DFID-funded special units to oversee reforms

HYDERABAD: The ever increasing role of the international funding agencies in the governance of Andhra Pradesh has once again come to light with the government setting up Strategy and Performance Innovation Units (SPIUs) in some key departments.
In a GO issued on April 7, 2003, the government said, “The SPIUs would be funded under the Department for International Development programme and the expenditure on the consultancy services of SPIUs would be met directly by the Centre for Good Governance (CGG).�
The GO issued by chief secretary Mohan Kanda states that the SPIUs would translate the departmental Reform Action Plans (RAPs) into “discrete projects� (including implementation of recommendations) with proper timeframes.
The SPIUs would help the government achieve greater success in initiating and implementing reforms. The SPIUs would be set up in key departments such as general administration, revenue, municipal administration and urban development, panchayat raj and rural development, education, medical and health, industries, irrigation and welfare.
Curiously, the government has instructed these departments to nominate one senior officer to head the respective SPIU. If a department did not have a competent person, it can engage a ‘reform-oriented’ retired person.
The key role of each SPIU would be to support the secretary of the department design the RAP through strategic review, policy analysis and communication with others. The SPIUs will provide advice, leadership and support to all sections of the department in the area of change management and act as ‘change agents.’
The SPIU structure comprises of two components, namely the steering group and the technical support team. The steering group will provide policy direction for the reform effort of the department and consist of the senior most officer as the chairman, other departmental secretaries, relevant heads of department, secretary general administration, executive director CGG.