Resolution implementation
- 1. Mitchell O’Brien Senior Governance Specialist Cluster Lead - Parliamentary Strengthening Cluster Governance Global Practice World Bank Group Email: mobrien@worldbank.org Resolution Implementation W A A P A C A c c o u n t a b i l i t y C o n f e r e n c e – S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5
- 2. Outline of Presentation 1. Why do we care? 2. What are Recommendations? 3. What makes a good Recommendation? 4. What is the practice around follow-up on Recommendations? 5. Factors influencing follow-up
- 3. Why do we care about Recommendations? Accountability is defined as: 1. Answerability 2. Enforcement • No strict definition for Enforcement – includes notions of discovering non-compliance, deterring non-compliance, and rehabilitating or punishing those who do not comply. • SAIs often lack enforcement capacity, therefore, rely on parliament. • What is the value add of PAC/ Finance Commissions if they are unable to promote Enforcement?
- 4. What are Recommendations? Recommendations are a final summary of an investigation and set out: 1. Key findings; and 2. Actions to be taken There are three types of recommendations related to external financial oversight: • Audit recommendations (SAI) • Committee Recommendations (Parliamentary Audit Committee) • Parliamentary Recommendations
- 5. What makes a good Recommendation? Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time-bound
- 6. How do Committees and Parliaments deal with the follow-up on Recommendations? • SAIs, Committees, or the Parliament can follow-up on any of the recommendations • The type of recommendation is usually dependent on the institution undertaking the follow-up – the recommendation closest to the institution is usually the one reviewed • Recommendation tracking can be undertaken by the SAI, Committee, or Parliament and tracking mechanisms can include multiple layers of recommendations • There is no single model for institutional follow-up of recommendations
- 7. Follow-up Strategies Follow-up Strategies can be mapped along a spectrum: Follow-up by a devoted/ ad hoc sub- committee of the Committee Follow-up by the Committee as a whole - Annual hearing - Revisiting specific reports Devoted Parliamentary Committee (Undertakings/ Assurance Committees) External Actors (eg SAI)
- 8. Factors Influencing Recommendation Follow-up A G E N D A For how long are PAC members appointed to serve on the committee? All West Africa Non-WA % Full term 70% 69% 70% Mean years PAC 3 4 3 Median years PAC 4 4 4 Mode years PAC 5 4 1 Who initiates PAC investigations? % Initiated by: AG Parliament Minister Committee Other All 41 19 0 34 5 WA 23 49 0 28 0 Non-WA 44 15 1 35 5
- 9. Factors Influencing Recommendation Follow-up (cont’d) On what basis are PAC decisions reached? All West Africa Non WA Majority 71% 67% 72% Unanimous 29% 33% 28% Staffing of PAC Dedicated Shared Government AG Other Total Average All 4 1 0 0 0 5 West Africa 3 0 1 1 0 4 Non-WA 5 1 0 0 0 6
- 10. Questions • What dynamic exists between your Committee and SAI around implementation of Recommendations? • Whose recommendations are you following up on?