Many transition and emerging economies have lately engaged in a process to transform their public institutions . Their role has shifted from providers of end-services to supporters and monitors of competitive markets of private service providers. We combine knowledge of the conditions for a well-functioning market economy with expertise in institutional support to assist governments in this transformation process.

Examples

• creating business-friendly legal and regulatory frameworks and reducing administrative barriers;
• upgrading and strengthening of public institutions in charge of market surveillance and competition, privatisation and regulation;
• public sector reform to improve the efficiency of public administrations and the quality of public services.

Project Examples

Central and Eastern Europe/CIS

• Albania: PC&A was invited to assist the Albanian Copyright Office (ACO) in the preparation of relevant documents for the IPA 2008 technical assistance project “Support to the ACO” and in the revision of the Intellectual Property legal framework. We therefore carried out a needs assessment on technical assistance and equipment to be provided to ACO, Regional Copyright Offices (RCO) and their partners, drafted the Terms of reference for the IPA 2008 technical assistance project and assisted ACO in finalising the relevant legislation (National Strategy and draft law).
• Armenia: PC&A provides support to the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) in drafting a Twinning Fiche necessary for launching an institutional Twinning (including logical framework and budget). The second objective of the project is to prepare a study visit for Twinning counterparts from the SCPEC in order to facilitate the Twinning Contract drafting process.
• Ukraine: PC&A provided support to the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance in drafting a Twinning Fiche necessary for launching an institutional twinning of one million euros. The Fiche described in particular the objectives of the twinning, the activities to be implemented and the results to be achieved, and included an appropriate logical framework as well as a budget.
• Bulgaria: PC&A assessed the current situation of monitoring of state aid in Bulgaria and to prepare a gap analysis and identify tasks, resources and procedures needed to implement the EU acquis. The implementation of our recommendations started immediately after the submission of our study and is being conducted by means of a twinning project.
• Bulgaria: PC&A was called upon to strengthen the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NRA) by delivering, on one hand, a tailored training program to strengthen the internal capacity of the NRA in the area of Quality Management (QM), and on the other hand by developing and implementing a set of quality-based tools and operational procedures to enhance overall organisational efficiency.
• Georgia: PC&A assisted the Government of Georgia in the implementation of the FSP (Food Security Programme) to strengthen capacities of the Ministry of Finance and the line ministries (Agriculture, Education) in reform development related to public finance management, agriculture, and social security, and to provide support to the EC Delegation in phasing out EC FSP.
• Croatia: PC&A was called upon to assist the Croatian Ministry of Finance in improving the administrative capacity of the Tax Administration by introducing an overall strategic business and IT development framework. Our tasks are to assist the Tax Administration to prepare an overall Business Change Management Plan on the basis of the Fiscal Blueprints exercise, together with an overall IT strategy.
• Tajikistan: PCA provided a detailed review of the implementation of the Food Security Programme (FSP) Tajikistan 2006 for the first three quarters of the fiscal year 2006 in view of the decision on the release of the fixed instalment and first variable instalment. Concerning the fixed instalment, the review positively assessed the fulfilment of all conditions and recommended the release of the full tranche (EUR 1,000,000). Concerning the first variable instalment, the review could see positive progress in all sectors, although many targets could not be considered as fully reached.
• Armenia: PC&A was asked to prepare and publish and insolvency manual for bankruptcy administrators in Armenia and to deliver a series of seminars on bankruptcy issues to increase business awareness of bankruptcy issues.
• Azerbaijan: Mid-term and final review of the Food Security Programme (FSP). Within the framework of the European Community FSP, financial assistance has been provided to the Republic of Azerbaijan since 1996. The FSP 2002, evaluated by us, provided a total of EUR 19 million for budgetary support and €1.3 million for technical assistance.  We evaluated (a) the implementation of the programme to allow decisions on the disbursement of later instalments and follow-up programmes, and (b) the relevance and impact of: the specific expenditures under the programme; the policy advice provided; and the policy conditions attached to the programme.
• Bulgaria: Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Sectoral Operational Programme “Administrative Capacity” within the Bulgarian National Development Plan 2007-2013. We assessed the impact of the proposed interventions within the Operational Programme in order to optimise the allocation of budgetary resources under priorities and to improve the overall quality of the Operational Programme and the National Development Plan.
• CARDS region (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia & Montenegro) – PC&A carried out a study on the means and consequences of formalising the large informal sector (grey economy) in the South-West Balkans. After measuring the size and scope of the grey economy; evaluating the drawbacks and benefits of formalising the grey economy, and assessing the effectiveness of the policy measures taken so far by the governments, we presented 23 concrete policy recommendations aimed at shifting the incentive structure in favour of formal economic activity. Finally we presented proposals as to how assistance within the EU-CARDS framework can effectively contribute to formalising the grey economy.
