Duration: 2008-2013

Implementation Partners: Ministry of Finance, Planning and Development Departments

Funding Partners: Swiss Agency for Development, Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan

Geographical location: Federal, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Annual Budget (2013): USD 575,513

Quick Facts

April 2013

Strengthening Poverty Reduction Strategy Monitoring

BriefProject

Pakistan adopted the process of developing the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) in 2000 by setting up a PRSP Secretariat in the Finance Division. An Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper in 2001 was followed by Pakistan's �rst PRSP, which was implemented from 2004 to 2006. PRSP-II, the latest strategy paper, was implemented from 2008 till 2010. The two papers aim at achieving rapid, broad-based economic growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability; improving governance, investing in human capital, improving public service delivery and targeting the poor with a focus on reducing inequalities. Drawing upon the recommendations of a technical experts group in 2006 to assess the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Finance to perform its mandate for PRS monitoring, an institutional framework was developed with the objective to institutionalize a system for monitoring poverty at the federal and provincial levels, with the capacity for address data gaps and support inter-institution coordination for strengthened PRSP monitoring. UNDP along with the Ministry of Finance launched the Strengthening Poverty Reduction Strategy Monitoring Project (SPRSMP) in 2008 which is housed in the Finance Division at Federal level with its provincial o�ces in the Planning & Development Departments at Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

ObjectiveThe Project aims at strengthening institutional capacities of public o�cials for (i) results-based monitoring and evaluation of PRS at federal and provincial levels, (ii) gender responsive planning and budgeting, (iii) Improving pro-poor public resource allocation and spending, (iv) improving contribution of public o�cials in informed decision making at policy level to make policies more gender responsive and (v) improving the tracking system for pro poor expenditure to enhance gender responsive resource allocation and planning processes.

Pakistan

2Strengthening Poverty Reduction StrategyMonitoring

Expected Results Public spending and allocations in pro-poor

sectors are reviewed and analyzed through a gender lens to better understand the contribution and needs of women and men;

Quality, collection, analysis and management of PRS data improved at national and province levels;

National engagement in P R S monitor ing mobilized through participatory processes.

Main Achievements The project remained engaged with provision of high

level policy support to the Ministry of Finance for policy development and implementation of pro-poor strategies. This support was delivered through assessments of policies and programs in sectors highly relevant to women's empowerment;

Research studies included the poverty & social impact analysis of socio-economic programs, gender awareness policy appraisals in education, health and agriculture sector, tracking trends of pro-poor expenditures, and assessing (district wise) the poverty situation of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab through composite indicators;

Provincial budgets were analyzed with a gender lens and a range of recommendations were made for the provincial governments to revisit the resource pool in a gender sensitive manner;

During the budget making process for the year 2012-13, the recommendations were shared with the relevant departments for adoption. The federal unit provided instrumental support with the development of PRSP-II, and the development of PRSP progress reports;

Three provinces were supported with the development and launch of provincial Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reports, which provide status on the progress made against each MDG target. This is a remarkable success in terms of data availability and MDG tracking;

O�cials from 18 ministries and departments were trained on gender responsive planning and budgeting using results based management tools;

Gender sensitive budget making process was s u p p o r t e d t h r o u g h t r a i n i n g o f o � c i a l s representing 15 ministries and departments who incorporated gender sensitive amendments in the results framework of the Green Book;

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province o�ce trained 80 o�cials on gender responsive budgeting, 70 o�cials on monitoring and evaluation techniques and 20 o�cials on data analysis. 100 o�cials from district government department were trained on 'Development Information Software';

729 o�cials in the Punjab Government were trained on gender responsive planning and budgeting. Launch of three MDG reports by the provincial governments is proof of increased data tracking and management capacities at all tiers, as these reports are based on extensive data generated at district level;

Provincial MDG reports and analytical reports on pro-poor allocation and expenditure have contributed towards initiation of Balochistan comprehensive development strategy to provide the Government of Balochistan with a long-term comprehensive package for people centered sustainable development.

What's Next?The project is currently supporting the provincial g ove r n m e n t s i n t h e d e ve l o p m e n t o f M D G Acceleration Frameworks (MAFs) for Pakistan. These f r a m e w o r k s w i l l s u p p o r t d e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n government machinery for identi�cation and implementation of accelerated e�orts to meet the MDG targets by 2015.

Project Officer: Mr. Shakeel Ahmed shakeel.ahmed@undp.org

United Nations Development Programme4th Floor, Serena Business Complex, Islamabad, PakistanTel: (92-51) 8355600Fax: (92-51) 2655014-15www.undp.org.pk Pakistan