DG Enlargement – Effective Support for Enlargement Conference, Brussels 19 October 2009

1. Linking EU objectivesand country sector strategies in the programming of assistance European CommissionDG Enlargement DG Enlargement – Effective Support for Enlargement Conference, Brussels 19 October 2009

2. IPA Programming framework Enlargement strategy IPA/EP SAA/EP Economic Dialogue MIPD Rural development Economic and Social cohesion Institution Building Adoption ofEU policiesand legislation IPARD progr SCF/Op. progr National Development PlanCountry strategies NPAA Economic & Fiscal Programme

3. Sector Approaches • Sector approach – programme based approach for a given sector • Key features: • Leadership by partner country • Single comprehensive sector programme and budget framework • Formalised process of donor coordination and harmonisation of donor procedures for reporting, budgeting, financial management and procurement • Efforts to increase the use of local systems for programme design and implementation, financial management, monitoring and evaluation (including through the adoption of DIS in enlargement countries)

4. Core elements of a sector programme • Three core elements: • Sector policy and strategy • Sector budget and its medium-term expenditure perspective • Sector coordination framework through which the strategy, development plans and budget are reviewed and updated.

5. Sector Policy and Strategy • Developed and owned by the partner country – needs clear Ministerial lead • Forms part of National Development Plan (or equivalent) • Coherent with EU integration agenda and EU/Accession Partnership Objectives Action • Countries to identify one or two key sectors where such sector strategies exist or can be developed. • Countries and donors to agree a set of clear benchmarks • Training needs? / Best practice available?

6. Sector budget and its medium-term expenditure perspective • Sets out the budgetary needs for the sector programme for the coming years • Should include national public funds, complemented by planned assistance Action • Partner countries to develop coherent budget planning in sector(s) identified • Donors to work with countries to ensure predictability of aid • Adjusting budgetary cycles where necessary • Multi-annual approach and forward planning

7. Sector coordination framework • Country ownership • Framework consists of two elements: • Coordination of stakeholders including governmental (central agencies and other concerned ministries and agencies) and non-governmental actors • Coordination with and amongst donors Action • Partner countries to enhance existing coordination structures where they exist or to set up new structures where necessary • Donor community to nominate and agree upon sector lead donors following conclusions of earlier conferences

8. Concept of lead donors • Use of lead donors in a limited number of key sectors aims to: • Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of assistance through enhanced coordination between donors and harmonisation of efforts • Reduce transaction costs in donor support • Reduce number of missions/meetings with partner countries • Role should therefore be to: • Bring donors together to support the partner country’s development of sector strategy • Ensure donor support aligned to country sector strategy • Work to enhance coordination and reduce transaction costs in donor support • Represent donors in meetings with partner country

9. Lead donors – who? • Sector donor lead should have a comparative advantage and value added • Needs sufficient human resources capacity with relevant expertise • EC comparative advantage clear in a number of sectors: • Where there is a high volume of alignment with the acquis necessary (e.g. justice and home affairs) • Where countries need to prepare for structural and rural funds upon accession (i.e. transport, regional competitiveness, environment, employment, agriculture) • Other lead donors needed for areas with little acquis (e.g. health, education)

10. Working towards a programme based approach - Commission • Improvement of IPA programming to reflect sector strategies • Mid-term review • Revision of MIPD guidance • Development of tools for monitoring and improvement of future programming • With other donors – ensure that joint training is available and lessons learned from other parts of the Commission are taken into account

11. Update on multi-annual indicative planning documents • Assessment of latest MIPDs (2009-2011) underway • Consultation stakeholders Nov/Dec 2009 • Discussed in IPA Committee March 2010 • Amended only if needs and priorities have changed • Comprehensive revision of MIPDs 2011-2013 • Review and improvement of current guidelines • Revised MIPDs will clearly reflect planned assistance at sector level where sector strategies are in place • Aim to have clear budgetary indication to specified sectors over three year period

12. Next steps? • Make it operational - Workshop(s) to: • share best practices on sector wide approaches • develop working methods for sector coordination and donor lead • define benchmarks for reviewing progress on aid effectiveness • Report on progress • At next conference in Autumn 2010