Development Sector

The existing Human Resources (HR) management systems need further improvement to bring it at par with organizations in the corporate world, where systems rather than persons ensure improved delivery. For this purpose, the World Bank and DFID has deployed a team of consultants to undertake the assignment for the review of the HR business processes of BISP to identify gaps and then re-engineer the business processes to remove inefficiencies and suggest a road map for the implementation of the reengineered business processes through automation. Further, the scope also entails development of a scoping document for the software vendor hired to develop the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS) for BISP.

An effective PFM system would be instrumental in establishing a firm grip on the organization and to steer it forward. Currently, there is no system to gauge the performance of the organization as a whole or of the individual departments. Further, PFM is also a legal covenant in the agreement for the additional funding from the World Bank, which has not been complied to-date.

The work on development of the PFM system for BISP was initiated with the assistance of the World Bank in February 2013. The first round of meetings was completed in March 2013. Afterwards a zero draft was developed but due to foreseeable changes in the management of BISP at the highest level the work was postponed which was later resumed in August 2013. The second round of meetings was completed by October 11^th, 2013, based on which the first set of KPIs have been developed and are now being presented in this report.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

Carried out a rapid assessment of the beneficiaries’ payment module to identify area of improvements in order to develop robust, efficient, transparent and accountable payment mechanisms with adequate checks and balances to develop an auditable trail of the beneficiaries’ payment during each tranche disbursement.

Analysis of the beneficiaries’ payments made during the financial year 2012-13 to the BISP beneficiaries. This included analysis of the funds disbursed made to 3.9 million beneficiaries as at the start of the financial year right down the district level.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

Scope and responsibilities is to ensure smooth running of the financial and operational processes and procedures for Programs are in line with the relevant rules and procedures of the World Bank and the Government of Pakistan. The scope of the assignment will be to advise on designing and developing a comprehensive Financial and Operational Management system for the Programs and to also their periodic reviews.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

The objective of this assignment is to assist DFID in providing technical assistance to BISP while ensuring that a well-designed, accountable, transparent and efficient financial and procurement system is in place. We provide technical assistence for smooth running of the financial and operational processes/procedures for BISP. Scope also includes necessary support to the SCT team/ the Portfolio risk and assurance team during the annual FRA follow up i.e. the annual statement of progress and process review of the program.

We have recently carried out the expenditure review of the social sector for Punjab. This was a joint exercise of the World Bank Washington Head office and the World Bank’s Pakistan Country Office. The scope of the assignment entails the institutional assessment review of the Social Protection programs of the Government of Punjab.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

Formulation of financial polices & procedure for Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). Advisory services on development of an integrated management information and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) systems. Recommendation on the content and structure of the management reporting pack, inter departmental reporting linkages and authorization levels.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

We have carried out the Performance Audit of PSDF. The purpose of the audit is to assess the existing setup and its capacity to deliver the scale up to the whole of Punjab.  The scope entailed, appraisal of the existing institutional arrangement, management systems and process flows of the PSDF.  Further, assessing the extent to which the PSDF operation has achieved its goals and objectives in an effective, efficient and economical manner. The scope of work for the Institutional Assessment entails:

• Conduct a structured to gauge views of the PSDF Board, management and staff on the goals, objectives and future vision for the Fund. The exercise will define the PSDF vision, goals and objectives to guide existing operations as well as the scale up phase.
• Assess the institutional arrangement of PSDF as a Section 42 company and compliance with legal requirements vis-a-viz institutional structure, codes of conduct, standard operating procedures, process flows and rules of business. Also review the degree of autonomy exercised and checks and balances in place in the financial, management, implementation, and accountability matters.
• Review governance and management structures of PSDF in relation to its agenda; including the value addition of the private sector representation in the Board and the management of and delivery by PSDF. This will also cover internal communication channels and practices, reporting hierarchies, information creation and its role in management decision making, and systems available to the PSDF Board to perform its oversight and strategic planning role.
• Assess the degree of organizational integration and systems harmonization to facilitate smooth flow of programme activities and the attainment of programme objectives. This would cover key functions pertaining to programme planning and strategic development, programme implementation, quality assurance, information management, monitoring and evaluation, procurement, financial management, legal, and human resource.
• Analyze the quality and efficacy of PSDF arrangements dedicated to enhance systems accountability and transparency. This among others would cover control and accountability mechanisms, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation systems, beneficiary tracking and outreach.

Conduct a human resource assessment (including incentive structures) of PSDF in relation to roles and responsibilities of key positions, the broader agenda of the PSDF, and scale up plans. Provide the human resource requirements capacity building framework for PSDF with the objective to efficiently meet existing and future (including scale-up) needs. PEOP is a GFBP 55 million program jointly funded by DFID and Government of Punjab by providing GBP 25 each and an additional GBP 5 million as technical assistance by DFID.

We have developed the Annual Statement of Progress (ASP) of 2013 for the Punjab Employment Opportunity Program (PEOP) for the year 2013. PEOP is a GFBP 55 million program jointly funded by DFID and Government of Punjab by providing GBP 25 each and an additional GBP 5 million as technical assistance by DFID. The purpose of the ASP is to review the annual progress of the project in light of the recommendations given in the Fiduciary Risk Assessment (FRA).

