Continuing Education on Governance and Development for Key Staff of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

Dates of Implementation/Duration:  October 2010

Partner Institution: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Philippine Society for Public Administration (PSPA), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

Objectives:

The Capacity-Building on Governance and Development was designed for twenty-one focal persons from NEDA-Management Staff and other sector staff who would directly coordinate the formulation of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTPDP) 2010-2016 and United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).   The course intended to: 

• Re-orient the participants on the concepts, and principles of governance and its relevance to socio-economic development; 
• Update the participants on the latest trends and development in the theory and practice of governance and public sector reforms; and 
• Deepen the participants’ knowledge and understanding on current and anticipated challenges/issues in Philippine governance, particularly in the areas of:
  • Integrity development
  • Rule of law
  • Environmental governance
  • Institutions development
  • Public finance management
  • Decentralization/local governance

Project Description:

The development agenda of the Aquino administration was strongly grounded on good governance.  It aimed to promote accountable and effective governance to reduce poverty and to achieve inclusive growth.  This would define the governance framework of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTPDP) 2010-2016 and which would be mirrored by the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

As the country’s socioeconomic planning agency, macroeconomic policy adviser, and leading body for investment programming, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) plays a very important role not only in steering development, but also in promoting good governance. NEDA plays a crucial role in coordinating the development objectives and strategies of the MTPDP 2010-2016 and the UNDAF.  NEDA faces the challenge of ensuring that the pursuit for good governance is incorporated in policy and in practice across the development landscape, e.g., agriculture, education, environment, health, housing, infrastructure, peace-building, etc.   

It is within this context that a three-day training course for NEDA staff was conducted to better equip them with the required professional competencies for more effective development planning and management.