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Spending reviews - Nynke De Witte, Netherlands,
The document outlines the lessons learned from 37 years of spending reviews in the Netherlands, detailing the political context, evaluation systems, and key success elements. It emphasizes the roles of the Ministry of Finance in coordinating these reviews, the governance arrangements, and the importance of joint fact-finding efforts. Additionally, it highlights ongoing efforts to increase the value for money in public spending through improved evaluation methodologies.
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Spending reviews - Nynke De Witte, Netherlands,
- 1. 37 years of spendingreviews Lessons learned from The Netherlands Nynke de Witte Deputy head of the Strategic Analysis Unit
- 2. Outline • Political contextand evaluation system • Spending Reviews in the NL • Selection process • Governance • Key elements of Success • Operation ‘increasing value for money’
- 3. Political context • Generalelections, 15 March 2017 • Parliament 13 parties; no majority party • 176 days of formation of new government of Liberals, Liberal Democrats, Christian Democrats, Christian Union • Coalition agreement contains detailed plans on expenditures and includes an agreed deficit target • Annually update of plans and budget • Four year government term • 13 ministers 3 Spending Reviews in The Netherlands
- 4. Evaluation system Studies andevaluations I. Ex ante evaluations II. Ex post evaluations Policy reviews Impact evaluations Social cost benefit Analyses Other evaluations III. Savings and reform options Cost effectiveness studies Spending Reviews Comprehensive Spending Reviews Others: i.e. Task Force Controlling Health Care Costs Savings List Study Group
- 5. 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 NumberofSpendingReviews, yearcommencementofreview Comprehensive spending review Comprehensive spending review Focuson budget cuts Focus on increasing value for money Spending Reviews since 1981, 270 Completed Focus on efficient management of agencies
- 6. Selection process • Ministryof Finance coordinates the instrument • Topics are prepared by civil servants of MoF and line ministries • Negotiations are part of the budget negotiations • Cabinet formally decides on terms of reference • Terms of reference are published in budget memorandum Spending Reviews in The Netherlands
- 7. 7 From selection topublication • Topic selection is part of the budget negotiations • Cabinet formally decides on terms of reference • Reports are finished just before budget negotiations in spring • NL: impact of SR on yearly budget negotiations is relatively small, but large impact on coalition agreements January •Topic Selection April •Budget negotiations September •Budget memorandum •Start of the Spending Review March T+1 •Spending Review finished •Cabinet position •Outcome ideally part of budget negotiations T+1 Spending Reviews in The Netherlands
- 8. 8 Governance arrangements Coordination byMoF Independent chairman Independent non-political working groups non-veto principle Report written by (independent) secretariat (MoF and line ministry) • Quality control by interdepartemental commission • Clear cut between report and cabinet response, both are made public Spending Reviews in The Netherlands
- 9. Key succes elementsof Dutch SR’s 1. SR evaluate urgent issues/ questions independent of ‘the politics of the day’ 2. SR are based on a set of rules, but there is also room for customization 3. ‘Joint fact finding’ in interdepartmental working groups (high level civil servants and external experts) headed by independent chair. 4. Analysis includes different viewpoints, multiple knowledge sources and experiences from policy practice 5. Policy options make a difference between no-regret and strategic choices; and can by carried out in practice (the impact on the budget and actors involved is made explicit). 9 Spending Reviews in The Netherlands
- 10. Operation increasing valuefor money Why? We need to get better insight in the impact of public spending The current evaluation system is fragmented and does not deliver expected results There is a need for change in culture Spending Reviews in The Netherlands10
- 11. Operation increasing valuefor money What? • Track 1: Laboratory for change: working on initiatives that increase insight and can improve the impact of public spending • Track 2: Modify and reorganize the evaluation system in such a way to structurally improve evaluation results and usage ex- ante, durante and ex-post Spending Reviews in The Netherlands11
- 12. Operation increasing valuefor money How? 1. Cooperation between ministry of Finance and line ministries on specific topics to increase insight and encourage learning 2. SWOT-analysis of the current evaluation system and instruments (including spending reviews and policy reviews of budget articles which are the responsibility of line ministries) 3. Learning from good practices (also from abroad!) 4. Implementing changes in regulations, system and instruments Spending Reviews in The Netherlands12
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