Quarterly Progress Report July – Sep 2012

One major event was the "National Stakeholder's Conference on Public Sector Training in Pakistan," organized in collaboration with the Executive Development Institute (EDI) of the National School for Public Policy (NSPP). The conference deliberated on issues and challenges in public sector training design, development, and delivery in Pakistan, resulting in a set of recommendations for effective training delivery. Progress was made in developing a robust Public Financial Management Assessment Framework for Pakistan. ASP-RSPN organized consultation meetings and conferences to solicit feedback from major stakeholders in the PFM continuum. The Stakeholder's Consultation Conference on PFM Assessment Framework at the National School of Public Policy (NSPP) provided a platform for federal and provincial governments to develop a consensus on the need for a PFM assessment framework at the institutional level. After an in-depth research and consultation process, a team of national and international consultants developed a draft PFM Framework and shared its key elements during provincial consultation meetings organized by ASP-RSPN. A comprehensive testing exercise was envisioned for the first quarter of 2013 to finalize the framework. Under its Research component, ASP-RSPN completed two research studies: "Planning & Development Architecture in Pakistan – A case for Restructuring" and "Streamlining GoP's Project Management Units (PMU) Approach." The two reports highlighted policy recommendations for federal and provincial planners to streamline the national planning process in line with international best practices. ASP-RSPN also provided strategic support to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP) in the establishment of the Provincial Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Settlement Authority (PARRSA). ASP-RSPN continued to implement its capacity building interventions with the federal and provincial governments and private sector organizations. The program supported the development of a robust Public Financial Management Assessment Framework for Pakistan and provided strategic support to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP) in the establishment of the Provincial Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Settlement Authority (PARRSA). The program also completed two research studies on planning and development architecture in Pakistan and streamlining project management units. The program's capacity building interventions focused on strengthening the institutional capacity of the federal and provincial governments and private sector organizations. The program supported the development of a robust Public Financial Management Assessment Framework for Pakistan, which aimed to improve the financial management practices of the government. The program also provided strategic support to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP) in the establishment of the Provincial Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Settlement Authority (PARRSA), which aimed to improve the delivery of public services in the province. The program's research component focused on identifying policy recommendations for federal and provincial planners to streamline the national planning process in line with international best practices. The program completed two research studies: "Planning & Development Architecture in Pakistan – A case for Restructuring" and "Streamlining GoP's Project Management Units (PMU) Approach." The two reports highlighted policy recommendations for federal and provincial planners to improve the national planning process.