PIPLS Improving Performance of Local Services, UNDP PIPLS Improving Performance of Local Services, UNDP FNs utvecklingsprogram (UNDP) har ansökt om SEK 16 miljoner i stöd för att genomföra Project for Improving Performance of Local Services (PIPLS), I Bosnien och Hercegovina (BiH) under perioden 2020-2023.
Projektet kommer att spänna över tre olika pelare för att förbättra de lokala myndigheternas effektivitet när det gäller att tillhandahålla kritiska tjänster till allmänheten. Den första pelaren kommer att sträva efter att mobilisera ytterligare inkomstkällor för partnerkommuner, den andra kommer att se till att alla utgifter förvaltas effektivt och i linje med uppställda prioriteringar för tjänsteleverans, medan den tredje pelaren kommer att ge omedelbara förbättringar av den offentliga serviceinfrastrukturen i partnerkommuner, till stor del finansierade via nya genererade intäkter och besparingar. 
Projektets totala budget är 21,7 MSEK (USD 2 444 710). Den svenska insatsen är MSEK 16 (USD 1 796 890) medan UNDP bidrar med 1 MSEK (USD 113 400), sammantaget 17 MSEK (USD 1 910 290). Därtill kommer kommunerna och kantonerna att bidra med circa MSEK 4,7 (USD 534 420) (dessa resurser kommer att hanteras inom projektet eller parallellt av kommunerna baserat på respektive kommuns önskemål). UNDP has applied to Sweden for funding of 16 million SEK to carry out the Project for Improving Performance of Local Services (PIPLS) in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period 2020-2023.
The project will work across three different pillars to improve the effectiveness of local authorities in providing critical services to the public. The first pillar will aim to mobilize additional sources of revenue for partner local governments, the second will ensure that all expenditures are managed effectively, and in line with service delivery priorities, while the third pillar will deliver immediate improvements to public service infrastructure in partner localities funded, in large part, via newly generated revenues and savings.
The total project budget is 21,7 MSEK (USD 2,444,710). The contribution by the Government of Sweden is 16 MSEK (USD 1,796,890) and by UNDP 1 MSEK(USD 113,400) in total 17 MSEK ( USD 1,910,290).
In addition, local governments and cantons are expected to participate with USD 534,420 (app. 4,7 MSEK) over the project implementation lifetime (these contributions are to be managed in parallel or directly depending on government preferences). The Project aim is to improve access to critical public services through better governance and greater investment in local infrastructure, with the former effectively and sustainably enabling the latter. This outcome will be pursued through three interlinked and mutually reinforcing results taking place across 15 local and 2 cantonal governments. Under Result 1, the Project will help local governments establish a system for the strategic management of public assets held by municipal authorities, to include creating clear lines of responsibility for asset management within each institution; establishing and regularly updating a register of assets with a transparent record of all purchases, sales or disposition of assets; development of asset management plans to help ensure efficiency and effectiveness in asset utilization; building the necessary staff skills to effectively manage the system and its components; and creating the requisite policy framework for effective asset management at local government level. In addition to ensuring that public assets are managed in a way to ensure the optimal level of service is provided to residents, the system will also ensure the requisite level of transparency and accountability in managing publicly owned goods by local government officials and leaders alike. In order to ensure sustainability of results and create a better enabling environment beyond the immediate stakeholder community, the Project will, in parallel, engage with decision makers at higher levels of government to influence the relevant policy framework for asset management. Under Result 2, the Project will work with partner local authorities to optimize public spending and generate funding for capital investments in critical service areas as identified by relevant local development strategy documents. Activities under this result will work towards introducing and internalizing a rigorous process of disciplined expenditure management aimed at establishing a conservative level of operational spending. In addition, the Project will work to strengthen internal control systems to curb unlawful spending and introduce a new level of scrutiny to the local government’s financial management practices. Considering the largely inefficient and ineffective public procurement practices, and their detrimental impact on service delivery, the Project will also pursue enhancements in procurement policies and procedures across all partner local governments. As with Result 1, the Project will pursue willing policy partners at higher levels of government to effect practice-based changes in the regulatory environment. Under Result 3, the Project will clearly and immediately demonstrate the benefits of improved governance practices and arrangements, created under Results 1 and 2, to mobilize newly available funding in implementing critical public service priorities. In practical terms, local governments that have performed the best, or have saved and generated the most money, will be rewarded with a “top-up grant” through the Project grant facility thus enabling the implementation of their priority interventions already called for under their local development strategies. Competing local governments will be evaluated against targets established based on an in-depth external review of their financial situation at project inception. In addition, to be eligible, priority infrastructure interventions for best performing municipalities/canton will need to be i) linked to their development strategy; ii) co-financed with at least 60% of the total amount by the local authority; and iii) operate on a fully sustainable basis once completed. The selection process will also be guided by SDG financing considerations with funding channelled to meet the implementation of prioritized goals across all partner communities. In essence, Result 3 will represent an incentive for participating local and cantonal governments to maximize their commitment to good governance practices outlined under the first two project results.