ZM-Pub Service Mgmnt Prog - Support Proj operates in Zambia.
The objective of the Public Sector Management Program Support Project is to make public service delivery institutions and processes more effective and efficient by enhancing the efficiency and accountability of the management of public expenditures and the public service in line with the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) strategies to support poverty reduction and promote economic growth. The extension is necessary to allow the recipient to complete the implementation of activities that will ensure the achievement of the project objectives. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to these objectives and its willingness to continue the implementation of activities under the project. The recipient has shown new appetite for reform by ensuring that these reforms are part of the high level policy dialogue on budget support and are monitored through the newly introduced monetary and evaluation (M&E) department which reports on progress to cabinet, this is different from before where implementation was left to the technocrats with ineffective accountability mechanisms. The performance of the borrower is now satisfactory with senior management now focusing on providing oversight to and demanding accountability from the implementing component managers. The recipient has submitted the work plan, procurement plan and performance assessment criteria that covers the entire period of project extension to International Development Association (IDA). With this extension, the total life of this project will be 6 years 6 months. This will be the first extension of the project closing date. The recipient proposed a 24 month extension in its letter of request for extension of closing date; however the project task team is of the view that an extension for a period of 18 months will be sufficient to complete the implementation of the remaining project activities. In addition, this shorter timeframe will help to impose time and budget constraints on the implementing agencies, thereby forcing them to implement activities in a focused manner and to remove any complacency that may arise from a longer extension period.
