UN Funds Projects to help End Violence Against Women
According to a United Nations (UN) news release on 25 November, a UN fund aimed at ending violence against women is awarding more money this year than the sum of all its grants since its inception in 1996. $19 million has now been earmarked to 23 projects in 29 countries.
"This is an extremely encouraging trend," UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Executive Director Inés Alberdi (pictured) said. "It is a sign of new momentum created through UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s campaign UNITE to End Violence against Women. In the context of this campaign, the UN Trust Fund is a key mechanism to provide urgently needed funding to initiatives worldwide."
UNIFEM administers the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, which last year disbursed $5 million. But despite the steep increase, resources still fall short to meet the vast demand. Overall, grant requests amounting to $525 million were received this year for initiatives in developing countries, including in conflict-affected nations where widespread and systematic sexual violence has become a horrific tactic of warfare.
For the first time in the Fund’s history, applicants were invited to submit proposal requests for up to $1 million. UN Country Teams were also invited to apply in partnership with national governments and civil society organizations.
Projects approved include:
India – a grantee will facilitate implementation of the national 2005 “Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act” by developing a model of an effective response system for women survivors of violence that involves multiple state agencies.
-
Ecuador – a project will develop the linkage between economic empowerment and prevention of violence against women in two border rural provinces marked by poverty and discrimination, and highly affected by the armed conflict in Colombia.
-
Serbia – a model for cooperation between the police and social welfare centres at provincial level will ensure systematic and standardized data collection and analysis on reported cases of violence against women, as well as coordinated services for survivors of violence.
-
China – the UN Country Team intends to raise political commitment among policy makers to adopt a national policy and legislation on domestic violence by working in close partnership with the “All China Women’s Federation” and various ministries.
Other grants target 10 groups in 13 countries focusing on catalytic, innovative and learning initiatives to address violence against women. In Morocco, for example, a country where women are particularly vulnerable to discrimination and violence upon becoming pregnant outside of wedlock, support for professional development and legal literacy will be provided for single mothers.
A cross-regional initiative will document and evaluate four projects to promote positive changes in men’s attitudes and behaviours regarding gender roles and norms in Brazil, Chile, India and Rwanda, contributing to the knowledge base on effective strategies to engage men in ending violence against women.
Source: UN Daily News Digest, 25 November 2008
Editor’s note: Anyone with a mother, wife or daughter must support efforts to end violence against women, in all countries and in all circumstances. We at PMForum fully support any and all such programs and projects funded by the UN and other governmental agencies and NGOs. We encourage other individuals and organizations to do the same.
Top of Page
World Bank releases China Quarterly Economic Update
According to the World Bank's latest China Quarterly Update, released on 25 November 2008, China's domestic economy and the government's stimulus policies will be key to sustaining this vital pole of growth to the world. The report forecasts that China's GDP growth rate will be around 7.5 percent in 2009 - down from 9.4 percent in 2008. It also forecasts that China's export growth is likely to be low in 2009 - around 3.5 percent (in real terms) compared to 11 percent in 2008.
The impact of the global financial crisis is spreading, the report says, with risk aversion and de-leveraging leading to a funding squeeze that affects demand in many countries. This includes many emerging markets that, as a group, buy more than 50 percent of China's exports and until recently continued to see strong import growth.
"In terms of the effect of China's slowdown on the world, there's good news and bad news," said Dr. David Dollar (pictured left), World Bank Country Director for China. "China's recently announced stimulus package is good news because it will keep China's growth rate up at a pretty healthy rate and so imports will continue to go into China at a fairly good rate. That's good news for countries like Mongolia and Australia that export commodities like copper and iron ore to China – it's also welcome news for countries selling primary products, machinery and parts to China. The bad news is there won't be as much stimulus to these exporting economies as China was giving in the past."
The report analyzes some of the domestic factors that have already made China's economy slow down in 2008 compared to the high pace of 2007. Weakness in the real estate market is now feeding through to several “upstream” industries such as cement and steel. Looking ahead, private sector investment is expected to be weighed down by unfavorable external prospects and continued weakness in real estate. Private consumption growth is also likely to soften in 2009.
At the same time, the report says inflation is coming down steadily. After absorbing higher food and energy prices, headline inflation has receded and, with sharply lower raw commodity prices, inflation is not a concern at this point. With prospects for growth and inflation changed rapidly, the Government's more expansionary macroeconomic stance and higher government-influenced spending is going to play a key role in 2009.
"The emphasis will be on accelerating and increasing infrastructure and other investment, but of a different nature than in the wake of the Asian crisis, with many projects focusing on broad long term development and improving living standards," said David Dollar.
"We're encouraging China to look to a new growth model that depends more on domestic demand and domestic needs," he added. " So, as China builds infrastructure as part of the stimulus package we're hoping it's focusing on infrastructure that addresses future needs such as energy efficiency, urban public transport and high speed rail."
The report's main author, senior economist Louis Kuijs, added that most of the recently announced ten points for stimulating domestic demand and growth mean higher direct government-influenced spending - in the form of investment or consumption - and should therefore have a measurable impact on output in the short term. "More than half of our GDP growth forecast of around 7.5 percent for 2009 is coming from government-influenced spending,” he said.
