Mitchell O’BrienSenior Governance Specialist

Cluster Lead - Parliamentary Strengthening ClusterGovernance Global Practice

World Bank GroupEmail: mobrien@worldbank.org

Resolution Implementation

W A A P A C A c c o u n t a b i l i t y C o n f e r e n c e – S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

Outline of Presentation1. Why do we care?2. What are Recommendations?3. What makes a good Recommendation?4. What is the practice around follow-up on

Recommendations?5. Factors influencing follow-up

Why do we care about Recommendations?

Accountability is defined as:1. Answerability2. Enforcement

• No strict definition for Enforcement – includes notions of discovering non-compliance, deterring non-compliance, and rehabilitating or punishing those who do not comply.

• SAIs often lack enforcement capacity, therefore, rely on parliament.

• What is the value add of PAC/ Finance Commissions if they are unable to promote Enforcement?

What are Recommendations?Recommendations are a final summary of an investigation and set out:

1. Key findings; and2. Actions to be taken

There are three types of recommendations related to external financial oversight:

• Audit recommendations (SAI)• Committee Recommendations (Parliamentary Audit

Committee)• Parliamentary Recommendations

What makes a good Recommendation?

SpecificMeasurable Achievable RealisticTime-bound

How do Committees and Parliaments deal with the follow-up on

Recommendations?• SAIs, Committees, or the Parliament can follow-up on any of the

recommendations

• The type of recommendation is usually dependent on the institution undertaking the follow-up – the recommendation closest to the institution is usually the one reviewed

• Recommendation tracking can be undertaken by the SAI, Committee, or Parliament and tracking mechanisms can include multiple layers of recommendations

• There is no single model for institutional follow-up of recommendations

Follow-up StrategiesFollow-up Strategies can be mapped along a spectrum: Follow-up by a devoted/ ad hoc sub-committee of

the Committee Follow-up by the Committee as a whole

- Annual hearing- Revisiting specific reports

Devoted Parliamentary Committee (Undertakings/ Assurance Committees)

External Actors (eg SAI)

Factors Influencing Recommendation Follow-up

A G E N D A

For how long are PAC members appointed to serve on the committee?

All West Africa Non-WA

% Full term 70% 69% 70%

Mean years PAC 3 4 3

Median years PAC 4 4 4

Mode years PAC 5 4 1

Who initiates PAC investigations?

% Initiated by: AG Parliament Minister Committee Other

All 41 19 0 34 5

WA 23 49 0 28 0

Non-WA 44 15 1 35 5

Factors Influencing Recommendation Follow-up (cont’d)

On what basis are PAC decisions reached?

All West Africa Non WA

Majority 71% 67% 72%

Unanimous 29% 33% 28%

Staffing of PAC

Dedicated Shared Government AG Other Total

Average

All 4 1 0 0 0 5

West Africa 3 0 1 1 0 4

Non-WA 5 1 0 0 0 6

Questions• What dynamic exists between

your Committee and SAI around implementation of Recommendations?

• Whose recommendations are you following up on?