1. Lao PDR PAR & Decentralisation in LAO PDR: Problems and Prospects ( Presentation Bratislava Conference, 20 th April 2004) Presentation by: Bikash Ranjan Dash Programme Analyst Public Administration Reforms & Decentralisation

2. Lao PDR Outline PAR and Decentralisation programme in Lao PDR Issues and Challenges Lessons learnt

3. Lao PDR Lao PDR Government Prime Minister Institutional Framework for GPAR Programme Deputy Prime Minister (Governance) Vice-Minister to the PMO Line Ministries & CPC Department of Public Administration and Civil Service UNDP GPAR II Project Pilot Provinces Other (new) provincial pilots GPAR Luang Prabang GPAR - UNV GPAR Saravan Proposed Governance steering committee MoF/Fiscal Decentralisation

4. Lao PDR Issues and Challenges Formally, a highly centralised government system However, centre of the govt. system is weak PAR, Decentralisation and Economic Governance sectors are closely linked Problem of coordination Lack of capacity Whether Fiscal decentralisation or centralisation?

5. Lao PDR Lessons learnt Phase of conceptualisation, Implementation- Trust building( Same in transitional countries), UNDP main player in Lao PDR Political will- Movers and shakers Model- Provincial pilot, what next? Policy implications- System needs to be in place- Steering committee? Linkage with other stakeholders Difficult to separate PAR and Decentralisation

6. Lao PDR Decentralization in Laos Formally, a highly centralized government system However, center of this government system is weak.

7. Lao PDR Decentralisation Policy Framework PM Decree No. 01 (2000); No. 192 (1999) Governance Policy Paper (2003) Law on Government (modified 2003) Law on Local Administration (2003) Civil Service Statute (2002) Revision of Constitution (2003) NPEP (2003)

8. Lao PDR Governance and Public Administration Reforms (GPAR) Programme Implementation: Department of Public Administration & Civil Service (DPACS) in the PMO Scope Policy formulation Coordination and resource mobilization Decentralization pilots Review and restructuring of Ministries to support decentralization Capacity Building

9. Lao PDR Governance and Public Administration Reforms (GPAR) Programme Decentralization pilots: GPAR Luang Prabang; UNV Scope ‐HRM; FM; Planning; Capacity development; Model Office environment ‐Linkages: GPAR Central, ADB (NAS), ILO (PIMS; Civil Service database), SIDA (radio) ‐Policy implications: Job descriptions; NAS; Decentralized planning; ‐Improved service delivery: through training; piloting of One Stop Shops and District Reorganization (new)