INSTITUTIONAL REFORM & CAPACITY BUILDING

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The Institutional Reform and Capacity Building Project helps the post-conflict Government of Sierra Leone establish a functioning local government system and improve inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability of public financial management at all levels of government. There are four main project components. Component 1 finances the detailed design and implementation of the government Decentralization Program. The design of the Decentralization Program is based on the premise that certain service delivery and development needs of the population can be addressed more effectively by empowered local governments with a strong capacity to manage participatory development planning and implementation with accountability. This component also finances start-up investment in local government administrative infrastructure, capacity building to support decentralization, a Local Government Development Grant, and monitoring and evaluation. Component 2 supports the implementation of a public financial management reform program, which has been developed with a vision of establishing a decentralized public financial management system in the medium term. It also supports improving the legal and regulatory framework for public financial management and a new Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). The design and support implementation of interim financial management systems for newly elected local governments, procurement reform, and monitoring and evaluation. Component 3 finances a Development Learning Center, establishing it as an independent legal entity, constructing, equipping and staffing it, and supporting its operation. Componment 4 ensures that the project's implementation complies with the World Bank Financial Management Guidelines and the Procurement Guidelines, and ensures effective coordination of the first three project components.