Stakeholders discuss 8th NSEDP
Stakeholders discuss 8th NSEDP
Representatives from line ministries and development partners met yesterday to discuss the Draft 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and the status of 8th NSEDP preparations.
A consultation meeting with stakeholders on the draft 8th NSEDP Monitoring and Evaluation Framework was held yesterday, co-chaired by Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning at the Ministry of Planning and Investment Ms Phonevanh Outhavong and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Resident Representative Ms Azusa Kobuta.
Speaking as co-chair at the meeting, Ms Phonevanh said this meeting continues the process of working together.
“The Department of Planning has carefully reviewed the suggestions and advice provid ed to date by line ministries and development partners on the NSEDP indicators,” she added.
She revealed that the list of over 500 indicators has been reduced to 128, which are focused on the main initiatives of the 8th NSEDP.
The remaining indicators are still relevant, but at a sectoral level, rather than a national level.
The 128 national level indicators also include reference to sustainable development goals although more work on this will be necessary as the sustainable development goals are adapted to Laos.
Ms Phonevanh said the NSEDP framework is more than the set of indicators and targets which they will discuss, it is the coordination of the process of data collection and analysis which is undertaken at all levels of government.
At sector level there is a strong need to consolidate a national system for the implementation of the NSEDP Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
Such a system will link institutions that already have a mandate in this area from planning, budgeting, monitoring of resources and results, reporting, research or analysis and use of data for policy making in development, she added.
This would especially involve the planning departments of line ministries in addition to the Department of Planning, Lao Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Finance, National Economic Research Institute and other research entities.
Senior officials in the government and the National Assembly shall also offer advice and serve in coordinating roles.
The driv ing principle of the consolidation of such a system is that there is a need to link monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the lessons learnt from the implementation of the NSEDP actually contributes to national debate on policies and development.
“The consolidation of this system and linking it with essential sub-national systems will take time and will be undertaken throughout the 8th NSEDP period and, it is hoped, with support from development partners,” Ms Phonevanh said.