• Czech Republic: PC&A assisted the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, the Union of Consultants, and the Chamber of Auditors in preparing key national and private bodies for integrating International Accounting Standards and International Financial Reporting (IAS/IFRS) into the Czech accountancy system.  Our assignment included the preparation and delivery of a comprehensive training programme and a 600 pages manual.
• FYRoM: In the context of financial sector reform in FYRoM, improvements of insurance market regulations are one of the key areas. The objective of the project was therefore to provide technical assistance to assess and review the existing primary and secondary insurance legislation in the view of its compliance with the EU directives regulating the insurance sphere and the international principles and standards of insurance, to provide recommendations for further approximation, and to strengthen the Insurance System and Insurance Supervision Divisions within the Ministry of Finance. In doing so, the project contributed to the strengthening of the capital market in FYRoM and thus to an improvement of the business climate for private sector operations.
• Kosovo: PC&A was invited by the European Agency for Reconstruction to support the development of the internal audit function across the Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG) in Kosovo, and under the coordination of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in line with EU and international standards.
• Kosovo: We drafted Terms of Reference (ToR) for two projects:
  • Public Internal Financial Control: Increase the capacity of the MEF to coordinate, develop and implement the principles of decentralised managerial accountability and functionally independent internal audit in accordance with international standards and EU standards through coherent legislation and adequate administrative capacity.
  • Further Support to Office of the Auditor General in order to strengthen the operational and functional capacity of the Supreme Audit Institution.
•  Kosovo: Funded by the EAR, PC&A assisted the Government of Kosovo, and more particularly the Office for Legal Support Services in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), in coping with the legislative agenda that derives from the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan. To enhance the capacity in legal drafting we assisted the OPM and line ministries in drafting 5 pieces of legislation in accordance with the Acquis Communautaire: Draft Law on Chemical Products; Draft Law on Insurances in Kosovo; Draft Law on Health Care in the state of Extraordinary Circumstances; Draft Law on Agricultural Inspectorate.
• Moldova: PC&A supported the Ministry of Economy to collect, collate, analyse and report economic performance in order to underpin the economic policy-making process and to monitor the impact of the implementation of the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy. In the light of this advice, the existing macroeconomic models were modified to provide greater coherence and clarity into forecasting. Four quarterly issues of the Moldovan Economic Trends were prepared, published and disseminated in three languages.
• Moldova: PC&A assisted the Multilateral Trade relations and WTO Division of the Ministry of Economy in Moldova in implementing trade-related economic reforms in line with Moldova's obligations under the WTO agreement, as well as the Free Trade Area between Moldova and the countries of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.
• Romania: Assistance to the Romanian National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC) and its regional centres (Offices for Consumer Protection) in conducting a background analysis and needs assessment in the field of consumer protection and market surveillance.
• Serbia and Kosovo: The European Union, through the EAR, has supported the Republic of Serbia and UN administered Kosovo in reconstructing the judiciary and law enforcement agencies through various programmes. PC&A evaluated six of the major interventions in this field, two in Serbia and four in Kosovo. The projects concerned support to law enforcement agencies, judicial training centres and institutes, prosecutor's offices, and the modernisation of courts.
• Slovak Republic: Training to Financial Controllers/Public Finance Management. We provided training for ex-post financial controllers within the Ministry of Finance and other ministries on the execution of at least 5% sample checks on operations of Structural Funds, 15% sample checks on operations of Cohesion Fund and 10 % sample check on operations of the Schengen Facility of eligible expenditures in order to enhance qualification of staff involved in public internal financial control system.
• Slovak Republic: As part of the implementation of the final Acquis communautaires, PC&A was asked to assist the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (SOSR) to prepare for the adoption of the INTRASTAT SK system upon accession to the EU. INTRATST SK is the statistical system for monitoring the trading of goods between EU member states. We prepared Methodological Guidelines for the adoption of the system in line with EU directives and trained the staff of the SOSR in the use of the system.
• Turkmenistan initiated the reform of budgeting with laws on the budget system and the state budget 2005. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MoEF) has prepared a draft transition programme defining actions and tasks to be achieved. In this context, the objective of this project was to support MoEF's reform and development process in setting up effective budget planning and a management system.
• Uzbekistan: Strengthening Human Resources Management in the Ministry of Finance: In 2002, the Government of Uzbekistan initiated a comprehensive reform of public finance management. In this context, the overall objective of the project was to improve public finance management and accountability in the budget execution process by means of introduction of the Treasury and budget preparation reform. The specific objective was to introduce the elements of Human Resource Management (HRM) that constitute “best practice”, including the preparation of job descriptions, training needs analysis, staff performance appraisal system etc, as well as to provide experience and policy guidance to the Treasury of the MoF in what constitutes the factual introduction of the Civil Service law.