The update finds that the stimulus policies provide China with a good opportunity to rebalance its economy in line with the objectives of the 11th Five-Year Program. The stimulus package contains many elements that support China's overall long term development and improve people's living standards. Some of the stimulus measures give some support to the rebalancing of the pattern of growth from investment, exports, and industry to consumption and services. The government can use the opportunity of the fiscal stimulus package to take more rebalancing measures, including on energy and resource pricing; health, education, and the social safety net; financial sector reform; and institutional reforms.
To read the report, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/china.
Top of Page
Turkey & USA to cooperate on Global Energy Security
Reported by Ahmet Taspinar in Istanbul
According to a news release from the US Department of Energy on Thursday, 30 October 2008, the USA and Turkish government are planning some significant cooperation related to energy security. Main points of the DOE news included the following:
The U.S. is committed to assisting Turkey with its energy security, as Turkey is a key component of a larger regional strategy for increased energy production and diversification of oil and gas transit routes.
The U.S. is collaborating with our Turkish partners on the energy projects they identify as a priority — for the development, financing, and insurance of energy projects such as pipelines, power plants, and electricity distribution systems.
In collaboration with Turkish counterparts, we can work to deploy renewable energy and clean coal technologies, increase the reliability and efficiency of electricity generation and delivery, and decrease Turkey’s energy intensity.
The U.S. is committed to the free flow of Caspian energy resources, particularly to western markets. We recognize that Turkey can play a key role as a transit corridor between Eurasia and Europe.
The U.S. is ready to provide support for Turkey’s energy sector, including facilitating investment in generation, transmission, renewable energy, nuclear energy, and energy efficiency.
Turkey is in the unique position to enhance its role as an energy gateway to Europe. Efficiency gains and a diversified fuel mix for electricity generation allow Turkey to maximize the gains due to its middle position between demand in Europe and supply in the Caspian and central Asia.
Turkey is an integral part of our Southern Corridor strategy. However, terms and conditions for transit must meet the needs of all participants. This is best achieved by establishing standards for the entire corridor that will facilitate energy trade and transit.
The U.S. wants to establish more efficient and productive financing mechanisms to support Turkish energy projects.
Top of Page
Obama outlines Massive Spending Plan for US Infrastructure
According to the BBC (and many US and global news media) on Sunday, 7 December 2008, US President-elect Barack Obama has plans for the US government to invest in infrastructure on a scale not seen since the 1950s, when the US highway system was established.
Obama used his weekly address on Saturday, 6 December, to describe a spending plan to create at least 2.5 million new jobs in the ailing US economy. He also discussed the need for expanded access to high-speed internet and the modernization of schools. Mr Obama, who takes office on 20 January 2009, has said that his incoming team will be tasked with generating the 2.5m new jobs by 2011.
"We will create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s," he said. "We'll invest your precious tax dollars in new and smarter ways, and we'll set a simple rule - use it or lose it. If a state doesn't act quickly to invest in roads and bridges in their communities, they'll lose the money."
The president-elect said that broadband internet connections in the US should be available to schoolchildren and hospitals. "In the country that invented the internet, every child should have the chance to get online and... that's how we'll strengthen America's competitiveness in the world," he said.
School buildings, he continued, would be modernized and upgraded to make them energy-efficient. The new administration, he added, would launch a massive effort to make public buildings more energy-efficient by replacing old heating systems and installing efficient light bulbs. "Our government now pays the highest energy bill in the world - we need to change that," he said.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7769010.stm
Top of Page
Beyond Yucca Mountain - US Energy Secretary calls for
Second Repository for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste
According to a US Department of Energy (DOE) news release on 9 December 2008, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman has transmitted The Report to the President and the Congress by the Secretary of Energy on the Need for a Second Repository to the President and the US Congress. The report was submitted in accordance with section 161 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended (NWPA). Section 161 requires the Secretary to report to the President and to Congress on or after January 1, 2007, but not later than January 1, 2010, on the need for a second repository for the Nation’s spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW).
“Unless Congress raises or eliminates the current statutory capacity limit of 70,000 metric tons of heavy metal, a second repository will be needed,” Secretary Bodman (pictured) said. "The statutory limit is not based on any technical considerations, and the repository layout at Yucca Mountain can be expanded to accommodate three times the amount of fuel allowed under the current arbitrary cap."
The NWPA establishes a process for the location, construction and operation of one or more national repositories for permanent disposal of the Nation’s SNF and HLW. In 1987, after the Department of Energy (DOE) had conducted studies of nine potential repository sites located throughout the USA, Congress amended the NWPA and selected the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada as the only site for the first national repository. In 1987, Congress also terminated all second repository program activities.
The NWPA currently sets a statutory capacity limit of 70,000 metric tons of heavy metal (MTHM) for the Nation’s first repository, until a second repository is in operation. The inventories of commercial and Federal Government SNF and HLW in the United States are currently projected to exceed 70,000 MTHM by 2010. Assuming all existing operating commercial nuclear reactors in the United States request license extensions from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to operate for 60 years, the projected amount of SNF from these reactors requiring disposal is estimated to be approximately 130,000 MTHM.
A copy of this report is available on the OCRWM website at www.ocrwm.doe.gov.
Top of Page
US DOE Announces $29.3 Million for Alternative Vehicle Technology Projects
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the selection of six cost-shared research projects for the development and demonstration of alternative vehicle technologies, representing DOE investment of up to $14.55 million over three years. Private sector contributions will further increase the total up to $29.3 million.
The announcement supports the development of next generation technologies for new alternative vehicles. The projects selected directly support DOE’s goal to protect US national and economic security by promoting a diverse supply and delivery of reliable, affordable and environmentally sound alternative energy.
“These selections continue to advance the Administration’s bold policy of researching and identifying clean, innovative, alternative vehicles to reduce our dependence on petroleum and cut greenhouse gas emissions,” DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency David Rodgers said. “Investments in these diverse clean vehicle technologies represent our commitment to deliver a diverse portfolio of alternative options for American drivers."
The projects were selected under three topic areas: lithium-ion battery materials and manufacturing; thermoelectric heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; and aerodynamic heavy-duty truck trailers:
Battery Materials and Manufacturing:
Three selected projects total up to $13.9 million in cost-shared cooperative agreements, DOE share of up to $6.85 million. The projects will focus on improving battery material performance and developing manufacturing processes to increase performance and decrease cost of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) batteries. PHEVs are hybrid vehicles that can be driven in electric-only mode and recharged from a standard electric outlet. They provide fuel diversity and decreased petroleum consumption. The acceleration of Li-ion battery development is a key step in the successful commercialization of PHEVs capable of traveling up to 40 miles without recharging.
3M Company (St Paul, Minnesota) has been selected for negotiation of an award for a three-year, up to $2.7 million, DOE share of up to $1.35 million, project aimed at developing advanced negative electrode materials for PHEV Li-ion batteries. The novel anode alloy material will result in higher battery capacity while maintaining good charge/discharge performance.
-
BASF Catalyst LLC (Iselin, New Jersey and Elyria, Ohio) has been selected for negotiation of an award for a 30-month, up to $5.0 million, DOE share of up to $2.5 million, project to develop an industrial process for domestic production of low cost Li-ion battery cathode materials. BASF will use low cost precursors and known industrial methods to reduce the cost of Li-ion battery materials. They will partner with Farasis Energy, Inc. of Hayward, Calif., a company experienced in Li-ion battery development.
-
FMC Corporation (Charlotte, North Carolina) has been selected for negotiation of a three-year, up to $6.2 million, DOE share of up to $3.0 million, award for scaling up production of stabilized lithium metal powder for high energy Li-ion battery cathodes. These powders can be used to produce battery cells with reduced losses during the initial cell charging.
Thermoelectric Systems:
Two projects total up to $13 million in cost-shared cooperative agreements, DOE share of up to $6.5 million. These projects were selected to accelerate the development of thermoelectric (TE) systems that provides the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) in vehicles. The use of solid state TE devices to heat and cool a vehicle’s passenger compartment can increase vehicle efficiency by reducing engine load - by reducing or eliminating the need for conventional air conditioning refrigerants, these vehicles further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. TE HVAC enables the use of distributed cooling/heating units that cool/heat the occupants rather than the whole cabin and its components. While applicable to all commercial and passenger vehicles, TE HVAC is particularly attractive for hybrids and plug-in hybrids where an electrically driven air conditioning system can maintain occupant comfort even when the engine turns off.
Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan) has been selected for negotiation of an award for a 36-month, up to $8.4 million, DOE share of up to $4.2 million, project to accelerate the deployment of light-duty automotive thermoelectric HVAC technology. This work will focus on the development of a zonal TE HVAC system, while reducing energy consumption of existing HVAC systems by one third. Partners include Visteon, BSST, DOE’s National Energy Renewable Laboratory, and Ohio State University.
-
General Motors Corporation (Warren, Michigan) has been selected for negotiation of an award for a 36-month, up to $4.6 million, DOE share of up to $2.3 million, project to develop a system that provides thermal comfort equivalent to current HVAC systems while using significantly less energy. The team will design, test, and evaluate the thermoelectric system components and then integrate the components into a demonstration vehicle for testing and evaluation. Partners include Delphi Thermal Systems, University of California at Berkeley, and University of Nevada at Las Vegas
Aerodynamic Trailers:
One project, with a total value of up to $2 million, DOE share of up to $1 million, was selected to accelerate the development, evaluation, and deployment of advanced aerodynamic trailers that can significantly reduce fuel consumption of heavy-duty tractor trailers.
Navistar International Corporation, (Fort Wayne, Indiana) has been selected for a 30-month project that will design, demonstrate, and bring to market a tractor trailer combination and tire package that can reduce the fuel consumption of a heavy vehicle by at least 15 percent. Following development, a commercial fleet will evaluate the benefits of the new technology package through real-world use. After the term of the project, the team members will make this fuel-efficient technology package available for sale. Team members include Frito Lay, Kentucky Trailer, Freight Wing, Michelin, and DOE’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
For more information on the Department of Energy’s work to advance vehicle technologies, visit www.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels
Top of Page
European Space Agency unexpectedly sets 10bn Euro Budget
According to the BBC, member states of the European Space Agency (ESA) have agreed a 10bn-euro budget at their meeting in The Hague. The figure, which covers the next three to five years, represents a substantial increase in funding. Ministers said the investment in space would help European industry pull through the current economic downturn.
