Govt to right-size service

THE government will be right-sizing the public sector next year to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.
The decision reflects the need for a more streamlined public sector (reducing the number of agencies from 117 to 100) to improve service delivery.
The budget assumes no savings from the right-sizing process in 2013 but anticipates modest savings from 2014 as administrative reforms in the public sector are rolled out.
Changes to be made in 2013 include :
l    Integrating the Department of Personnel Management with the Public Service Commission;
l    Integrating the Office of Unesco with the Department of Education;
l    Combining the Tourism Promotion Authority with the Office of Tourism and Culture into the Department of Tourism; and
l    Combining the Office of Rural Development with the Department of Rural Development and Planning.
The right-sizing process will be managed by the Department of Prime Minister and the National Executive Committee. No redundancies are anticipated.
In 2013, the centralised procurement of motor vehicles will be managed by the Department of Treasury on behalf of all government agencies through an outsourcing arrangement.
A review of the effectiveness of this trial will also be conducted.
The service delivery funding estimates for 2013 is K7.235 billion, an increase of K1.111 billion or 18.2% over 2012 estimates.
This increase reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to the medium term development plans through higher funding for the expansion of tuition-fee free education to now also including Grades 11 and 12, the introduction of free primary health care and improvements in the law and order and infrastructure sectors.
The service delivery funding supports the ongoing delivery of the essential services of the government.
A core part of this funding is to support the public agencies (national departments, statutory authorities and provincial administration) to deliver essential services such as teaching, health work, protective services and road maintenance.
To assist in ensuring that the increased funds forecast in the 2013 Budget are used effectively, a range of new policies have been implemented.
The introduction of forward estimates is a major reform to the Service Delivery Funding process in 2013 and a key element in the government’s medium-term fiscal strategy 2013-2017 and for a more efficient and effective implementation of the medium term development plan.
Forward estimates are based on planned future allocations for new multi-year projects and the ongoing delivery of government policies and services.
The forward estimates will provide a stronger basis for budget basis for budget planning in the future and will allow the government to better analyse its ongoing commitments and prioritise future expenditure options.
In an effort to increase the rigour in the management of budget appropriations, including the K1.5 billion in direct funds to the provinces, districts and LLGs.
The service delivery funding includes K20 million to support the continued roll out of district treasuries by the finance department, K10 million for the establishment of an Infrastructure Development Authority and K10 million for audits of the direct funding grants by the Office of Rural Development (K5 million) and the Audit Office (K5 million).