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National Water Sector Apex Bodies
Peer Review Process
| The Water Apex Bodies have recognized that a peer review process is an important activity that could support their performance benchmarking activities. ADB helped Water Apex Bodies develop and pilot test a peer review process to achieve their objectives. |
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When national water sector apex bodies participating in the 1st regional meeting of apex bodies recognized that benchmarking their performance would be a good exercise to assess their achievements and identify areas for improvement, they also acknowledged that this process could be more appropriately carried out by invited peers rather than by external consultants.
They requested ADB to develop and pilot test a peer review process that could be applied by water apex bodies.
ADB supported this request and presented a proposed peer review process at the 2nd regional meeting of apex bodies in April 2005. The participants agreed on a framework, which would be pilot tested in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand.
TopTwo case studies for the peer review process were presented at the meeting:
- case of the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP) focusing on Donor Peer Reviews
- case of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Read the full case studies.
Both cases had very similar processes for peer review, starting off with a preparatory phase; visit to the organization/country to be reviewed including interviews with management, field personnel and other stakeholders; report preparation; and, finally, sharing of results with the collective body.
Actors involved in the peer review process are likewise similar. Generally, there are three principal actors in the review process comprising the Review Team:
- Focal Point—a member of the country/organization to be reviewed
- Peer Reviewers—chosen based on their broad experience of the subject matter on which the review will be focused as well as his/her knowledge about the country/organization to be reviewed
- Secretariat—provides support to the process by producing documentation and analysis and stimulating discussions
In both cases, it is important that the organization to be reviewed understands the process of the review and confirms its agreement to participate in writing. Also, the Review Team should draft an explanatory note on the review process. The Focal Point should then circulate this note to the management of the organization and all the staff who will be interviewed by the Review team.
Peer review has been recognized by both OECD and CGAP as a good tool to further cooperation and improvement of performance. Peer reviews are used in a variety of areas and meet several purposes, among which are policy dialogue and capacity building as countries/organizations exchange information and learn from each other through the review process.
Based on inputs from the case studies and discussion among water apex bodies, the peer review process for the performance benchmarking was designed to include
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Focal Point A member of the Water Apex Bodies who will ensure that his/her organization, its management, relevant staff, and member-agencies are well-informed about the peer review process. He/She will also assist in the scheduling of meetings and channeling relevant information between the apex body and the Review Team. |
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Peer Reviewers Two (2) members from two (2) countries with apex bodies. Peer reviewers from knowledge partner organizations will also be invited, i.e. GWP Southeast Asia and South Asia to form part of the Review Team. |
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Secretariat An ADB-appointed facilitator will assist the Review Team in terms of documentation and stimulating discussion. |
The process followed for Peer Review of water apex bodies is as follows:
- Preparatory Phase
- Apex Body confirms its agreement in writing
- Identification of peer reviewers
- Preparation of explanatory note
- Self-evaluation by the apex body
- Preparation of Questionnaire Guide to help the team analyze the results of the self-evaluation
- Review Team to be provided with documents/information on the apex body; results of the self-assessment will be provided to the Review Team
- Focal point to identify appropriate interviewees and schedule meetings
- Country Visit
- Review Team will visit apex body for a series of meetings and interviews over 3-4 days
- Review Team to be provided with other key documents not previously received
- Consultation with top management
- Review Team to synthesize results of visit and present initial findings to top management of NWSAB
- Report Preparation and Submission of Findings
- Preparation of report on the results of the peer review over six (6) weeks after the visit, which includes comments from ADB and the reviewed NWSAB before finalization
Mai Flor
Urban Water Specialist
E-mail: mflor.consultant@adb.org