This document outlines Mitchell O'Brien's presentation on resolution implementation and accountability conferences. It discusses why recommendation follow-up is important for accountability, defines the types of recommendations related to financial oversight, and lists factors for effective recommendations. It also examines common practices for following up on recommendations and factors influencing the process such as committee staffing and decision-making procedures.

1. Mitchell O’Brien
Senior Governance Specialist
Cluster Lead - Parliamentary Strengthening Cluster
Governance Global Practice
World Bank Group
Email: mobrien@worldbank.org
Resolution Implementation
W A A P A C A c c o u n t a b i l i t y C o n f e r e n c e – S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

2. Outline of Presentation
1. Why do we care?
2. What are Recommendations?
3. What makes a good Recommendation?
4. What is the practice around follow-up on
Recommendations?
5. Factors influencing follow-up

3. Why do we care about
Recommendations?
Accountability is defined as:
1. Answerability
2. Enforcement
• No strict definition for Enforcement – includes notions of
discovering non-compliance, deterring non-compliance, and
rehabilitating or punishing those who do not comply.
• SAIs often lack enforcement capacity, therefore, rely on
parliament.
• What is the value add of PAC/ Finance Commissions if they are
unable to promote Enforcement?

4. What are Recommendations?
Recommendations are a final summary of an
investigation and set out:
1. Key findings; and
2. Actions to be taken
There are three types of recommendations
related to external financial oversight:
• Audit recommendations (SAI)
• Committee Recommendations (Parliamentary
Audit Committee)
• Parliamentary Recommendations

5. What makes a good Recommendation?
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-bound

6. How do Committees and Parliaments deal
with the follow-up on Recommendations?
• SAIs, Committees, or the Parliament can follow-up on any of
the recommendations
• The type of recommendation is usually dependent on the
institution undertaking the follow-up – the recommendation
closest to the institution is usually the one reviewed
• Recommendation tracking can be undertaken by the SAI,
Committee, or Parliament and tracking mechanisms can
include multiple layers of recommendations
• There is no single model for institutional follow-up of
recommendations

7. Follow-up Strategies
Follow-up Strategies can be mapped along a
spectrum:
 Follow-up by a devoted/ ad hoc sub-
committee of the Committee
 Follow-up by the Committee as a whole
- Annual hearing
- Revisiting specific reports
 Devoted Parliamentary Committee
(Undertakings/ Assurance Committees)
 External Actors (eg SAI)

8. Factors Influencing Recommendation Follow-up
A G E N D A
For how long are PAC members appointed to serve on the committee?
All West Africa Non-WA
% Full term 70% 69% 70%
Mean years PAC 3 4 3
Median years PAC 4 4 4
Mode years PAC 5 4 1
Who initiates PAC investigations?
% Initiated by: AG Parliament Minister Committee Other
All 41 19 0 34 5
WA 23 49 0 28 0
Non-WA 44 15 1 35 5

9. Factors Influencing Recommendation Follow-up (cont’d)
On what basis are PAC decisions reached?
All West Africa Non WA
Majority 71% 67% 72%
Unanimous 29% 33% 28%
Staffing of PAC
Dedicated Shared Government AG Other Total
Average
All 4 1 0 0 0 5
West Africa 3 0 1 1 0 4
Non-WA 5 1 0 0 0 6

10. Questions
• What dynamic exists between
your Committee and SAI
around implementation of
Recommendations?
• Whose recommendations are
you following up on?