Half a plan later, it’s time to take stock

HALFWAY through the second National Development Plan (NDP II), the time has come for its progress to be assessed – but Government is to rely on self-evaluation by the planning units of bodies charged with carrying out the plan.

More than 900 of the 1 500 programmes envisaged under the plan have been undertaken since 2001. In December Cabinet gave its approval for a mid-term review of the plan, and this week the National Planning Commission officially launched the policy guidelines and terms of reference for that review.The period under review will be from April 1 2001 to September 30 2003 and the assessment is expected to be completed by July.The planning units of all ministries, agencies, regional councils, local authorities, parastatals and private-sector institutions will be doing their own evaluation of their own policies.NDP II lays the groundwork for the country’s long-term national development plan to improve Namibians’ quality of life – Vision 2030.Among the objectives of NDP II are to revive and sustain economic growth, create more employment opportunities, and reduce inequality in income distribution and poverty.As party to the UN Millennium Development goals set to be attained by 2015, Namibia is supposed to take stock of its progress in meeting the eight targets.The NDPII objectives are in conformity with these.The review will tell Government whether any policies and strategies pursued so far need to be changed in the light of experience.Besides offering a critical analysis of the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the programmes, this review will focus on the financial implications of seeing the plan through to 2005.So far, only 46 per cent of the plan’s N$17,9 billion budget (N$8,3 billion) has been pledged by Government.Development partners have promised another six per cent (N$1,1 billion).Therefore, 48 per cent of the funds needed to fulfil the plan’s targets in full has yet to be tapped.The NPC will travel to the regions next week to brief planning units about the review process.In December Cabinet gave its approval for a mid-term review of the plan, and this week the National Planning Commission officially launched the policy guidelines and terms of reference for that review. The period under review will be from April 1 2001 to September 30 2003 and the assessment is expected to be completed by July. The planning units of all ministries, agencies, regional councils, local authorities, parastatals and private-sector institutions will be doing their own evaluation of their own policies. NDP II lays the groundwork for the country’s long-term national development plan to improve Namibians’ quality of life – Vision 2030. Among the objectives of NDP II are to revive and sustain economic growth, create more employment opportunities, and reduce inequality in income distribution and poverty. As party to the UN Millennium Development goals set to be attained by 2015, Namibia is supposed to take stock of its progress in meeting the eight targets. The NDPII objectives are in conformity with these. The review will tell Government whether any policies and strategies pursued so far need to be changed in the light of experience. Besides offering a critical analysis of the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the programmes, this review will focus on the financial implications of seeing the plan through to 2005. So far, only 46 per cent of the plan’s N$17,9 billion budget (N$8,3 billion) has been pledged by Government.Development partners have promised another six per cent (N$1,1 billion). Therefore, 48 per cent of the funds needed to fulfil the plan’s targets in full has yet to be tapped. The NPC will travel to the regions next week to brief planning units about the review process.