Editorial
Accelerating ADP implementation
The resolve is welcome, coordination key
PLANNING Minister Air Vice-Marshall (Retd) AK Khandaker gave an impression after Tuesday's ECNEC meeting that Annual Development Programme (ADP), 2008-09 adopted by former caretaker government in July last year would not be revised by the new government. Most of the projects envisaged in it will continue, with minor modifications, to ensure quality of implementation. In other words, the basic developmental rationale and prioritisation pattern of the ADP have met with an approval from the new government, somewhat a break with the tradition of trivialising, if you like, any work of a previous government. This is not surprising though, inasmuch as it was the product of a technocratic, rather than a political, government.
Actually, the issue here is not so much the contents of the ADP as its sluggish pace of implementation. Only 24 percent of the development programme stood implemented at the halfway point of the fiscal 2008-09. Against this bleak backdrop, the new government has set itself a target of utilising 85-95 percent of the total development budget by April-May. This is an ambitious goal requiring contribution of a number of factors and inputs in a near-perfect sequential order and synchronisation.
The planning minister's resolve to expedite ADP implementation heartening as it is, needs to be followed by certain concrete steps to quicken the decision-making processes in the first place. The hearts of finance, planning and the line ministries would have to beat in unison to make quick implementation of the ADP possible. Internally, the ministries should have appropriately empowered efficient project implementation bodies with project directors staying for the full duration of their assignments. On top, the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Planning Ministry needs to be hugely strengthened.
Of course, the decisive electoral mandate of the government should help matters with the development partners in terms inflow of resources; yet, an accent is automatically placed on greater mobilisation of internal resources in light of the global financial recession. With a greater demand on transparency and accountability, the procurement regulations had been already tightened. But it is quite possible to adhere to these rules on a timeline if the processes are initiated in good time rather than complaining about stiffness of the criteria.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments