Download Report - Independent Evaluation Group - World Bank

83.15 Decentralization. Assistance was interrupted following a change in GOM’sdecentralization strategy, following the 1998 revision of the Constitution creating newadministrative levels. 7 Many of the revisions, particularly the transfer of competence,budgetary assignments, and the structure of inter-governmental fiscal relations, remainedundefined and the nature of inter-relations between levels uncertain. As a result, theproject was no longer in a position to influence core policy decisions or provideassistance and guidance in the absence of clear direction. However, the pilot programs toimprove local management, establish guidelines on accounting standards, and raiserevenue mobilization were successfully implemented in 12 communes and some positiveexperiments have since been extended to a large number communes. The component wasclosed at restructuring.3.16 Judicial Reform. There was progress on several fronts: (i) a National School forMagistrates and Clerks was established, which still runs today with funding from thenational budget and donors. It now has a section for Magistrates specializing in financeand administration; (ii) the business legislation (commercial code, companies' law,guarantees and securities, etc.) was revised; (iii) several basic laws and other legalpublications were reprinted and distributed to all magistrates and other legal personnel,CD-ROMs were widely disseminated, and several secured libraries established; (iv) in2001, an Arbitration Center was opened; and (v) the provision of materials, supplies andIT equipment permitted to reduce the backlog of cases in the capital and in threeprovinces.MONITORING AND EVALUATION AND OTHER ISSUES3.17 The project included a list of indicators to measure progress under eachcomponent, stated in terms of activities, outputs, milestones, and dates. The indicatorswere adequate and corresponded to the right data to be collected, given the objectives ofthe project. However, M&E implementation was mixed: for components not droppedafter the restructuring, some outputs were produced on time, others with delay, and stillothers were not produced. For the components terminated at restructuring, manyactivities were not completed. There is insufficient information to asses – and the ICRdoes not discuss - the extent to which data collected or outputs produced informeddirectly decision-making processes and resource allocation. There were no issues withrespect to compliance with safeguards and fiduciary requirements.OUTCOME3.18 Unsatisfactory. As mentioned above, there are few indicators providingquantitative results, partly because of the disruption caused by the restructuring and thenumerous administrative and institutional changes. Overall, achievements were mixedand fragmentary due to insufficient commitment, frequent conflicts and changes in theadministration, and poor coordination. Economic management was not strengthened as7 The 1998 Constitution created Regions, as distinct from provinces and communes, but, as late as the end of 2003, theyhad not been established. The new Constitution also created Districts as deconcentrated units of the central governmentand the most important interface for public service delivery.