Looking Ahead

n important component of UNCDF's evaluation process is its emphasis on formulating an Action Plan for the remaining duration of the project. The recommendations of the mid-term evaluation are now being implemented along the lines of an Action Plan that was drawn up at the October 99 workshop mentioned earlier. The primary objectives of the Action Plan are:

• to outline the action steps required to prepare the transition of the policy experiment to a government practice and institutionalize RIDU within the provincial structure; and
• to define ways on how to disseminate the RIDEF experience to central government policy formation

At the provincial level, the Action Plan focuses most activities on consolidating the RIDEF methodology, and on finding ways to transfer and integrate RIDU's functions into the provincial government structure. Aside from refining and simplifying the LPP, this includes preparing a manual and providing technical assistance in the formulation of provincial regulations and training programmes.

RIDU is refining its Management Information System by increasing its emphasis on impact monitoring and assessment. RIDU also is preparing a framework for the devolution of financial activities to the recipients (at both the commune and district levels).

Concurrently, UNDP and UNCDF are working with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to study the possibility of institutionalizing decentralized participatory planning approaches with a particular focus on participatory planning/ management approaches in rural infrastructure projects. This joint study is helping the government to design some aspects of its Hunger Eradication and Poverty Reduction (HEPR) Programme. One of the components of this initiative is a local development programme for the poorest communes all over the country, which is referred to as the Programme for the Poorest 1715 Communes. The experience of the RIDEF experiment is being used as one of the models for this programme, which provides community-based infrastructure.

While there still remains much to be accomplished, UNCDF believes that a high degree of sustainability and national ownership has been already been achieved with the programme, especially with the commitment from the Provincial People's Committee to allocate financial resources thereby continuing the Local Development Fund approach after UNCDF involvement ends in March 2001.

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