate Development Scheme are already anyway with PSWDI support and will be further progressed during 2007. Enhanced Cooperation Program The Enhanced Cooperation Program [ECP], jointly agreed by the PNG and Australian Governments in December 2003, has seen a considerable number of Australian public servants placed in GoPNG agencies since February 2004. These now well-established ECP placements continue in 2007, with some being based within the same agencies as those requesting ASF support. There will therefore be a continuing need to find ways for ECP and ASF to operate in complementary ways rather than competing or duplicating efforts. ASF PRIORITIES In seeking to achieve its goal and purpose, ASF seeks to engage strategically and constructively with GoPNG agencies, AusAID, ECP and other aid donors to:
ASF recognises Australian and GoPNG policy priorities, particularly public sector reform priorities and suggestions for action in the PERR Reports . Based on these priorities, ASF will focus on the following four key areas in 2007. Priority 1: Setting Directions and Operationalising Plans ASF has provided substantial planning support to agencies in 2004-2006, encouraging the setting of clear directions through corporate and strategic planning processes. This support, combined with the work of central agencies (e.g. DPM) and individual agency efforts, means that many GoPNG agencies now have clearly stated and agreed overarching plans and corporate priorities. While some agencies may still need support to further clarify their purpose, direction and priorities it is now apparent that ASF support should also be focused on related activities, such as: capturing the focus of sector plans within individual agencies; developing ‘cascading' plans within departments (e.g. a division and branch level); more effectively linking planning, budgeting and organisational improvement; and the ‘bedding down' of streamlined departmental structures. Some observers have noted that at times planning seems to be an end in itself within some GoPNG agencies – there is often only limited concerted action towards implementation and change. It is accepted that this is often more difficult than the planning phase as it requires strong leadership, good management, staff motivation and the prioritisation of resources. Recognising both the need to operationalise plans and the difficulties facing GoPNG agencies in doing so, ASF is offering to assist departments to bring plans ‘off-the-shelf' and into the mainstream of administrative action and operation. Priority 2: Improving Performance and Accountability A number of PNG agencies have made considerable progress in establishing appropriate systems related to improving performance but the need to provide support in this area continues. The GoPNG, through work based on review and dialogue within DPM&NEC, DNPM and DPLGA, is addressing the general issue of performance within the public sector. These initiatives are likely to result in high-level agreement as to revised GoPNG processes related to performance monitoring and management and ASF will need to ensure that any support provided in 2007-8 is consistent with these developments. ASF will therefore support agencies to develop and manage effective systems for measuring, monitoring and reporting agency performance and improving performance appraisal systems for individual officers, within the revised GoPNG frameworks now under development. This revised GoPNG approach will include a focus on accountability, by departments, authorities and managers at all levels. ASF advisory support in 2007-8 will therefore be available to assist departments to further improve the accountability of their processes and operations. Priority 3: Public Expenditure Management An important priority for ASF over the past three years has been that of improving public expenditure management. As identified in early PERR Reports, individual agencies needed support to control spending, improve cost-effectiveness, strengthen the budget process, improve financial management, implement better control, accountability and compliance measures, and follow agreed procurement practices. While ECP is much involved in this area, particularly in the Departments of Finance and Treasury, ASF has also made a significant contribution in this endeavour – and will continue to do so in 2007-8. Priority 4: Tackling HIV/AIDS in the Workplace Recognising the ongoing importance of tackling the HIV/AIDS threat to PNG, ASF will continue to provide support in this area. All ASF Advisers are tasked with assisting their host agency to address issues related to HIV/AIDS awareness and ongoing preventative action within the workplace. In 2007-8, direct support will be provided to the National AIDS Council Secretariat, in the form of several advisory placements focused on capacity building of NACS to coordinate the nation's efforts to control and defeat the threatening AIDS pandemic. Guiding principles for ASF operations include:
Definition and Application within ASF Capacity development (also known as ‘capacity building') is at the core of advisory support within ASF, with all advisers being required to focus their major efforts on developing or building capacity during their placements. Generally, ‘capacity development' is a term used to describe a range of strategies, activities and methods employed within aid donor contexts to foster sustainable change. Specifically, within ASF, capacity development/building is the ‘process of developing competencies and capabilities in individuals, groups, organisations… which will lead to sustained and self-generating performance improvement.' In terms of capacity development, ASF operates at different levels, namely:
The Elements of Capacity Development in ASF There are a number of essential elements for successful capacity development within ASF:
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