Regions and Countries

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p. 5 of 19 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment A. Economic Performance Assessment B. Poverty Assessment C. Assessment of Socio-Environmental Performance D. Governance: Sound Development Management E. Implementation Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies IV. Regional Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Maldives : I. Country Performance Assessment

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D. Governance: Sound Development Management

14. Good governance is one of the key development objectives highlighted by the Fifth National Development Plan (1997-2000), and will continue to be so in the Sixth National Development Plan (2001-2005) which is currently under preparation. Establishment of a modern public administration, a comprehensive and transparent set of laws, and an impartial and competent judiciary are emphasized as priority goals in the Government’s development agenda. Capacity building and the upgrading of human resources to fill the skills gap have been recognized as critical requirements towards good governance to achieve improved performance of the public and private sectors.

15. The Government will submit an Anti-corruption and Bribery bill for approval by the People’s Majlis (Parliament) in 2000, which will broaden the mandate of the Anti-Corruption Board, established in 1991, to also investigate corruption in the private sector.⁹ The expansion of the Anti-Corruption Board's mandate would require further improvement in both the quality and quantity of resources made available to the Board. To this end, an advisory technical assistance (ADTA) for Capacity Building for Good Governance is included in 2003, to provide support to the relevant Government agencies especially in the areas of specialist accounting and auditing to investigate both public and private sector management and accounting related corruption and fraud.

16. Another area of concern is the decentralization of responsibilities for the planning and management of development to the atoll/island levels to build the institutions that could effectively exercise new responsibilities and facilitate the participation of the atoll population in decisions that directly affect the development future of their communities. ADB would continue to support the Government’s initiatives in this area through both technical assistance program and investment in regional development project in the medium term. Planned support for institutional development and capacity building in regional planning and decentralized atoll development includes an ADTA for Capacity Building for Regional Development Planning in 2002 and an ADTA for Capacity Building for Decentralized Atoll Development in 2003.

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