North Africa and Middle East

• Egypt: PC&A assists the Programme Implementation Office (PIO) at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) in testing and preparing the development of future design principles for R&D policies and practices in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Trainings and Capacity building to 3-4 Egyptian R&D institutions will be provided in order to implement relevant innovation policies and practices into their daily operating procedures.
• Egypt: PC&A supported CAPMAS (Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics) and the EC Delegation in Egypt in developing a project fiche necessary for the launching of an institutional twinning with the objectives of developing the organisational capacity of CAPMAS, improving its human resources capabilities and updating the regulatory framework within which CAPMAS operates in conformity with European Community standards.
• Algeria: Advisory services related to the EU Structural Adjustment Facility. We assisted the EU in assessing the progress made by the Algerian authorities towards fulfilling the conditionalities for disbursement of the second tranche (EUR 65 M) of the EU funded Structural Adjustment Facility.
• Jordan: For the Jordanian Ministry of Planning, we prepared an assessment of the anticipated impact of the EU-Jordan Association Agreement on the Jordanian Economy.
• Malta: Assistance in preparing the National Development Plan 2003 – 2006.
• Malta: We assisted the Government of Malta in preparing the country for the implementation of Structural Funds after EU accession in May 2004. We defined five priority areas for implementation of Structural Funds and delivered capacity building measures with the view of familiarising the government with, inter alia the application procedures, selection criteria, co-financing measures, data exchange requirements and monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Morocco: Further to the Association Agreement signed between the EU and Morocco and to the increasing migration flow between Morocco and the EU, PC&A assisted the Moroccan Ministry of Employment in structuring legal migration to the EU and in facilitating and organizing the free circulation of people between the EU and Morocco.
• Morocco: PC&A carried out a detailed assessment of the public administration reform process initiated in 2001. Our consultants evaluated the progress made towards the goal of creating a leaner, more efficient and more responsive public administration and formulated recommendations as to how the reform process could be further improved.
• Tunisia: PC&A assisted the European Commission and the Ministry of Economic Development in assessing the progress of the measures indicated in the Conditionality Matrix of the Structural Adjustment Facility. In particular we examined the environment for private sector development, the reform programme in the financial sector and liberalisation and regulation in the NICT (New Information and Communication Technologies) sector.
• Tunisia: On behalf of the Tunisian Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA), PC&A carried out a thorough study of Tunisia’s labour competitiveness measured against a selection of its main competitors (e.g. Morocco, Romania, and Turkey). Based on our findings we determined Tunisia’s competitive position in terms of labour costs and made recommendations for the improvement of Tunisia’s labour competitiveness. We made concrete recommendations in the field of labour market reform, and designed programmes to increase the productivity of Tunisian workers as well as their adaptability to new technologies.
• Turkey: The Secretariat General for the European Union Affairs (EUSG) is at the central level responsible for the overall internal co-ordination of the EU accession process. The EUSG operates as one of the key actors of the DIS (Decentralised Implementation System) in Turkey and is specifically responsible for programming and monitoring tasks to ensuring a close link between the accession process and the use of EU funds. In this context, we assisted the EUSG in reviewing the internal consistency and logic of 37 project fiches 2006 and related annexes and their compliance with the basic principles of project cycle management methodology and the EC Programming Guidelines.
• Turkey: On behalf of the Turkish government PC&A conducted a complete assessment of the first six years of implementation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union. We delivered a detailed evaluation of both sides' efforts to comply with obligations under the agreement and measured the impact of the CU on the Turkish economy. Finally we provided a series of recommendations for further economic and institutional reforms.

