LHW Systems Review - Oxford Policy Management

LHWP – Systems ReviewFigure 7.2Comparison between LHW annual stipend as budgeted in the PC-1 and actual paymentSource: OPM LHWP 4th Independent Evaluation, Finance and Economic Analysis (2008).7.7 Findings1. Delays in payments The payment of salaries is the main Programme expense. Theefficiency of the system was monitored in the Flow of Funds Study. However, whilethe Programme reports that there have been increases in efficiency in recent years,at the time of the evaluation there was a shortage of funds being released and, onceagain, there were delays in payments;2. External constraints The flow and level of funds available to make payments can bebeyond the control or responsibility of the Programme. The Programme hasimplemented a number of initiatives to reduce delays in payments (e.g. paymentsinto the bank accounts of LHWs; the hiring of Accounts Supervisors to process thepayments rather than relying on deputed AGPR staff; the agreed annual Cash/WorkPlan;3. Project allowance While budgeted for, this was not paid due to audit objections. Aperformance bonus system proposed by the Programme was rejected. In the view ofthe evaluation team, this would have been hard to implement fairly;4. Training allowances are often delayed due to the processing procedures. Thiscould potentially result in demotivating trainers, who are particularly important fordeveloping the knowledge and skills of the LHWs; and5. Remuneration review The Programme did not review the remuneration andallowances packages of LHWs and LHSs as planned.48