The Experience of Mozambique Development Observatory&

Poverty Regional Observatory in SADC

Regional Conference on “Institutional Frameworks for social equity monitoring and improving the effectiveness of public polices in promoting equity” Algiers, 15-16 December 2014.

PRESENTATION POINTS

1. CONTEXT2. MISSION AND OBJECTIVES 3. FUNCTION/STRUCTURE OF THE OD4. RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FOR THE

SESSIONS5. INFLUENCE MECHANISM6. CHALLENGES

Development Observatory (DO)The Experience of Mozambique

1. CONTEXT

• The Poverty Observatory was created in the context of the implementation and monitoring of the first Mozambican Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PARPA) in 2003.

• Aware that the set of proposed actions aim for the socio-economic development of the country, the Government and its Partners decided, in 2007, to name this consultative forum the Development Observatory (OD).

1. CONTEXT

…this open forum has became a fundamental mechanism in the planning, monitoring and evaluation process…in order to promote the active participation of the population and the communities at all levels, with the aim to unite, coordinate and harmonize efforts in the development process of fighting poverty.

1. CONTEXT

DEFINITION:

The Development Observatory (OD) is a consultative and participatory forum between

the Government and the National and International Partners to promote sustainable

socio-economic development, with regards to planning, monitoring and evaluation of the

Government planning instruments, as well as in the reflection and sharing of experiences

related to the fight against poverty.

2. MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

MISSION:

The OD aims at strengthening partnerships and creating synergies between all relevant stakeholders in the development process and the fight against poverty …based on the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of the public planning instruments:

• Long-term (the 2025 Agenda), • Medium term [the Government Five-Year Programme (QGP) and

the Action Plan for the Reduction of Poverty (PARP)], • Short term instruments [Economic and Social Plan (PES) and the

State Budget (OE)],

among others, recommending measures to enable continuous improvement of public policies in support of the sustainable growth and development of Mozambique.

2. MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVES: • Create conditions for an effective process of dialogue and

consultation between the Government and (national and international) partners, as well as raising the level of accountability of all stakeholders;

• Review and improve the strategic and operational planning documents, both at central and provincial level;

• Contribute to the collection of data and information related to strategic indicators, as well as conduct analyses to obtain indications for its improvement;

• Produce documents containing comments and recommendations related to the implementation and monitoring of the actions of the Government in the framework of development.

3. STRUCTURE/PERIODICITYThe OD integrates two bodies, namely:

a) The Plenary: chaired by the Minister in charge of Planning and Development and the Governor of the Province, at central and provincial levels, respectively.

b) The Technical Secretariat: a permanent body of technical and logistical support to the Plenary, is coordinated by the Ministry of Planning and Development (MPD) and the Provincial Directorate of Planning and Finance (DPPF), at its central or provincial levels.

The (Central and Provincial) ODs should be held with bi-annual periodicity, at least two (2) times a year, the first plenary session to undertake Monitoring and Evaluation of the Performance of the previous year (n-1) and the second for the evaluation of the current year (year n) and the Planning of the following year (n + 1).

Extraordinary plenary sessions of the OD may be held to present matters of common interest of the OD stakeholders (government and national and international partners).

4. RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

• The institution responsible for the coordination and organization of the Preparatory Sessions (MPD or DPPFs) shall make the public planning documents available to the stakeholders (participants) in a timely manner, at least two (2) weeks prior to the Plenary Session…

• The following are public documents: • Sectorial Strategic Plans, • Provincial Budget Economic and Social Plan (PESOP), • Medium Term Expenditure Framework (CFMP), • Poverty Reduction Strategy (PARP, including the Strategic Matrices,

etc.),

THE MOST IMPORTANT ARE THE OPERATIONAL DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS:• Economic and Social Plan and his Report• Budget Execution Report (REO)

6. INFLUENCE MECHANISM

• THE Civil Society (CS) representing by G20 – a Civil Society Platform to participate in the DO created in 2004 – participates in all session presenting their DOCUMENT POSITION in many ways:

• THE CS CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRSP;

• THE CS CONTRIBUTION FOR BUDGET ALLOCATION TO REDUCE INEQUALITY AND REGIONAL DISPARITIES;

• THE CS ADOCACY ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PLAN and HIS BALANCE REPORT.

• THE CS POVERTY ANNUAL REPORT (this one was presenting only on 2004, 2005 and 2007).

