Virtual Resource Centre - Ex-ante Policy Impact Assessment

The first regional training on Cross-cutting ex-ante Policy Impact Assessment issues, with special focus on poverty reduction and ensuring equal opportunities for vulnerable and marginalized groups, will take place on 23-27 June 2008 in Budapest.

Participants were satisfied with the contents of the training, however, they expressed a wish of having more hours (days) of training on impact assessment and related issues (e.g. instruments).

Training was organized in 3 main thematic blocks:

1. introduction to IA framework and concepts within the policy development model
2. analysis of a real case study on impact assessments conducted in UK, where key elements of IA were analysed in relation to recommendation from the European Union (Mendelkern Report) and conditions of Serbia
3. procedural issues on conducting impact assessment

Данное руководство содержит описание методики и практического опыта проведения предварительной оценки влияния (ОВ) с обращением особого внимания на уменьшение бедности и обеспечение равных возможностей для уязвимых и изолированных групп. Руководство основывется на региональном опыте, накопленном в результате оценки систем ОВ и оценки нужд в обучении, проведённых в четырёх странах (Сербия, Хорватия, Босния и Герцеговина, Молдова), а также на уроках, извлечённых из реального осуществления проектов ОВ в разных странах.

Публикация ставит своей целью обеспечить практиков доступными методами и передовым опытом проведения предварительной оценки влияния в Европе и СНГ и, таким образом, посредством улучшенного процесса принятия решений повлиять на уменьшение уровня бедности. Целью руководства также является поддержка развития местного потенциала в области стандартов ЕС.

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Designing and Delivering UNDP’s 1st Regional Training on Cross-Cutting Issues of Ex-ante Policy Impact Assessment. Information

International Consultant - Quality assurance of the 1st Regional Training on Ex-ante Impact Assessment. Information

After discussing the results of the project’s first year and reporting on the status of national projects the Steering Committee accepted the work-plan of the project for 2008.

Regarding substantive activities, the following targets have been set:

1.      1st Regional training on cross-cutting issues of IA - June 2008 (estimated time)
2.      2nd regional training – late Autumn (tentative)
3.      Supporting CO projects throughout the year
4.      Pilot Impact Assessments – based on the needs of the participating countries
5.      Build up and roll out the Virtual Resource Centre – including an interactive workspace linked to regional trainings

Regarding operational matters, the following has been agreed:

1.      Virtual meetings of the Steering Committee will be held throughout the year
2.      Regular updates from BRC – every two months – will be sent
3.      Searching for more entry points at the CO level besides the one focal project
4.      Setting key deadlines

A team of two international consultants with the support of national consultants have completed the mapping of ex-ante Impact Assessment experiences and tools in Europe, with special focus on the relevant practices applied in the four participating countries. A Training Needs Assessment has been also carried out in each of the countries. Planning of future regional training has been initiated and a virtual resource centre is being developed.

Introductory training for the newly established policy units in line ministries has been organized in Moldova on June 19, 2007. The UNDP Moldova Country Office approached UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre with the request for support for this introductory training within the framework of the regional project. Ms. Katarina Staronova, an international consultant, has been sent to Chisinau to provide the training.
 
The training was organized in 4 main thematic blocks:
 
1) Introduction to IA concepts and theories
2) Analysis of real case studies of impact assessments conducted in the UK, where key elements of IA were analyzed in relation to recommendation from the European Union (Mendelkern Report) and conditions of Moldova
3) IA in broader context of policy making processes and management (consultation process, quality assurance, compliance problems, monitoring, etc.)
4) Brainstorming on the mandate of the policy units (coordination horizontal and vertical, vis-à-vis Ministry of Economy, vis-à-vis substantive departments, role in the process of IA, etc.)
 
The participants were satisfied with the contents of the training, and expressed a wish to have more hours (days) of training on impact assessment and related issues (e.g. instruments).