JC&A assisted the Ministry of Trade and Industry through DFID to launch the implementation of the “Business Regulation Strategy (BRS) Ghana, 2017-2019”. During a highly intensive 4-month period, JC&A assisted 18 main economic Ministries and 32 public institutions overseeing policy and business regulation in the key sectors of the Ghanaian economy. The training, capacity building, and policy development experience in building Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) systems were based on extensive knowledge of international best practices and interactions with policy-makers and the private sector in other jurisdictions. The specific objectives of the assignment were:
- To create a cadre of trained champions and practitioners capable of leading and sustaining RIA processes within their institutions and the government. The aim was to generate a sustainable demand for RIA reports by raising awareness among key stakeholders and intensive training for policymakers and regulators through capacity building by piloting RIA methodologies, steps, and processes.
- To develop the policy framework, with clear guidelines and an operational roadmap (with KPIs) for institutionalizing and integrating RIA into critical stages of Ghana’s policy decision-making, legislative, and consultation processes – e.g., Ministerial, Cabinet, and Legislature reviews and approvals. This was based on assessments, recommendations, and consultations during the training and capacity-building phase to clarify the institutional and procedural aspects, including RIA coordination and quality assurance, roles and responsibilities of different institutions, and the criteria for identifying regulations subject to RIA.
- To strengthen policy-making and legislative processes with sound and objective evidence of possible impacts and alternative options and an e-consultation portal that can provide inclusive inputs to improve the quality of RIAs.
The key deliverables were:
- Organize and implement an RIA Stakeholders Sensitization Forum
- Organize and implement an RIA Leadership and Management Seminar
- Conduct interviews and consultative meetings with key Government stakeholders with functional responsibilities for embedding RIA into government systems to understand practices, assess needs, anticipate challenges, and identify priorities amongst options for harmonizing and developing RIA policy.
- Develop policy prescriptions and prepare the Policy Framework and Guidelines for RIA based on recommendations,
- Present the proposed RIA Policy Framework and Guidelines (including consultations and measurement standards) for review and approval by a high-level meeting of Ministers and Heads of Agencies.
- Design, organize and implement a Certificate Course in RIA Methodology and Application.
- Select and interview prospective candidates for an Advanced Training of Trainers (TOT) Course; design and conduct TOT; test and certify participants as Trainers.
- Supervise Certified Trainees and Trainers to conduct RIA on selected cases and to prepare Regulatory Impact Statements (RIS) for Ministerial Review.
- Prepare a Medium-term Plan for Training and Capacity Building (2019-2021) based on evidence of gaps identified during the pilot RIA exercise.
- Prepare and implement a Communication Plan.
Ghana, DfID under contract to IMC Worldwide, 2019