The new money will help fund existing programmes and new projects, including a new Earth observation satellites, ESA's participation in the International Space Station, and probes to the planets. "The decisions of this ministerial conference are very important just in the middle of an economic crisis," said Peter Hintze, the minister who led the German delegation.
"Because money paid for high technology is good money for the European economy; and I think it will help us to leave the economic crisis [behind] and to gain new economic strength," he told BBC News.
It took the science ministers from ESA's 18 member states two days of intense discussions to arrive at the budget figure. Prior to the meeting, agency officials had drawn up a "wish list" valued at 10.4bn euros. Their expectations were exceeded, with the meeting approving a budget line of 9.9bn - over a billion more than the commitments made the last time the ministers met in Berlin in 2005.
"I never expected that," conceded ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain. "It demonstrates that member states believe in what space can do for the citizens; believe in ESA as a successful organisation; and that in a period of economic crisis, this is the right time to invest in the future."
The two biggest contributors were Germany, at 2.7bn, and France at 2.3bn. The Italians contributed just over a billion; the UK just under a billion. The new budget will allow ESA to grow its basic science programme at 3.5% a year, whilst at the same time starting a number of new programmes.
Europe's Ariane 5 rocket, which has come to dominate the commercial launcher market, will now be upgraded to allow it to carry heavier payloads than its current nine-tonne limit. Ministers also agreed to put almost 1.4bn euros into its ongoing activities at the International Space Station - the single biggest "ticket" on The Hague agenda.
The second phase was approved of the world's most ambitious environmental monitoring project, known as GMES. This will take the "pulse" of the planet and requires a series new Earth observation satellites to be launched. A project to build the next generation of meteorological satellites was also funded. This project actually received more money than was requested, such was the interest from France and Germany.
Source: BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7749761.stm
Top of Page
US Department of Energy announces broad Cooperation
with China
In a news release on 5 December 2008, the US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that “U.S. and China actions matter for Global Energy Demand, for Global Environmental Quality, and for the Challenge of Global Climate Change.” The following main points of cooperation between the USA and China on matters related to energy, environment and climate change were included in the news:
The U.S. is committed to working together with China to tackle current energy challenges the world faces, including cultivating sufficient investment, the development and deployment of new energy technologies, and addressing greenhouse gas emissions from producing and using energy.
-
US - China cooperation spans power generation, efficient buildings, sustainable transportation, emissions-free nuclear power, and clean fossil fuels.
-
The U.S. and China are the world’s largest energy consumers and are expected to remain the top two oil consumers in the world for the foreseeable future. China is likely to experience very large growth rates for both its economy and energy consumption over the next two decades. The U.S. continues working with China to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use.
-
The actions of the U.S. and China matter for global energy demand, for global environmental quality, and for the challenge of global climate change.
-
Our governments need to take positive action to reduce uncertainty in the market and encourage investment. Only by providing clear signals to the energy industry can we secure our future energy needs. Our governments should work together to increase energy security through (a) Fostering transparent and efficient energy markets; (b) Lowering trade barriers, particularly for clean energy and other environmental goods and services; (c) Supporting measures to increase energy efficiency; and, (d) Providing consistent policies for investment in oil, gas, coal, and renewables.
The U.S. and China’s Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) Action Plans:
The U.S. and China’s five Action Plans - developed under the SED Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework - are critically important. DOE took the lead in working with China to develop the two energy-related action plans under the Ten Year Framework, one on Clean, Efficient and Secure Electricity Production and Transmission and the other on Clean and Efficient Transportation.
(photo: US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman)
Under these Action Plans, the U.S. and China will build on past cooperation, such as our work in promoting biofuels production and its use in transportation and in improving energy efficiency through industrial efficiency assessments.
The Action Plans also take us in important new directions, such as helping China to achieve low sulfur fuels for both gasoline and diesel engines and the introduction of more stringent emission standards in China for the transportation sector.
The U.S. continues to work with China through the Strategic Economic Dialogue, Energy Policy Dialogue, Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate and other bilateral and multilateral forums towards confronting our global energy challenges, including building efficiency, transportation, electricity, renewable and alternative energy sources and energy diversification, in a collaborative, environmentally effective, and economically sustainable approach. Examples include conducting on-site industrial energy assessments, energy training at the Mayors Training Center, building codes, and sustainable reconstruction in earthquake zones.
Past, Current and Future U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Collaboration:
U.S. DOE and the Beijing Municipality worked closely to promote use of clean energy technologies at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. DOE provided expert technical and policy assistance.
The Olympic Village was approximately 50 percent more energy efficient than similar buildings in Beijing. DOE worked with the developer and the US Green Building Council (GBC) to submit the entire Olympic Village as a USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Building under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, receiving a Gold LEED certification. This is the first Olympic Village to receive such recognition. In addition, the Olympic Welcome Center is a near zero energy building, also called a Micro-Energy Building.
DOE technical support provided a variety of energy efficiency technologies to reduce the heating and cooling loads, improve lighting efficiency, save water and serve as models of what the next generation of housing could be in China.
DOE continues to work with its Chinese counterparts to conduct energy efficiency assessments of buildings and industry factories, among others, to improve energy use and cut greenhouse gas emissions; to expand cooperation on biofuels production and use; and to promote large-scale deployment of electric-drive and fuel cell technologies for transportation.