Other regions

• Sierra Leone: PC&A was invited to assist in the design and planning of the Capacity Building component of the Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Programme (IPFMRP) by developing a comprehensive in-service training and skills development scheme covering a number of professional groups related to Public Financial Management (PFM), i.e. accountants (technician, diploma and professional levels), internal auditors, budget officers, economists, procurement officers and IT specialists.
• São Tomé and Príncipe: PC&A provided technical assistance and capacity building to the Project Management Unit of the PALOP II (Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa – Portuguese-speaking African countries) Statistics Programme with start-up activities during the roll-out phase of the 4-year programme (e.g. elaboration of the technical and financial operational programme (2008-2010), development of a practical guide to administrative and financial management of operational activities, formulation of a functional organigram, etc.).
• Malawi: PC&A provided a final evaluation of the results, method of implementation and impact of the Capacity Building for Economic Management and Policy Coordination programme in order to assess how far the purpose and expected results of the project were achieved. Recommendations on further support in public management and capacity building for economic management were delivered by PC&A.
• Malawi: PC&A provided an update of the assessment of relevant the Public Expenditure Financial Accountability (PEFA) indicators while providing an independent analysis presenting the reasons for success or failure in achieving the indicators, including identifying reasons within and beyond government control. The final result was that the assessment of progress on PFM reforms was in line with the PEFA based performance assessment framework.
• South Africa: In order to achieve an acceptable level of quality from the collection of Local Government (Municipality and Municipal Entities) data PC&A was invited to provide technical assistance to the National Treasury by delivering a Standard Chart of Accounts specific to Local Government as well as provincial Treasury trainings and a Workshop Learners Toolkit. Other tasks are developing a Reference Guide to Economic Reporting format for Local Government, drafting specific technical papers related to accounting policies and procedures, etc.
• Vanuatu: PC&A was invited to analyse and draw lessons from the current General Budget Support (GBS) intervention, i.e. “Support to Economic Reform Programme 2007-2010” (SERP II) which is providing budget support, and associated capacity building and technical assistance, to sustain the Government of Vanuatu’s efforts to implement its national development strategy in order to provide direction in the formulation of a new multiyear budget support program in Vanuatu, financed by the European Union under the 10th EDF, namely SERP III.
• Lesotho: PC&A assisted the Bureau of Statistics (BoS) in finalising the Census 2006 and generating reliable and updated demographic and socio-economic data on Lesotho, for use in national development planning. The project consisted of two main components, technical assistance/advice and capacity development of the BoS.
• Nigeria: PC&A provided technical assistance to the European Development Fund’s National Authorizing Officer, in particular on training and financial and administrative procurement procedures
• Philippines: PC&A provided technical assistance to upgrade public finance management and budget planning development of IT systems for public expenditure. We also provided training to staff of Department of Health in public finance management, procurement, warehousing and supply management.
• European Union: In the context of the Aid Effectiveness Agenda, the Monterrey Consensus 2003 and the Paris Declaration of 2005 were major milestones towards harmonisation and alignment of aid. One component of the agenda relates to the alignment of public procurement. In this context, PC&A was commissioned to prepare a compendium of existing procedures for the procurement of services, works and supplies in the framework of the development assistance programmes of the 25 Member States and the EU institutions.
• Asia (China, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam): Strategic evaluation of the impact provided by the ASEM Trust Fund Programme in support of economic and social reforms. The ASEM Trust Fund was established in 1998 to provide support to East Asian crisis-hit countries. The first ASEM Trust Fund (1998-2001) supported more than 70 activities in financial and corporate restructuring and social welfare and safety nets in seven East Asian countries. Resources pledged by donors to its successor, ASEM Trust Fund 2 (2002-2006), are about 40 million USD.
• Caribbean: Technical Assistance in 10th EDF Programming. We assisted the Governments of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis and St. Vincent & the Grenadines and the European Commission with the 10th EDF Programming exercise, in facilitating consultations within each Country and with the EC and other donors, and preparing a draft Country Strategy Paper (CSP) and National Indicative Programme (NIP) for each Country.
• Caribbean: Mid-term evaluation of the 8th EDF Caribbean Regional Sustainable Tourism Development Programme (CRSTDP). The Programme has as its overall objective to contribute to economic growth and poverty alleviation of CARIFORUM countries through increased competitiveness and sustainability of the Caribbean tourism sector. The purpose of the five year programme with a budget of approx. EUR 8 million is to foster the sustainability and competitiveness of the Caribbean tourism sector through the establishment of a sustainable development policy framework, supplementing and strengthening of regional institutional capacities, development of skills and human resources, support to small operators through business development support, and strengthening of links among CARIFORUM/CARICOM, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, the Caribbean Hotel Association, national tourism/hotel associations and academic institutions.
