STRENGTHENING STATE PLANS FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Memorandum of Understanding
( MOU
)
This Memorandum of
Understanding sets out the objectives and terms of cooperation for
strengthening State Plans and the planning process of the Government of West
Bengal, through technical assistance from the Government of India-UNDP project
on Strengthening State Plans for Human Development. Accordingly, the Government
of West Bengal, the Planning Commission, Government of India and the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) endorse a formal understanding on the
project objectives and deliverables.
Context
The Government of India has made a commitment to
meet national and global human development goals in the Tenth Five
Year Plan document, including State-level monitorable targets for
poverty reduction.
For the first time State Plans have been incorporated as a
separate volume in the National Tenth Plan with State-specific
monitorable targets. The Tenth Plan has outlined a multi-pronged
strategy to assist the State Governments in achieving the
development targets set out for them. The direction of public
investment to achieve these targets can be through the State Plans
and so also poverty reduction strategies within a human development
framework, as set out in the State Human Development Reports, which
are prepared by the State Governments themselves. Effective follow
up by the State governments requires the creation and strengthening
of institutional capacity within the State's planning process to
work across departments and with civil society to devise specific
policies and programmes to improve the level of human development in
the state.
The Government of West Bengal has prepared its State Human
Development Report and is committed to national and international
goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through an
effective poverty reduction strategy and an action agenda for human
development.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's
global development network, mandated by its Executive Board to
assist member countries in devising more effective public policies
and programmes for poverty reduction, human development and the
achievement of MDGs. The UNDP's Country Programme 2003-07 has a
specific focus on human development and gender equality, and the
Government of India has approved a Project for Strengthening State
Plans for Human Development, led by the Planning Commission,
Government of India (refer Project document).
Objectives
The key objectives, based on the Project document, can be summarised
as follows:
Build and strengthen capacity of State planners to provide a
human development perspective in State Plan documents and relevant
policies and programmes of the state government, through a Human
Development Research & Coordination Unit, which may be located in
the State Planning Commission/ Planning Department with technical
assistance from the Project on Strengthening State Plans for Human
Development.
Provide research and training services to identify specific
policy options for financing of human development. Strengthen state
statistical systems through development of methodologies, software
and training courses for data providers and users, both in the
Directorate of Economics & Statistics and relevant departments.
Emphasis would be placed on generation and computation of district
level statistics pertaining to education, health, income and
poverty.
Deliverables
As envisaged in the project document, the specific deliverables
would include the following:
Dissemination of State HDR messages,
using both executive summaries and audio-visual media, with an
effective communication & advocacy strategy aimed at
government departments, district administration, local bodies
and civil society, including media and academic & research
institutions.
Analytical reporting on human development
thematic reports and forecasting exercises, district level
HDRs, human development policy briefs and memos (including
chapters in the Annual Economic Survey and State Plan
documents), evaluation and documentation of best practices.
Design and implementation of human
development training courses and modules, including
training of trainers and exposure of state planners to concepts
and best practices of human development, at the national and
global level.
Design of human development programmes
and poverty reduction and employment generation strategies for
the State, including district level interventions for backward
districts taking up in the initial phase those districts
covered under the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY), through
substantive participatory processes to ensure clear linkages
with human development and MDGs.
Training of State and district level
statistical
officials in modern statistical methods
and computation of human development indicators.
For carrying out the above tasks, a Human Development Research &
Coordination Unit will be established within the State Planning
Commission/Planning Department, with specific terms of reference based upon the
Project Document.
Roles and
Responsibilities
Government of West Bengal
Establish a Human
Development Research & Coordination Centre within the State Planning Board,
Development & Planning Department as the resource centre and coordination
mechanism for the follow up to the HDR and related policy documents (Refer
State Government Proposal), by ensuring adequate office space and logistical
support as required. This Unit will prepare, approve and implement the annual
work plan, and also serve as the channel for allocating and utilizing the
resources provided by UNDP for various activities under the annual work plan of
the Unit as agreed upon between the Planning Commission, Government of India,
the State Government and UNDP.
Designate and empower a Nodal
Officer in the State Planning Commission to oversee and coordinate the
activities of the Unit and implement its work plan.
Constitute an
Empowered Committee to monitor and guide the Unit, including management of the
resources provided to the Unit.
Provide
resources to bridge the gap, if any, between the resources made available by
UNDP and the requirement of resources for carrying out the activities as per
the approved work plan as also ensuring smooth functioning of the Unit.
Facilitate interaction and consultation with departments, districts and block
officials, and State Government agencies.
Planning Commission
Authorise the use
of UNDP resources for meeting the costs of establishment of Human Development
Research & Coordination Unit, and in implementation of its work plans,
including strengthening State statistical systems, training, national experts,
workshop/consultations under the Government of India-UNDP project on
"Strengthening State Plans for Human Development" (Refer Project document and
Work Plan).
To monitor the progress of implementation of the project through visits as well
as participation in various meetings.
Integrate the
deliverables from the exercise in the process of State Plan dialogue and the
national planning
process.
UNDP
Provide
technical assistance and financial resources for the establishment of Human
Development Research & Coordination Unit and in implementation of its works
plans, strengthening State statistical systems, on the request of the State
government in association with the Planning Commission, Government of India.
Support
identification of strategic options for financing of human development at the
State level, through research, training and related studies, in tandem with
specialized national resource institutions.
Participate in review meetings.
Coordinate with
other UN agencies and international organizations, as and when requested by the
State Government, in consultation with the Planning Commission.
Facilitate experience sharing with other
States and countries.
Signed on this day, the
, Two thousand
four at
by and on behalf of:
Planning
Commission
UNDP
Government
of
Government
of
India
West
Bengal
Rajan
Katoch Maxine Olson
Asok Gupta
Joint
Secretary (State Plans)
Resident Representative
Chief Secretary
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