DOE is now working with Chinese officials to prepare an Action Plan on energy efficiency in the latest development under the SED Ten Year Framework.
Through U.S. – China partnerships and discussions, the two countries will continue to make progress in all of these areas while sustaining economic growth.
The Path Forward:
The world needs more energy supplies of all types. We need more hydrocarbons now and in the near future. Over time, the role of renewable energy will continue to grow. Diversity of supplies, suppliers and supply routes is a key component to enhancing global energy security.
U.S. – China partnerships and bilateral discussions will drive progress toward reducing energy consumption and cutting greenhouse gas emissions and promoting more efficient energy markets.
Source: US Department of Energy, 5 December 2008
Top of Page
Results from Doha Forum on Development Finance indicate development to proceed despite economic downturn
Participants from over 160 countries meeting at a United Nations conference in Doha in early December have stressed the need to meet existing aid commitments to poor nations, even amid the current economic slowdown, and called on the world body to hold an international meeting on the global financial crisis and its impact on development.
The four-day Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development, held in the Qatari capital, wrapped up on 2 December with the adoption of an outcome document – known as the Doha Declaration – reaffirming the landmark global partnership agreement for development agreed in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2002. Known as the Monterrey Consensus, that agreement addressed such issues as domestic resource mobilization, official development assistance (ODA), trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and debt relief.
The Doha Declaration this month affirmed, in particular, that the commitment made in Monterrey for developed countries to devote 0.7 per cent of their gross national product (GNP) to ODA must be maintained, despite the current financial crisis. The text also called on donors to “untie” aid and make it more predictable, as well as encouraged efforts to increase the quality and effectiveness of assistance. In addition, participants stressed the FDI must be funneled to the sectors that most advance development, reduce poverty and increase employment opportunities.
“The most serious global financial crisis since the creation of the United Nations” threatens the ability of countries to confront issues such as poverty, hunger and disease, according to a joint statement by the President of the General Assembly, Miguel D’Escoto (pictured), and the President of the Conference and Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, at the close of the meeting.
It also jeopardizes the ability of countries to provide the necessary financing to meet globally agreed development targets, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – pledges to slash poverty, hunger, disease and other socio-economic ills by 2015, they stated. In a separate statement, Mr. D’Escoto welcomed the adoption of the Declaration, saying “our negotiations have highlighted a new sense of solidarity and goodwill among nations at a time when we can be tempted to withdraw into our narrowly defined self-interests.”
He added that Member States must continue to monitor the unfolding financial crisis and “step up our search for viable responses to its underlying causes.” In that regard, the Doha Declaration calls for the holding of a high-level conference on the financial crisis and its impact on development. Mr. D’Escoto pledged to make preparations for this conference a priority. The Doha meeting also agreed to consider the need to hold another follow-up conference on development financing in five years, by 2013.
Source: UN Daily News, 2 December 2008
Top of Page
Conclusions Digest from the VII International Seminar on Government and Public Policies at Culiacan, México
Reported by Jose Machicao in Lima
The VII Edition of the International Seminar on Government and Public Policies, organized by the State of Sinaloa Government, the Ortega y Gasset Foundation (Spain) and the Center of Research and Economic Lecturing (CIDE), was held between 12 and 14 November 2008, in Culiacan Sinaloa, Mexico. The conference faced the topic: Management by Results, and involved 17 lecturers, representatives of government entities and researchers from three continents (America, Europe and Asia), including Jose Machicao, PMP, correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today. All of them together presented and debated about diverse proposals and experiences that allowed arrival at the following resolutions:
The difficult situation being faced by the international economic system derived by diverse economical events, relevantly showing the financial crisis in the USA where the free market model has been exposed without answers to the main demands for an evolving society, specifically in order to improve the quality of life of the population. Consequently, it becomes indispensable to reflect about public policies which allow defining the framework of action within the public and private context in society
-
Within the public context, democracy became inefficient; then work within the public management has a long trip to go since special attention should be stressed over the causal chains between objectives and results. It is necessary to clarify that more than having recipes to be efficient and effective, the public management evaluation systems would be just proposing a means to discuss public policies, and therefore it is necessary to also evaluate public policies by results, contributing for the necessary legal framework which is not yet concluded today.
-
For some years, some countries have been applying management by results, through which the financial pattern for the expenditure rationality and the social responsibility is evaluated, towards result producing governmental activity, responding to the citizen demand of transparency and accountability and to earn the trust from them. Regarding this, the importance of the diagnoses to detect and remediate the existence of the lack of coordination between the different levels of government, problems about the conceptualization and the design of governmental programs, quality problems and lack of coverage of benefited population, inequity of appliance, being judge and part within the mechanisms of evaluation for the public products and services.
-
México lives with a process of transformation where a new structure is being built, to allow a common goal for all different government entities and to articulate the operation of powers and levels of government, then the legislation, access mechanism, operative autonomy, management styles and public resource execution defects should be resolved. The expected results for the evaluation of public management drive the issue to take better decisions in the operation of government programs, taking the challenge to build an evaluation and monitoring system considering institutional principles, management techniques and mechanisms, which without doubts will help the improvement of democracy.