• Central Africa (10 countries): In the context of the objectives of the Cotonou Agreement and of the regional cooperation with Central Africa for the 9th EDF, we supported the regional organisations – the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) - and the Delegation of the European Commission in the Central African Republic with respect to the permanent supervising of the Regional Indicative Programme.
• India: On behalf of the European Commission and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, and within the EC-India Trade and Investment Development Programme (TIDP), PC&A was asked to make recommendations for the deepening and widening of India-EU trade. Our recommendations included strengthened technical assistance on trade facilitation, concrete measures to enhance India’s export performance and steps to improve India’s climate for FDI.
• India: In the Trade and Investment Development Programme, PC&A provided technical assistance to several ministries and associations involved in foreign trade. After analysing the reasons for the relatively low level of integration of India in the world economy, we proposed a series of remedial actions in the following areas: support of local research on trade-related issues; improvement of the information available to companies wishing to engage in EU-India trade; improve the certification process to ensue that Indian products comply with EU standards and disseminate information to Indian companies on the importance of quality standards (ISO, SA etc); and improve the investment climate, notably for FDI.
• India: PC&A was asked by the European Commission to assess the effective implementation by the Indian Government of the Joint Recommendations agreed upon at the EU-India Summit in Lisbon in 2000. These Joint Recommendations were aimed at increasing trade and investment flows between the EU and India. Furthermore, we assessed the implications of actions taken or not taken on the growth of two-way FDI and trade in several key-sectors.
• Namibia: The overall objective of Capacity Building for Development Planning (CBDP) Programme is to increase the effectiveness of national development planning and management as a means of contributing to the reduction of poverty in Namibia. PC&A conducted the mid-term review of the CBDP Programme to assess the progress of the project in terms of its relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability and recommended possible amendments to the Financing Agreement.
• Peru: Formulation of a Strategic Framework for International Cooperation. We assisted the Peruvian Agency for International Technical Cooperation (APCI) in elaborating a Strategic Framework for International Technical Cooperation and formulate a strategy for its implementation. Particular attention was paid to increasing the effectiveness of aid.
• Philippines: On behalf of the EC Delegation to the Philippines, PC&A carried out a comprehensive assessment of the Philippine economic development plan for the period 2004-2010, the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP). Based on the assessment, recommendations were formulated pertaining to the enhancement of the Plan's "implementability" in terms of available financial resources and their allocation, as well as regarding strategic areas for EU and other donor intervention.
• Trinidad & Tobago: By request of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education and the Ministry of Planning and Development we assessed the Public Finance Management System in Trinidad and Tobago and determined whether the current procedures are satisfactory for EC sector budget support with a financial envelope of EUR 17 million (of which 80% for education expenditures).
• Vietnam/Hungary: We assisted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary in aligning its Vietnam Strategy with the EU’s pilot initiative on aid coordination and harmonisation. The specific objectives of the project were to enable Vietnam to benefit from a structured and high impact service portfolio on transition economies, building on the accumulated knowledge and expertise in Hungary; to increase the scale, efficiency and efficacy of Hungary’s ongoing bilateral development cooperation programs with Vietnam, aligning them to the EU’s principles on coordination and harmonisation; and to develop a strategic plan to conceptualise Hungary’s ongoing and ad-hoc bilateral activities with Vietnam, reflecting clear demand and needs. The strategic plan was to be built on Hungary’s comparative advantage and be harmonised with the EC’s Pilot Initiative on Vietnam.
• West Africa (WAEMU and its 8 Member States Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo): We undertook the final evaluation of the EU-funded Regional Integration Support Programme (PARI) which provided, since 1998, multiple forms of assistance aiming at strengthening both the integration process within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA), and the integration process of the WAEMU with the world economy.
• Zambia / COMESA: Finalisation of the Financing Proposal for Regional Integration Budget Support Facility. The objective of the project was to assist the COMESA Secretariat in preparing a final draft Financing Proposal for the Regional Integration Budget Support (RIBS) Facility with an indicative budget of EUR 78 million. The RIBS Facility will contribute to the consolidation of the COMESA Free Trade Area, and assist countries to progress towards the COMESA and EAC Customs Unions. RIBS will assist countries in the ESA region to fulfil the Treaty Obligations of the regional integration organisations (RIO), allow them to play a more active part in implementation of Regional Trade Arrangements and multilateral trade agreements and hence promote economic growth and reduce poverty.