1. Governance & Rural Infrastructure Team, Ghana Strategic Plan: Sep 09 – Aug 10

2. Our Vision A Northern Region of Ghana where every citizen has equal opportunity to benefit from public services. The problem Decentralized district systems in the Northern Region of Ghana are ineffective at generating evidence-based and transparent development plans resulting in inefficient and ineffective service delivery to rural communities. 1. Evidence-Based District Planning 2. Strong District Leadership 3. Transparent District Planning 4. Sustainable District Systems Improved Service Delivery Our Solution

3. The challenges and issues: District Planning in Ghana The challenges and issues: District Planning in Ghana The problem: District leaders have challenges effectively delegating, motivating, following-up, and reviewing performance of district officers. Implication: District officers do not take initiative to improve and innovative district systems, and only work when given directives. The problem: District Assembly communication systems do not facilitate effective collaboration between stakeholders. Implication: District Assemblies remain accountable to donors rather then communities. The problem: District data is stored in project reports rather than central databases and the quality of district data is poor. Data is not effectively analyzed at the district level. Implication: District officers and donors do not value district data creating a weak link between data and decision-making. The problem: Districts systems revolve around donor project s that focus on short -term poverty reduction objectives. Implication: Robust and effective district systems are not developed and sustained. Non Evidence- Based District Planning Weak District Leadership Non- Transparent District Planning Weak District Systems Poor Service Delivery

4. The change our team envisions: District Planning in Ghana The change our team envisions: District Planning in Ghana Donor-Driven Development District-wide data not available. Donors and politicians change priorities. District-Driven Development Districts have yearly data available for decision making. Donors support programs based on district specific needs. 2006-2009: District Medium-Term Development Plan <25% of activities implemented Non-evidence based decisions Donor Project Systems 2010-2013: District Medium-Term Development Plan >75% of activities implemented Evidence-based decisions District Planning Systems FromTo

5. Our team goals: #1 – Evidence-based District Planning Our team goals: #1 – Evidence-based District Planning Objectives Facilitate planning cycle activities in 5 Northern Region districts to generate evidence-based district plans for 350,000 citizens. Support planning cycle activities in other Northern Region districts to generate evidence-based district plans for 1.8M citizens. Support the development of a regional monitoring system to ensure district plan implementation District Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) utilize accurate data for evidence-based decision-making

6. Our team goals: #2 – Strong District Leadership Our team goals: #2 – Strong District Leadership Objectives Create a space for learning and mutual problem solving between 6 to 8 District Coordinating Directors (DCD) in the Northern Region Support 6 to 8 DCDs in the Northern Region in building their leadership and management capacities. District leaders are proactive in assigning roles, motivating staff, and taking responsibility for creating the MTDP

7. Our team goals: #3 – Transparent District Planning Our team goals: #3 – Transparent District Planning Objectives Facilitate the development of communication systems within 5 districts to be efficient, transparent and inclusive of all district stakeholders (traditional authorities and assembly members). Increase the collaboration between stakeholders in 5 districts with the MTDP as a focal point. The MTDP process is transparent and communities can hold the district accountable for implementing the MTDP

8. Our team goals: #4 – Sustainable District Systems Our team goals: #4 – Sustainable District Systems Objectives Create a learning system for sharing district best practices. Strengthen the learning systems of development partner (DP) implementation through the Development Partner Group in Tamale. Inform and influence decentralisation policy and programme decisions through the decentralisation theme group in Accra. Learning systems are in place to continually improve government planning systems, donor partner implementation, and donor partner policy and programming.

9. Our team phases: Institutionalizing Evidence-Based Planning Our team phases: Institutionalizing Evidence-Based Planning Sep 2008 – Apr 2009 2 Districts (24 OVS Months) Pilot Phase Scale-up Phase Refinement Phase Institutionalized Phase May 2009 – Aug 2009 8 Districts (12 OVS Months) Sep 2009 – Dec 2009 5 Districts (10 OVS Months) Jan 2010 – Aug 2010 20 Districts (18 OVS Months)