-
In order to raise competitiveness of Mexican corporations, special attention should be put to tackle the adverse factors such as: an inefficient bureaucracy, high levels of corruption, inefficient infrastructure, fiscal regulations and inadequate and restrictive labor regulations, reason why some human factors should be emphasized in order to transform failures into success, considering vital to use the quality to generate a systemic strategy, which allows to brake the inertia and support the required changes such as management by results, as in cases like monozukuri model and the kaisen method to solve problems, based on three principles of operation: the continuous improvement (kasen), the reform of critical points (kairyo) and the innovation (kakusin). The proposed challenge is to transform the elements upon which success has been built, supporting the results of operative planning with a budget based on results, as well as incorporating the binomial result-indicator, as a pillar of the construction of a new innovative way to work.
-
From an international perspective, some deficiencies of the government operation were analyzed, related to citizen services and the growing need of the non-serviced non-satisfied population, which obliges to improve the quality of management of some governmental paperwork and if possible to include new information technologies to raise users satisfaction level. It is necessary that Mexico could articulate networks among different levels of government and generate access to citizens from any remote place through the process of administrative collaboration using open methods of coordination; following the steps to use the technological innovations in terms of digital media, for various services and products which all governments (with its many levels) operate daily, using the only-window mechanism, where, having all governments and levels aligned, many paperwork can be done between them and the citizenship.
-
Therefore, it was stressed the possibility to build up alternatives to generate public value, incorporating the process of programming budget of the public expenditure by results, using various techniques, among others, logical framework or some others, which allow to get transparent exercises about the execution of the budget, provided that there is a clear distinction between “action” and “achievement”, between the strategic and the operational level, and between the role of the executors (government) and the beneficiaries (citizenship). In this way, the information built from the three “e”: efficacy, efficiency and effective action, serves as a support to take decisions, more than define the level of resources, reason why this kind of evaluations need to consider the analysis of the three “d”: diagnose, design and development.
-
Looking for practical implementation schemes, pilot tests are suggested to determine quantity and quality details of the information to be used in order to refine the instruments of collection and measurement of attributes, such work will be used to define the terms of reference for its implementation within the process evaluation about social programs. In this way, the strategy is to transform the daily operation of the public entities towards the achievement of tangible and measurable results, through innovation and legality culture programs.
All details about the program and presentations can be found here.
Top of Page
Relatoría del Séptimo Seminario Internacional sobre Gobierno y Políticas Públicas, Culiacán - México
Reporte by Jose Machicao en Lima
En la Séptima edición del Seminario Internacional sobre Gobierno y Políticas Públicas, organizado por el Gobierno del Estado de Sinaloa, Fundación José Ortega y Gasset de España y el Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE), realizado los días 12, 13 y 14 de noviembre, en Culiacán Sinaloa, en el cual se abordo el tema: Gestión por Resultados, a cargo de 17 ponentes, tanto representantes de instituciones gubernamentales como investigadores provenientes de tres continentes (América, Europa y Asia), uno de los cuales fue Jose Carlos Machicao, PMP, corresponsal de PM Forum, Dichas personas expusieron y debatieron diversas propuestas y experiencias que permitieron arribar a los siguientes resolutivos:
-
La difícil situación por la que está atravesando el sistema económico internacional derivado de diversos acontecimientos económicos, destacando la crisis financiera en los EUA donde quedó en evidencia que el modelo de libre mercado, no logro dar respuestas a las principales demandas de una sociedad en evolución, específicamente, mejorar la calidad de vida de la población. Por tal motivo, se hace indispensable reflexionar sobre las políticas públicas que permitan definir los marcos de actuación de las esferas de lo público y de lo privado en la sociedad.
-
En el ámbito de lo público, la democracia es por definición, ineficiente; luego entonces el trabajo de la gestión pública tiene un largo camino que recorrer ya que debe ponerse atención a las cadenas causales entre objetivos y resultados. Tener claro que más que tener recetas para ser eficiente y eficaz, los sistemas de evaluación de la gestión pública solo estarían proponiendo un medio para discutir las políticas públicas, por lo cual es necesario prepararse para evaluar las políticas públicas por resultados, construyendo el andamiaje legal que se requiere y que hoy aún no está concluido.
-
Desde algunos años, varios países en el mundo han comenzado a aplicar la gestión por resultados, a través de la cual se aborda el examen de la pauta financiera de racionalidad en el gasto y de responsabilidad social, con el fin de que las actividades gubernamentales produzcan resultados de valor para sus comunidades, respondan al reclamo ciudadano de transparencia y rendición de cuentas y ganen la confianza de sus gobernados. Derivado de lo anterior, se destaco la importancia de los diagnósticos para detectar y remediar la existencia de una descoordinación entre los diferentes poderes y niveles de gobierno, problemas en la conceptualización y diseño de los programas gubernamentales, problemas de calidad, cobertura en la población beneficiaria, inequidad en la aplicación, juez y parte en los mecanismos de evaluación hasta hoy existentes en los productos y servicios públicos.
