Monitoring the IPS impact and process continuation 

The Integrated Planning System Multi-Donor Trust Fund (IPS MDTF) which has been funded by seven donors (UK, Austria, EU, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland), in order for the IPS process, its methodology and products to be better understood and implemented across Government, will be completed by the end of September.

The IPS Multi-Donor Trust Fund has been managed by World Bank. It has been financing several components designed to build and strengthen capacities in various government agencies for the implementation of the Integrated Planning System by ensuring that the core Government policies and financial processes are developed in an integrated manner. The programme aimed at helping to support effective implementation of the IPS principles across the whole government.

To analyse the results that have been achieved so far and to lay down the path for the continuation of the donor support to the IPS implementation beyond September, on 24 to 26 March 2011, the World Bank and CFCU organised in Budva, Montenegro a retreat for the Government officials. Representatives from the DSDC, Ministry of Finance, CFCU, DoPA, TIPA, and NAIS participated in this workshop. The main activity during this retreat was the workshop “ Monitoring the IPS impact and process continuation: Analysing the Results Matrix”.

The workshop discussed the progress made toward completing all components of the IPS MDTF and analysed the impact of the IPS MDTF support to the different beneficiary government line ministries and institutions, based on the Results Framework Matrix. It emphasised that there have been very positive results for most of the IPS processes supported by the Trust Fund and sustained the idea of continuity to better enable the progress achieved so far.

Actually IPS has shifted from design to implementation phase, and by assessing the progress done, the government considers of a very high importance a follow-up phase to the Multi-Donor Trust Fund, which might be focused on fewer components and achieve higher results. The workshop discussed proposals and ideas which will help the Government identify areas that need further support. In the following month, the Government will come up with a concrete plan on its needs. It will be presented to donors to receive their financial support in order to continue the IPS process implementation.