National Planning

Framework

Contents FORWARD ..................................................................................................................................................... 3

Section 1. Background .................................................................................................................................. 2

1.1 Overview National Planning Framework ............................................................................................ 2

1.2 Role of Department of Strategic Policy Planning and Aid Coordination............................................. 2

1.3 Planning in Vanuatu ............................................................................................................................ 3

1.4 Reporting............................................................................................................................................. 4

Section 2: NPF Objectives: Addressing Critical Areas ................................................................................... 4

Section 3: NPF Goal ....................................................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Setting the Scope of the NPF Goal ...................................................................................................... 5

3.2 Scope limitations ................................................................................................................................. 5

3.3 NPF Goal .............................................................................................................................................. 5

Section 4: Planning ........................................................................................................................................ 6

4.1 DSPPAC’s Planning Mandate ............................................................................................................... 6

4.2 Planning Cycle ..................................................................................................................................... 6

4.3 Ministry Planning ................................................................................................................................ 7

4.4 Planning Guidelines ............................................................................................................................. 9

Section 5: Budgeting ..................................................................................................................................... 9

5.1 Budgeting and Planning ...................................................................................................................... 9

5.2 Areas for Future Cooperation ........................................................................................................... 10

Section 6: Development Programming and New Project Proposals .......................................................... 10

6.1 Donor-Funded Projects and National Planning ................................................................................ 10

6.2 DSPPAC as an Aid Coordination Agency. .......................................................................................... 10

6.3 The Role of M&E ............................................................................................................................... 11

Section 7: M&E and Reporting .................................................................................................................... 11

7.1 M&E Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 11

7.2 Reporting Overview .............................................................................................................................. 11

7.3 Reporting Alignment ............................................................................................................................. 12

Section 8: Implementation ......................................................................................................................... 12

8.1 DSPPAC’s Approach to Implementing the NPF. ................................................................................ 12

8.2 NRP outputs and responsibilities ...................................................................................................... 13

8.3 NPF Review ....................................................................................................................................... 13

NPF Annex 1: Terms and Definitions .......................................................................................................... 14

NPF Annex 2: Corporate and Business Plan Guidelines .............................................................................. 17

FORWARD I am pleased to present the National Planning Framework (NPF) of the Vanuatu Government.

The NPF is designed to complement the planning, monitoring and reporting aligned with implementation of the Vanuatu 2030 The Peoples Plan. This is our National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) for the period 2016-2030. The NPF further coordinates with the National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy (MEP) and the NSDP Monitoring and Evaluation Framework The NPF is designed to assist decision makers involved in planning at ministry level align Corporate Plans,

Business Plans and policies with the NSDP and the MEP. The NPF includes critical information needed to

ensure Vanuatu is successful in planning and reporting on progress related to the NSDP. A critical

component of the NPF is the revised Corporate and Business Planning Guidelines which are stated in

Annex 2 of this document.

The last update of the Corporate Planning Guidelines for Preparing Corporate and Business Plans in the Vanuatu Public Service were approved in 2001. Over the past 17 years, there have been considerable change in the use of planning, monitoring and evaluation across the public service, including the design and development of the NSDP. The NPF, including the revised planning guidelines are designed to: 1. Ensure integration and alignment of NSDP priorities into the planning process 2. Design a simpler process for ministry planning which reduces duplication 3. Design better linkages between the business plans, the budget narrative and corporate plans,

ensuring that that performance indicators and service targets are consistent with NSDP 4. Provide an opportunity for high level review of plans by DGs and Ministers 5. Encourage closer coordination between central agencies in reviewing plans 6. Strengthen the opportunity for improved performance management The NPF is further designed to improve the implementation the NSDP and to coordinate ministry planning and budgeting at all levels of Government with a focus on improved performance and service delivery. I would like to emphasize that the government will maintain its commitment not only to implement the

government policies stated in the Peoples’ Plan 2030, but to also use the NPF to ensure effective

alignment of planning, budgeting and reporting in order to best address issues that could hinder

development efforts.

Let me take this opportunity to thank all the government Agencies who contributed to the development

of the NPF.

Honourable Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas (MP) Prime Minister July 2018

National Planning Framework Page: 1

ACRONYMS

ADR Annual Development Report

BP Business Plan

CCA Central Agencies Committee

CGBE Commercial Government Business Enterprises

CP Corporate Plan

COM Council of Ministers

DG Director General

DCO Development Committee of Officials

DSPPAC Department of Strategic Policy, Planning and Aid Coordination

FMIS Financial Management Information System

GIP Government Investment Project

HRD Human Resource Development

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

MEP National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy

MFEM Ministry of Finance and Economic Management

MOIA Ministry of Internal Affairs

MOH Ministry of Health

NPF National Planning Framework

NPP New Policy Proposal

NSDP National Sustainable Development Plan

PEFM Public Finance and Economic Management

PRC PAM Recovery Committee

PSC Public Service Commission

SA Sector Analyst

SMART Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely (Indicators)

SDGs Sustainable Development Goals

SMR Six-Monthly Report

TC PAM Tropical Cyclone PAM

VNSO Vanuatu National Statistics Office

VA Vertical Analysis

National Planning Framework Page: 2

National Planning Framework Section 1. Background

1.1 Overview National Planning Framework

The National Planning Framework is designed for use by decision makers involved in planning at ministry

level. This includes specifically Executive Officers and M&E focal point officers who are responsible for

keeping Ministries compliant with legal reporting requirements to the Ministry of Financial and Economic

Management (MFEM) and Public Service Commission (PSC). Additionally, the audie