-
México vive un proceso de transformación donde está edificando una estructura que le permita tener un fin común en las diferentes instancias de gobierno y articular la operación de los poderes y niveles de gobierno, por lo cual deben superarse las deficiencias en materia de legislación, mecanismos de acceso, autonomía operativa, condiciones de gestión y del ejercicio de los recursos públicos. Los resultados esperados de la evaluación de la gestión pública conllevan a tomar mejores decisiones en la operación de los programas gubernamentales siendo el reto construir un sistema de evaluación y monitoreo que considere principios institucionales, técnicas y mecanismos de gestión, lo cual sin duda contribuirá a mejorar la democracia
-
Para elevar la competitividad de las empresas mexicanas, debe ponerse especial atención en contrarrestar los factores adversos como lo son: una burocracia ineficiente, altos niveles de corrupción, infraestructura ineficiente, regulaciones fiscales y laborales restrictivas e inadecuadas, por lo cual deben enfatizarse ciertos factores humanos que pueden transformar éxitos en fracasos, considerándose vital utilizar a la calidad para generar una estrategia sistémica, que permita romper las inercias y sostener los cambios que se requieren como es la gestión por resultados, tal puede ser el caso del modelo monozukuri y el método para solucionar problemas (kaisen) basados en tres fundamentos de operación: el mejoramiento continuo (kasen), la reforma de puntos críticos (kairyo) y la innovación (kakusin). El reto propuesto sería transformar los elementos sobre los que se ha construido el éxito, sustentando los resultados de la planeación operativa en un presupuesto basado en resultados a la vez de incorporar el binomio resultados–indicador, como pilar en la construcción de una forma de trabajo innovadora.
-
Desde una perspectiva internacional, se analizaron las deficiencias en la operación del gobierno, en la atención a la ciudadanía y necesidades crecientes de la población no satisfechas, lo que obliga a mejorar la calidad de la gestión de algunos trámites gubernamentales y en la medida de lo posible, incorporar las tecnologías de la información para elevar la satisfacción de los usuarios. Resulta necesario que México pueda articular redes entre los distintos niveles de gobierno y generar accesos a los ciudadanos desde cualquier lugar remoto a través de procesos de colaboración administrativa utilizando métodos abiertos de coordinación; siguiendo los pasos para utilizar las innovaciones tecnológicas en términos de medios digitales, a diversos servicios y productos que los gobiernos en sus diferentes niveles prestan de manera cotidiana, utilizando el mecanismo de ventanilla única, donde una vez que haya coordinación entre gobiernos, puedan realizarse diversos trámites entre ellos y entre la ciudadanía.
-
Así pues, se insistió en la posibilidad de construir alternativas para generar valor público, incorporando al proceso de programación presupuestación del gasto público una gestión por resultados, utilizando diversas técnicas, entre otras, el marco lógico, u otros que permitan realizar ejercicios transparentes de la ejecución del presupuesto, siempre y cuando se distinga entre una acción y un logro, entre un nivel estratégico y uno operativo y entre el papel de los ejecutores (gobierno) y los beneficiarios (la ciudadanía). De esta forma, la información construida a partir de las “e”: eficacia, eficiencia y efectividad, sirve como apoyo para tomar decisiones, más que para determinar el nivel de los recursos, por lo que en este tipo de evaluaciones es importante considerar el análisis de las tres “d”: diagnóstico, diseño y desarrollo.
-
En busca de esquemas prácticos de implantación, se proponen pruebas piloto para determinar en detalle el tipo, cantidad y calidad de la información que se utilizará para afinar los instrumentos de recolección y medición de atributos, dicho trabajo servirá para determinar los términos de referencia para su implementación en la evaluación de procesos de los programas sociales. Así pues, la estrategia es transformar la operación cotidiana de las instituciones públicas hacia el logro de resultados tangibles y verificables. Esto mediante programas de innovación gubernamental y cultura de la legalidad.
Detalles acerca del programa y presentaciones pueden encontrase aquí.
Top of Page
Important new report recommends improvements
in Federal Program Management in USA
The Program Management Steering Committee of the Council for Excellence in Government in the United States has released a new report entitled Improving Government Performance and Delivery. The study explores perceptions of federal program managers and makes legislative and policy recommendations for moving forward. The new report was announced in a press release in Washington, DC on 9 December 2008. The report can be found at http://ceg.files.cms-plus.com/usermedia/images/uploads/PDFs/
Improving%20Govt%20Performance%20and%20Delivery%20Rev.pdf.
The report is the culmination of a two-year initiative led by a public/private group of interested parties that met under the auspices of the Council, in partnership with Management Concepts and Robbins-Gioia, to discuss ways to improve government performance through program management.
In support of the Committee’s effort, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) identified and invited 550 program mangers, of which 123 responded, to take an online survey in February 2008. The purpose of this survey was to gather data and opinions from a broad population of federal program managers about their daily experiences, including their program’s practices, professional development experiences and suggestions for how to best position the next generation of program managers.
From the results of this survey, the Committee has put together sets of legislative and policy recommendations for implementation by the Congress, the President’s Management Council, OMB, federal agencies and/or responsible bodies as appropriate. Key recommendations include:
Improve oversight and management of agency program performance through enactment of the Acquisition Management Reform Act of 2009;
-
Establish clarity of responsibility and accountability for delivery of program results;
-
Improve program performance and results by establishing the practice of program management;
-
Establish a program management career field to recruit, sustain and retain talent and expertise in program management; and
-
Improve the business effectiveness of government by creating an environment where federal program managers can share best practices and lessons learned.
