Over the past week the Town and Country (TCP) Department joined with the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) to undertake an intense workshop in Results Based Management (RBM), which led to the development of the TCP's annual work plan and strategic framework. 

The new TCP work plan includes areas where resources can be shared among various partners including the DDM to promote greater efficiency in the use of financial resources, especially in light of the global economic challenges which necessitate partnerships such as these to maximise limited resources.

The workshop facilitated by Sage Consultancy Services exposed the TCP team to RBM, which is a management philosophy and approach and introduced a set of tools designed to improve project and programme design, management effectiveness, monitoring, reporting and accountability of achievement of results.

With the four-step RBM methodology, the TCP will be able to  define its expected results, monitor and measure progress, report on results achieved and progress made and adjust project structure to derive refined expected results. Training in the use of RBM will enhance the capacity of the staff of TCP in the areas of management and in the achievement of the department's mandate. 

One of the major outcomes of the workshop is a revision of the organizational components of the TCP to ensure that they are aligned with the strategic framework and accompanying work plan. 

These efforts will ensure more effective use of human resources and will more clearly define the skills and competencies required to support the various sections within the department. 

Acting Chief Planner Mrs. Marva Titley-Smith expressed her satisfaction with the partnership between the DDM and TCP. “I am excited about our current and future collaborations. I am also very excited by the prospect of a new challenge and the opportunity for development.”

She added, “With the implementation of RBM there will be tangible results. I expect that by following this framework, there will be a vast improvement in decision-making, transparency and accountability because the approach focuses on achieving outcomes, performance measurement, learning and changing, and reporting."

The DDM has been utilizing the RBM approach for the past five years and recently contracted Sage Consultancy Services to develop a monitoring and evaluation system and database to support its Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy and Framework. 

The DDM has been supporting the efforts of TCP in developing its own management tools to guide its work in the area of physical planning and development. The DDM currently serves on the Planning Authority which is responsible for approving all development applications on behalf of the Government.