Introduction to the SIGMA programme, Support for Improvement in Governance and Management

1. © OECD
AjointinitiativeoftheOECDandtheEuropeanUnion,
principallyfinancedbytheEU
Introduction
to
SIGMA
(Support for Improvement in
Governance and Management)

2. © OECD
AjointinitiativeoftheOECDandtheEuropeanUnion,
principallyfinancedbytheEU
A joint initiative of the OECD and EU that helps governments to
strengthen their public governance systems and capacities.
We help countries in transition to:
• Meet their aspirations for free-market economy
• Achieve a stable democracy
• Demonstrate their readiness to either join or to create a closer
relationship with the EU, through free movement and trade
We are part of the OECD Directorate for Public Governance and Territorial
Development (GOV).
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What is SIGMA?

3. © OECD
AjointinitiativeoftheOECDandtheEuropeanUnion,
principallyfinancedbytheEU
3
Our areas of expertise

4. © OECD
AjointinitiativeoftheOECDandtheEuropeanUnion,
principallyfinancedbytheEU
4
Activities and beneficiaries
Our support focuses on six areas:
• Strategic framework of public administration reform
• Policy development and co-ordination
• Public service and human resource management
• Accountability
• Service delivery
• Public finance management, including public procurement
We work with:
• Turkey and 6 Western Balkan countries, financed through the
Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)
• 11 countries of the European Neighbourhood, financed through
the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI)

5. 5
AjointinitiativeoftheOECDandtheEuropeanUnion,
principallyfinancedbytheEU
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR
1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

6. © OECD
AjointinitiativeoftheOECDandtheEuropeanUnion,
principallyfinancedbytheEU
6
Our work
We provide short-term technical assistance that complements
other EU institution building instruments, including:
• The preparation of strategies and reform plans
• The drafting and amendment of laws
• The implementation of legislation and organisational reforms
• The planning of larger technical assistance projects
• Awareness-raising events
• Advice to key senior and middle managers
• Practitioner-to-practitioner support
• Diagnostics and peer review of specific systems or organisations
• In the EU accession countries, regular country monitoring against
the Principles of Public Administration.
We also develop policy papers and studies on public governance.

7. © OECD
AjointinitiativeoftheOECDandtheEuropeanUnion,
principallyfinancedbytheEU
7
EU Enlargement countries
Country-focused strategic approach:
• Regular evidence-based country monitoring that advises EC policy
dialogues and assistance planning, and guides reforms in the
countries
• Support for setting reform priorities and objectives, and developing
realistic and financially sustainable reform plans
• Bridging and creating synergies across areas (e.g. has the necessary
budget been assessed and allocated for reforms and their
implementation?)
• Targeted support for designing and implementing governance
reforms

8. © OECD
AjointinitiativeoftheOECDandtheEuropeanUnion,
principallyfinancedbytheEU
8
European Neighbourhood
countries
SIGMA works with countries in both the East and South regions.
In countries with high levels of political instability, SIGMA retains a
presence by providing assistance at the technical level.
In more stable countries, SIGMA continues to provide support at both
technical and political levels.

9. © OECD
AjointinitiativeoftheOECDandtheEuropeanUnion,
principallyfinancedbytheEU
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