Founded in 1983, the Council for Excellence in Government is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to improve the performance of government at all levels in the United States; and government's place in the lives and esteem of American citizens. With its experienced staff, network of experts and members, and diverse partners, the Council helps to create stronger public sector leadership and management, driven by innovation and focused on results; and increased citizen confidence and participation in government, through better understanding of government and its role. (www.excelgov.org)
Management Concepts is a company that focuses on an individual approach to organizational achievement through high impact training courses…custom learning and development…professional services… and publications. For over 35 years, Management Concepts has successfully worked with every major agency in the federal government, dozens of state and local government offices, numerous associations and non-profit organizations, and hundreds of large and mid-sized corporations throughout the country. (www.managementconcepts.com)
Robbins-Gioi, LLC has been dedicated to delivering management consulting solutions to government agencies and Fortune 500 companies for 25 years. Robbins-Gioia combines thought leadership, disciplined processes, industry-based knowledge, and integrated tools to help global customers optimize their business processes, accelerate change, and establish time, cost, and quality improvements to transform their businesses. For more information, please call Robbins-Gioia, LLC at 800-663-7138. (www.robbinsgioia.com)
Top of Page
IFC to increase Financial Support to Developing Countries
In response to the global financial crisis, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a ramping up of support to developing countries. According to an announcement on 22 December, the IFC has launched or expanded four facilities aimed at addressing problems experienced by the private sector, which is critical to employment, recovery, and growth in developing economies.
Financing for the new facilities are expected to total about $30 billion over the next three years, combining funds from IFC and money mobilized from various sources, including governments and other international financial institutions. The facilities are:
Expanded trade finance program - Through its $3 billion Global Trade Finance Program, IFC is able to play a critical role and respond to the global credit crisis by supporting trade with emerging markets. The IFC Global Trade Finance Program facilitates trade by providing guarantees that cover the payment risk in trade transactions with local banks in emerging markets. This enables the continued flow of trade credit into the market. In response to the current financial crisis, an additional $1.5 billion was added to the existing $1.5 billion bringing the program's ceiling to $3 billion.
Bank Recapitalization Fund – The $3 billion Bank Recapitalization Fund, managed by IFC, is a global equity and debt fund which aims to help recapitalize banks in smaller emerging markets. Approved by IFC's Board in December 2008, the fund will provide funding to investee banks, thereby stabilizing them, speeding up economic recovery, and boosting job creation. The fund will provide investee banks with investment and advisory services.
Infrastructure Crisis Facility – The Infrastructure Crisis Facility will help ensure that viable, privately funded infrastructure projects in emerging markets have access to funding to weather the financial crisis. Infrastructure—roads, ports, and transmission lines—provides basic human services such as gas for heating or cooking, and it is central to enabling trade and competitiveness. Good infrastructure projects are a top priority in the quest for sustainable economic growth, but the unfolding financial crisis is endangering these projects. The facility will bridge the financing gap for private or public-private partnership infrastructure projects in emerging markets. IFC will provide $300 million to the fund and is seeking additional funding from governments and other institutions.
IFC Advisory Services – IFC is scaling up and refocusing its advisory services geared to financial institutions and governments and reform of financial infrastructure, including: Access to finance: Growing liquidity pressure means that financial institutions are cutting back most lending activities to consumers, entrepreneurs, and corporates. To speed up the recovery process and limit the credit crunch, IFC is helping financial institutions assess and quantify critical risks, and taking action to mitigate crisis impact. Business enabling environment: IFC will expand its advice on regulatory simplification, including assistance on the Doing Business reform agenda, trade logistics, and business tax reform; insolvency; and investor aftercare. Corporate governance: During the crisis, IFC aims to improve the competence of the boards of directors of corporations in emerging markets through targeted training.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of the World Bank Group. IFC fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing capital in the international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. IFC helps companies and financial institutions in emerging markets create jobs, generate tax revenues, improve corporate governance and environmental performance, and contribute to their local communities. The goal is to improve lives, especially for the people who most need the benefits of growth. To learn more, visit http://www.ifc.org/.
Top of Page
Paris Club cancels US$8 Billion Iraqi Debt
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on 24 December that the 19-member Paris Club of nations has reached a decision to cancel the remaining 20 per cent of Iraq’s debt from the Saddam Hussein era – amounting to $7.8 billion. The Secretary General also called on other creditors to take similar action to help the country rebuild its economy.
“This is a major achievement and acknowledgement of the Iraqi Government’s determination to implement necessary reforms despite overwhelming challenges,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.
“The Secretary-General (pictured) takes this opportunity to call on creditors, other than those of the Paris Club, to advance Iraqi debt relief to facilitate the country’s path to prosperity and reintegration into the regional and international economy,” the statement added.
According to the statement, the 22 December decision by the Paris Club, an informal grouping of creditor nations, was taken in the context of the International Compact with Iraq, which is co-chaired by the United Nations and the Iraqi Government.
Under the Compact, launched in May 2007, the Government of Iraq will work to meet basic needs, protect the rights of all citizens and ensure the optimal use of the country’s resources for the common good. For more information, visit http://www.un.org/news.
Top of Page
