Sector: Governance and Public Sector Reform
Region: North and Central Asia
Funded by:
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Total Value: C$4.95 million
Partners and Counterparts:
In China: Ministry of Commerce and Foreign Trade (MOFCOM)
People’s Republic of China, Public Sector Reform Program (PSRP): December 1999–December 2004
Purpose
To offer senior members of the Chinese public sector the opportunity to learn about Canadian ideas and views and to access Canadians’ expertise in formulating and implementing policies consistent with private sector development under market conditions.
Challenge
China has made great strides in developing policies that support good governance to attract foreign partners and investors. However, it continues to face challenges in implementation because of limited organizational capacity and enforcement, particularly at the provincial and county levels. While there is still a real need for further policy formulation, there is a greater need for mechanisms that will provide opportunities to test and implement policy throughout the system.
Approach
Through PSRP, Agriteam developed an extensive network of Canadian expertise that enabled us to identify highly qualified specialists. This network includes Canadian partner organizations, in addition to strong linkages with federal and provincial government agencies, and Canadian universities, colleges, and technical institutes. The development and use of a specialist database resulted in the timely identification of Canadian Implementing Partners.
Project Description
The project was designed as a responsive mechanism to support sub-project proposals submitted by Chinese proponents to MOFCOM. The project succeeded in designing and implementing a total of 14 sub-projects working with 10 Canadian implementing agencies that supported policy dialogue and reform in a variety of sub-sectors:
- Banking
- Environmental protection
- Housing mortgage
- Grain quality assurance
- Local/central government relations
- Financial professionals
- Livestock waste
- Fisheries
- Agricultural vocational education reform
- Mining
- Ecotourism
- Fiscal expenditure
- Textiles
- Notary professionals
Each of the sub-projects was designed jointly by the Chinese and Canadian implementing partners with a discrete set of short- and medium-term results statements. Most sub-projects involved training seminars and study tours to strengthen the capacity of the Chinese proponents to develop or revise and implement policies in their specific sub-sector.
Results
The project’s performance indicators show that the sub-projects resulted in improved policy dialogue and a better understanding of policy options among participants from the particular sectors. There were a total of 47 forums at which policy development, implementation and reform in a number of sectors were discussed. As a result, 15 new policy initiatives were recommended by sub-project partners and stakeholders, 75% of which have been acted upon.
The project resulted in an increased public sector capacity to formulate and implement socio-economic policies and regulate relevant institutions as a means of affecting the socio-economic development process in China.
Project Director
Robert Francis
rfrancis@agriteam.ca