According to the Bank’s website, the objective of this project is to foster a collaborative environment for knowledge exchange and generation on Public Financial Management reforms.

Generation, dissemination and sharing of knowledge products on PFM, including, but not limited to, reports and other research and analytical activities; developing communications strategy; and organizing study visits and other knowledge events, training, peer-to-peer learning events and capacity building initiatives.

This is achieved through:
i) providing a platform that enables member countries to share their individual PFM reform experiences.
ii) equipping officials from member countries with knowledge and tools to design and implement their individual PFM reform activities.
iii) sharing the latest global knowledge, good practices and experience on budget, revenue and treasury management, including international and regional benchmarking information where feasible.

The operation will include the following key components:
* Component 1 - Peer-Learning: This component includes the organization of key peer learning activities like the High-Level Conference to raise awareness of the value and work of PEMNA, the Annual Plenary Conferences, and CoP Meetings.
* Component 2 - Research and Benchmarking Activities: This component includes research activities on specific PFM areas that directly support the communities of practice (CoP) discussions, Plenary topics, and other peer-learning events that are supported by Component 1. Such activities also envision featuring regional and international benchmarking where feasible and appropriate.
* Component 3 - Communication, Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation, and PEMNA Secretariat Operations: This component includes the operation of the PEMNA Secretariat as well as focuses on disseminating, monitoring, and evaluating PEMNA, relying on various communication and reporting tools and activities. These include periodic progress reports against the results framework.

Public Expenditure Management Network in Asia (PEMNA) is a member-driven PFM knowledge-sharing network of 14 EAP countries (China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Mongolia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam).

The environmental risk rating is assessed to be low. The project seeks to facilitate knowledge sharing among the member countries, so as to increase their capacity on PFM. It will not involve any civil works and will be conducted in existing building at the secretariat or at the other location in one of member countries. Activities are limited to peer learning, research and there will be no activities supporting the formulation/revision of policies, programs, or any legal frameworks, as such there is no potential downstream impact from the Project. The risks are assessed to be insignificant, predictable, and considering the scale of the project and the nature of the potential impact, the environmental risks are deemed to be minor and negligible.

The social risk rating is considered to be very low given that the project will not include any civil works under proposed components and the activities are limited to peer learning and to provide advice to improve the performance of PFM but not aimed to revise policies or legal framework. There will be no downstream impacts from the project activities. The project will support the Secretariat for hiring, monitoring and managing the experts that will provide advisory services. The scope of work of the experts is limited to providing technical inputs to advisory services which is considered to have very low social risks concerning labor management and working conditions. For example, risk of forced labor, child labor is absent and occupational health and safety risks are low.

Total Project Cost: US$ 3.35 million
Trust Funds: US$ 3.35 million

The Korean Institute of Public Finance (KIPF) will be the recipient of the RETF. The KIPF is a national research institute working in the field of tax and fiscal policy. It was established in 1992 and it is under the Office for Government Policy coordination. KIPF’s main objectives are to investigate, as well as to research and analyze the operation of tax, finance and public institutions to support the establishment of institution’s operational policies and contribute to the development of national economy. Embedded in the KIPF, is the PEMNA center which roles are to operate PEMNA with countries in the Asia-Pacific region for International financial cooperation and to engage in international advisory activities and research and cooperation with domestic and foreign institutions. KIPF has been selected to continue hosting the PEMNA secretariat due to its previous experience in the similar role and its proven knowledge of the World Bank’s fiduciary policies.

CONTACT POINT - World Bank

Task Team Leader: Quyen Hoang Vu
Title: Senior Governance Specialist
Email: qvu@worldbank.org

TTL Contact: Badamchimeg Dondog
Job Title: Senior Public Sector Specialist
Email: bdondog@worldbank.org

TTL Contact: Ildrim Valley
Job Title: Public Sector Specialist
Email: ivalley@worldbank.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

To submit an information request for project information, you will have to create an account to access the Access to Information request form. You can learn more about this process at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/access-to-information/request-submission

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint