Background
Since the end of the war in 2003, the Government of Liberia (GoL), with support from development partners (DPs), has made good progress in rehabilitating infrastructure and social services destroyed during the conflict. While these efforts have yielded some dividends, a more strategic approach to infrastructure development and coordination is needed, given its pivotal role in the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). The PRS consists of four pillars: I) Consolidating Peace and Security, II) Revitalizing the Economy, III) Improving Governance and Rule of Law and IV) Providing Infrastructure and Basic Services. Given the pivotal role of infrastructure in growth and national development, Pillar IV is at the forefront of GoL and DP efforts to renew the country. Recognizing the need to improve coordination in planning, management and implementation of infrastructure works among ministries and agencies (M&As), GoL has asked ACET’s to help achieve this goal.
Task
Develop an effective governance structure for enhancing coordination and integration among the implementers of the Infrastructure and Basic Services pillar, including key ministries, departments, and agencies. The outcome of the engagement will be the establishment of an Infrastructure Coordination Secretariat that will ultimately serve as the central nervous system of all infrastructure planning, coordination and implementation.
Challenges
Providing Infrastructure and Basic Services is regarded as the most operations-intensive of the four pillars, and it faces significant challenges in collecting comprehensive, current data for reporting and coordination. The lack of depth and breadth of capacity at all levels in project implementation, inadequate information management and reporting, and unclear mandates and responsibilities add to the challenges.
Findings/Recommendations
ACET recommended a new organizational structure and new processes for the entities involved to delive on Pillar IV.
ACET will support GoL in structuring and staffing an Infrastructure Coordination Secretariat. The Secretariat will coordinate planning, management, implementation, M&E and reporting of infrastructure works for all the relevant entities. The Secretariat will have a broad purview of infrastructure M&As and their challenges, so it can identify capacity-building needs and bring them to the attention of the Chair for action. It should also be empowered to intervene when necessary to remove bottlenecks and avoid duplication.
Contingent upon support from the Ministry of Public Works and other relevant M&As, as well as other conditions in Liberia, ACET anticipates completing this engagement within the first six months of 2012.
