Projects and Programs that have been Managed for Results Timor-Leste Experience Emilia Pires Advisor on Development Planning and External Coordination 05 Feb 04

Background: 1999 crisis 25 years of occupation Vote for independence August 1999 Post-ballot destruction (85% public buildings destroyed, state collapse, two-thirds population displaced) Joint Timorese-international assessment mission –Produced sectoral plans and budgets: no results target –Division of labour: civil service/judiciary versus economic and social reconstruction –A good start but………

Loss of control of reconstruction process during 2000 Fragmented aid delivery mechanisms Reconstruction programs moved faster than civil service establishment - therefore lack of Timorese involvement in design and implementation Results not specified clearly, so expectations too high Results not measured - therefore perception that there were no results

Reconstruction benchmarks Established in late 2000, driven by need to get back on track: focus efforts and measure progress Criteria: –frequent achievable targets and monitoring, to build momentum –simple user-friendly format, to encourage cabinet and donor ownership –political, institutional, economic and social targets - strong links between sectors

Sample benchmarks Political Affairs Administrative Handover Public FinanceEconomic Reconstruction Social Reconstruction Dec 2000 Training Plans completed o >85% of DG recruited o Power billing in place 2 rounds of immunization done Mar 2001 Voter registration complete o >85% of DG recruited 20% capital budget o >Budget spending at least 60% Establishment of for infrastructure regional offices health administrators recruited 600 schools basic level operation Jun 2001 Constitutional commissions formed o 40% of training delivered x Plan for rural power station completed School mapping study completed Sep 2001 Finalization of party candidates Official start of 6 weeks election campaign o Performance Mgt Training introduced 90% level 1-4 recruited x Study of power station completed x Public Works Office reconstructed 37 pre-school ready to open o Hospital reconstruction plan completed

Achievements Successfully accelerated pace of reconstruction Became central to government process - introduced accountability in Cabinet and civil service Helped Timorese leadership manage expectations Helped improve Timorese-donor relationships and secured consistent aid flows Created demand for better targets and more information

Disadvantages Developed by small number of Timorese and international partners, endorsed by cabinet members - lack of wider ownership Only measured government, not donors Targets were generally outputs rather than outcomes, not linked to overall development vision

Next steps – the National Development Plan Comprehensive bottom-up participatory process on vision and priorities, to meet national expectations (full independence May 2002) Baseline data available Reliant on new (weak) government structures and traditional civil society structures. Acted as capacity-building exercise for government Included outcomes, heavily influenced by MDGs…… ………..but a christmas tree, lacked clear prioritisation of results and sequencing

Operationalisation of NDP Transitional support program - “priorities of priorities”, links results to medium-term expenditure framework Monitors both government and donors (budget support, technical assistance) Still short-term and output-based, but much less than benchmarks Work in progress - adapting MDGs to national context, matching targets to resources

Results frameworks are relevant for post-conflict reconstruction Prioritisation is a particular problem when everything has been destroyed - helps government and donors prioritise efforts Expectations are particularly high after peace agreements and pledging meetings - helps government and donors manage expectations Government typically has little experience - simple management tool for new leaders and civil servants Easier to introduce good systems, transparency and accountability right at the beginning than later

But are adjustments needed? More need for short-term results to stabilise political situation No baseline data ( and cannot do survey as first reconstruction project!), therefore initial results may need to focus on outputs Needs specific capacity-building efforts, simple formats and frequent monitoring with new governments with little experience Needs very strong information campaign to disseminate expected and actual results