Capacity Building for Poverty Reduction (CBPR)

ASI provides programme management and technical support to the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in Government of India (GoI). The CBPR program is positioned to build capacity of the Indian civil service for improved public administration for better service delivery. Key areas and initiatives ASI is working on are:  

State of Governance Report- methodology is being prepared for the "State of Governance Report" in states on an agreed working concept of Governance and its indicators with specific reference to poverty reduction.

Administrative Reforms Initiative Facility (ARIF) - ASI has helped DARPG setup and manage a challenge fund, ARIF, for providing funding to State Governments to undertake pilot implementation of innovative ideas on improving public service delivery to the poor.

Training of frontline service delivery personnel- ASI is helping Training Division of DoPT, GoI to develop a training model for the front line service delivery personnel, which is scalable, cost effective and transferable. Focus is on improving Knowledge, Skills and Attitude of frontline personnel. Pilot training projects are ongoing in twenty States.  Results have been very encouraging and DFID intends to commission an agency to showcase the training initiative.

Governance Knowledge Center- ASI in collaboration with Center of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University is helping setup a repository of good practices in governance and public service delivery.

Study to understand the key issues in implementing the RTI Act- The study provides suggestion as to how government agencies can prime their systems, processes and people for meeting the information requests from the citizens under the RTI Act.

Implementation of Quality Management Systems- SEVOTTAM is a quality standard (similar to charter mark in UK) developed by DARPG for improving service levels of public entities. ASI is helping develop the implementation protocol. Pilots are ongoing in Himachal Pradesh and pilots in four more states planned.  

Procurement- ASI has assisted DARPG to successfully procure high quality consulting services for supporting the implementation of the various initiatives under CBPR Program. Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) process has been introduced in the department along with a structured evaluation system of the bids received. ASI has also drafted a comprehensive contract document to be entered by the department with the service providers. The provisions of the GoI's General Finance Rules (GFR) have been followed and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines have been adhered to.