Terms of Reference for Zero-Based Budgeting Study

Philippine Institute for Development Studies

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Assessment of Planning and programming for Capital Projects

at the National and Agency levels

1. Background and Rationale

Brief Introduction

Based on the World Bank Assessment of Transport Infrastructure of the Philippines, capacity in government agencies needs enhancement from the planning and project preparation as well as monitoring and evaluation of programs/projects as most agencies do not give priority to and provide adequate funding for project preparation, i.e., feasibility studies, analysis for value for money and value engineering, to improve the quality of national planning processes regarding transport infrastructure.

Also, project entry into the Comprehensive Infrastructure Investment Program (CIIP) and Medium Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP) has no clear criteria before projects could be funded in the budget process, except for being approved by the NEDA Board prior to integration into the budget.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the study include the following:

1. To assess the existing planning and programming systems for capital projects at the national and agency levels;

1. To generate policy recommendations for the oversight agencies (NEDA, DBM, and DOF) and implementing agencies to consider in improving the planning and programming systems.

1. Scope of Work

In order to achieve the objectives of the proposed study, the work of the prospective consultant shall include the following:

• Assess existing planning and programming systems for capital projects at the national and agency levels including the identification of strengths and weaknesses;

• Review comparable international experience of planning and programming systems for capital projects; and,

• Generate policy recommendations (short-, medium-, and long-term) for the oversight agencies (NEDA, DBM, and DOF) and implementing agencies to consider in improving the planning and programming systems for capital projects.

1. Deliverables

The consultant's deliverables include the following:

• Evaluation/assessment report of the strengths and weaknesses of capital project planning and programming systems at the national and agency level;

• Report on international experience of the planning and programming systems for capital projects; and,

• Policy recommendations (short, medium, long-term) for the oversight agencies (NEDA, DBM, and DOF) and implementing agencies to consider in improving the planning and programming systems, including synchronization of timelines, for capital projects.

The evaluation/assessment report shall be based mainly on a review of recent studies conducted on the subject and further analysis of the data generated by these studies. The line agencies to be covered are DPWH, DOTC, and DA, the three major departments responsible for capital projects. The assessment shall also involve interviews of key officials of both the three main oversight agencies (NEDA, DBM, and DOF) and these three line agencies.

The review of international experience in planning and programming systems shall similarly focus on a few countries. Chile shall be one of them, as it has a well-developed public investment appraisal and programming system that dates back to the mid-1970s. Other possible candidates are Australia and New Zealand.

Source: Eduardo Ley. 2006. Chile : appraisal of public investment. PRMED Knowledge Brief. Washington, D.C., World Bank.

1. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONSULTANT

1. Should have advanced degree in Economics, preferably PhD. in Economics or related fields;
2. Should have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in policy research;
3. Should have track record of delivering high quality products; and,
4. Should have good track record in sharing information with colleagues, clients in performing assignments.

1. SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT RELEASES

1. PROPOSED PROJECT DURATION

The entire assignment will be for three (3) months, from August 30, 2014 to November 30, 2014.

1. PROPOSED PROJECT COST

The total contract price for this consultancy service is Php450,000.00. For this consultancy service, PIDS shall provide research assistance through the assignment of one PIDS Research Assistant (RA) throughout the duration of the study.