We are in the process of implementation of the five year institutional development plan agreed with the BISP management for period 2013-2018. In phase one, implementation of the balance score card strategy, business process engineering of the human resource department and development of the scoping document for the newly proposed human resource management information system. Phase 2 would entail the business process engineering of the remaining departments and implementation of an ERP system.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

The assignment wsa undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

The objective of this assignment was to assist the Bank in providing technical assistance to BISP in ensuring that a well-designed, accountable, transparent and efficient financial and procurement system is in place.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is a GBP 40 million global initiative to support decision-makers in designing and delivering climate compatible development by combining research, advisory services and knowledge management in support of locally owned and managed policy processes. We are part of the delivery and design team in the capacity of Contract Administrator for Asia region, headed by the regional director of the Asia region. Contract administration includes compliance with contractual provisions and vetting and scrutinizing invoices raised against the contract delivery of more than GBP 2 million annually

Advisory services at the pre-bid submission stage includes methodology formulation, budget preparations, proposal conceptualization and review, negotiations with the donor till financial close and at the post award stage; review of the project design and implementation, financial reporting, project burn rate, project cost charging methodology, adherence to ADS / FAR regulations (For USAID funded projects) and relevant guide lines from the donor. Advisory services rendered on various projects undertaken directly or while representing other clients, are here under: -

• CDKN, PricewaterhouseCoopers, UK (Climate Data Knowledge Network)
• ENI Pakistan - Bhit Rural Support Program (BRSP)
• USAID (ASP) – Assessment and strengthening Program (pre award proposal submission in association with Aid, LEAD and GHK)
• Packard Foundation – Women Leaders for Reproductive Health and Development (WLRHD),
• Packard Foundation – Leadership and Reproductive Health Project (LRH)
• Care International – Stimulating Hope in District Buner, NWFP
• Asian Development Bank – Promoting Climate Change and Adaptation in Asia & Pacific
• Sindh Education Foundation - Rural Base Community Supported School
• The World Bank  - Improving Quality, Access and Governance in Education (in collaboration with GET GmbH/ICON-INSTITUTE, LEAD Pakistan and Proman SA)
• British High Commission - The Roles & Capacities of Actors in Water Conflicts in Pakistan: A Mapping Study
• RAF - Maternal and Newborn Health Programme Research
• USAID (JOBS)– Integrated Work and Learning Programmes for Pakistan
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (HBF) – Copenhagen Climate Change Summit
• IDRC – Entrepreneurship Education through School based productive enterprises
• Oxfam Novaib - Disaster Response Network-Balakot (DRN-Balakot)

USAID- Education Sector Relief Assistance.

Delivered an ERP strategy and roadmap to senior management, to assist LEAD Pakistan in transforming the company’s accounting and financial management operations. Managed cross-functional team of core business, operatr5ions and support personnel to evaluate existing technologies and business processes. Analyzed and documented system and business workflows, designed improvements based on industry best practices and authored ERP Strategy document presenting ROI of new process flows. Final presentation highlighted areas in LEAD’s operations business where the proposed SAGE based ERP could transform operations. On board’s approval the ERP was implemented that included the GL, AP, AR, Payroll and treasury. In addition a customized application for time writing work flow for online authorization was developed that integrated with the ERP to allocate time cost to the cost centers.

Largest non-government network of rural development program in the country, called Rural Support Program or RSPs.  Developed a provident fund accounting system for RSPN. The system could handle fund’s life cycle. In addition to the normal accounting routines the system was capable of handling member advances, interest accruals and its allocation to its members.

Carried out training on fund accounting to members RSP’s on latest trends in bookkeeping and presenting data for fund. In addition viable investing opportunities and governmental and regulatory provisions regarding investing fund monies into financial institutions securities and bonds.

As a resource person, carried out a three day training on accounting, financial reporting and information systems for Microfinance Institutions.

Development of grant management system to manage grant funds for the donor. The assignment included implementation of SAGE Accounting together with customization of the general ledger to record and report costs for themes that are funded by the donor.

Managed the filling of various requirements by SECP and PTA. This includes various monthly, weekly and quarterly reports as required by the competent authorities.

As part of the ongoing technical assistence to BISP, we have developed a design document for an online interface for the Finance & Accounts (F&A) department, which proposes an independent verification work flow for the beneficairies payment tranche in terms of its completeness, accuracy and adequate approvals.

The project consists of two main components:

I. Immediate Safety Net Recovery support– To provide Cash Transfers (UCT) for 6 months to cover basic and subsistence needs of the families when they return home. This would ensure consumption smoothing and provide support to people till they restore their livelihoods

II. Co-responsibility Cash Grants Child Immunization – This Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) will be linked to comprehensive child immunization package including Polio for the affected families. This will encourage long term improvements in children’s health and support overall human development outcomes for the affected region.

We are providing support to the design team in finalizing the financial management and institutional arrangements with the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) - GoP.

The assignment is undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

The services that are offered to AAL includes

Audit and Assurance services for ongoing engagements with various Federal Agencies including NASA and United States Postal Services

Proposal Writing support for Federal Contracting

Income Support Program for the poorest is the largest Social Safety Net program in Bangladesh supported by the World Bank to tune of 300 Million Dollars. After our sucessfull engagement during Phase I of the Program, in Phase II we are supporting the MIS development by Developing a Software Design Specification of the Disbursment Module and also Supervising the Software Development, contracted to work with a seperate software firm 

The assignment is undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent international Consultant with The World Bank, Washington Headquaters.firm.

The Kenya National Safety Net Programme (NSNP) is a government Social Protection programme established in September 2013 as part of the government’s initiatives to improve and enhance social protection delivery in the country.

We are reviewing the existing disbursement mechanisms of the cash transfers with a view to consolidate cash payments provided by the Government of Kenya (GoK) and introduction of technology based payment mechanisms to bring efficiency, transparency and accountability in the safety net program. 

The assignment is undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an international independent consultant with the World Bank Headquaerters.