6. INFLUENCE MECHANISM

• At the end of each session the document from the SC is submitted the to government institution that coordinates the planning process (Ministry Of planning) with the session synthesis;

• The Secretariat has the task of DO to organize the recommendations and suggestions present in each document in the SC matrix to be monitored in the next session;

• Each session starts with the situation of the recommendations and suggestions outlined last session (if they have been accepted or not and the degree of implementation);

The “problem” here is that the recommendations are not of mandatory character because the OD is a consultative forum.

7. CHALLENGES

CREATE A LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OD:

• In this moment the OD is integrated in the national planning cycle and functions based on the IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OBSERVATORY;

• The forum is institutionalized in the Government but still doesn't have a legislation framework

• So: as an influence mechanism on public policies the OD is not very strong but as a participative monitoring mechanism of the economic and social plan and public policies, it has played a big role

   

Poverty Regional Observatory (RPO)On

Southern Africa Development Community(SADC)

• THE RPO IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING ITSELF; NOT FUNCTIONING YET.

• …BUT MANY THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE

1. CONTEXT

• Poverty is one of the major challenges facing the SADC region where a significant section of the population, about 40 per cent, lives in abject poverty.

• It is in view of the foregoing, that SADC Heads of State and Governments held an International Conference on Poverty and Development in Mauritius in April 2008.

• The aim of the Conference was to reflect on and adopt innovative approaches to the region’s poverty eradication strategies towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

• The Summit Conference adopted a Declaration on Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development which, among other things, mandated the SADC Secretariat to establish a SADC Regional Poverty Observatory.

 

1. CONTEXT

The proposal to establish the SADC Regional Poverty Observatory was approved by the Council and endorsed by the Summit in August 2008 in Sandton, South Africa.

The RPO is established to provide an institutional framework within the SADC Secretariat that will facilitate the establishment of a statistics database on poverty indicators and trends in the SADC region.  The RPO Proposal was approved by the Council and endorsed by the Summit in August 2010.

2. MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

According to the RPO framework adopted by Council, the SADC Regional Poverty Observatory will:

• Provide a coordinated approach and common standards to data gathering, systematic analysis and dissemination of data; and monitoring of poverty-related issues at the national level;

• Evaluate the effectiveness of individual and common strategies, policies and programmes on poverty reduction;

• Create a database for assessing Member States’ poverty profiles;

2. MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

• Develop mechanisms for effective monitoring of living conditions and poverty at country level within the context of Poverty Reduction Strategies and National Development Plans;

• Serve as a research and documentation centre for analyzing the nature, dynamics and impact of poverty in the region;

• Encourage broad-based stakeholder participation and help stimulate debate on poverty-related policies through dissemination of information and advocacy; and guide Member States in effective implementation of poverty reduction strategies through dissemination of best practices in the region and beyond.

3. STRUCTURE/PERIODICITY

The RPO is made of two main structures being:

a) A Stakeholder Forum made of all stakeholders who will be meeting every two years to deliberate on trends on poverty and development in the region; and b) A Steering Committee that will provide direction with regard to the delivery of the SADC Regional Poverty Observatory. • The Steering Committee will meet at least once every

year. It is made of one senior official from each Member State; five representatives from regional civil society apex organizations and private sector organizations; three experts on poverty and development issues drawn from the SADC region and two representatives of development partners in an advisory capacity. The Steering Committee will report to the Council.

DEFINITION

The SADC RPO is conceptualized as an inclusive regional forum where government, civil society, business and international cooperation partners will work together to promote the economic and social development of the region.

The work of the RPO will be guided by the RISDP, the strategic intervention areas in the Regional Poverty Reduction Framework (RPRF) and the clusters in poverty reduction strategies formulated by Member States.

WHAT ALREADY HAPPENED UNTIL NOW

• The Steering Committee which reports to the SADC Council of Ministers was created and his Terms of Reference were approved.

• They had 3 meetings to discuss about the RPO Documents (The National Poverty Report in Members States);

• …About when the 1st Session will take place• …which indicators will be integrated in the Poverty

Indicators Matrix.

• The last meeting was in 2013.

• The Poverty Indicators Matrix was approved this year;

• The next Steering Committee will be held on 2014 to organize the 1st Session of Regional Poverty observatory.

Thank You for Your attention