Jordan Fiscal Reform Bridge Activity Quarterly Report: January – March 2016

The project aims to consolidate and build upon Jordan's critical macroeconomic reform gains made over the last decade, with a view to achieving robust and inclusive growth in Jordan. JFRBA focuses on three Priority Areas: enhancing policy advice and macroeconomic analysis, promoting public financial management, and building capacity to structure and vet public-private partnerships. The project has a broad mandate to work with a wide range of institutions in support of fiscal and financial stability of the Kingdom. The project has minimum requirements that must be delivered by July 31, 2016, including building capacity within the Ministry of Finance (MOF) for research, economic policy, and macro and fiscal forecasting techniques, operationalizing the PPP Unit, and rolling out the Government Financial Management Information System (GFMIS) to 100 percent of the central government budget and to pilot independent institutions. In addition to these essential requirements, the project has seven objectives, including improving effective policy analysis and execution, improving efficiency of public resources through stronger Public Financial Management (PFM), implementing Monitoring and Evaluation methodologies within the Government of Jordan, enhancing revenue mobilization through improved revenue administration, building Public Private Partnership capacity, strengthening efficiency in trading across borders, and ensuring Jordan's foreign aid is better aligned with fiscal and economic reform objectives. The six JFRBA teams are responsible for achieving these objectives. Team A focuses on Tax Revenue Mobilization, Team B on Public Financial Management, Team C on Fiscal Policy and Ministry of Finance, Team D on Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation, Team E on General Financial Management Information System, and Team F on Public Private Partnerships. The project's progress is monitored and evaluated through a set of performance indicators, which are tracked and reported on a quarterly basis. The quarterly report provides an update on the project's progress, including achievements and activities carried out during the quarter, as well as a status update on how far along each team is in achieving their indicators. The use of funds during the quarter is reported in Chapter IV, and contract deliverables are reported in Chapter V. The report also includes six appendices, which provide technical information about the project, including a glossary of acronyms, a performance indicators tracking table, USAID foreign assistance and custom indicators, FRP II sustainability indicators, capacity building and outreach events, and the JFRBA results framework. Overall, the JFRBA project aims to support the Government of Jordan in achieving fiscal stability and promoting economic growth through improved public financial management and increased revenue mobilization. The project's progress is closely monitored and evaluated through a set of performance indicators, and the quarterly report provides an update on the project's achievements and activities carried out during the quarter.