Archived - Audit of Implementation of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy - Follow-up Report Status Update as of September 30, 2010
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Action Plan Implementation Status Update Report To The Audit Committee - As of September 30, 2010
Office of the Federal Interlocutor
Audit of Implementation of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy (09/62)
AEC Approval Date: May 14, 2010
Project Recommendations | Action Plan | Expected Completion Date | Program Response |
---|---|---|---|
1. OFI should review the administrative regime it uses to fund new and developing UAS communities. Specifically, consideration should be given to using a risk-based approach that associates the types of projects and expenditures it funds in a community to the ability of the Community Committee to address the issues of urban Aboriginal people in an accountable manner. |
Management Response: OFI agrees that the management and/or mitigation of risks are an important objective, and that new and developing UAS communities require greater care and attention than established communities. A risk-based approach must ensure that the unique circumstances of urban Aboriginal communities are considered so that the UAS remains responsive to community needs. Action: |
September 2010 |
Status: Complete
Update/Rationale: OFI has completed an analysis using its own corporate risk 'heat map' which highlighted the capacity of UAS clients as a key risk; UAS RMAF-RBAF, which outlines key risks and mitigation strategies; our UAS terms and conditions, which outlines key entry criteria for 'new' UAS cities; and its Community Assessment Tool, which assesses a number of key elements of successful communities such as community decision making structures and capacity needs. The analysis has been completed and will be applied to new and developing communities, and will inform our renewal efforts in 2012. AES: Close - Fully Implemented |
2. OFI should establish a consistent expectation for community plans by developing a template that includes the type and level of information required and by providing planning support and guidance as needed. This would ensure that both community and national UAS priorities are addressed, that a shared vision of community success is defined, and that concrete steps are established to achieve objectives and measure progress. |
Management Response: OFI will continue to develop community plans and will 'regularize' these plans while ensuring that the uniqueness of communities is capable of being captured. Action: |
September 2010 |
Status: Complete
Update/Rationale: A Guide for Community Strategic Plans has been created, including a template for required elements in the plans for each UAS designated city. It can be immediately implemented. AES: Close - Fully Implemented |
3. When OFI seeks renewal of the UAS spending authority and Terms and Conditions with its federal partners, it should:
|
Management response: OFI has terms and conditions approved by Treasury Board Secretariat in accordance with its policy authorities obtained through Cabinet. OFI believes that its terms and conditions reflect the innovations and flexibility mandated by Cabinet to deliver the strategy; and that those terms and conditions are implemented in a manner that respects the objectives of the UAS. Action:
|
Before renewal of UAS in March 2012 |
Status: In Progress
Update/Rationale: Work is underway which will inform our renewal efforts in 2012. AES: Underway |
4. To support consistent understanding of the flexibilities built into the UAS contribution program, OFI should provide guidance to regional staff and Community Committees on eligibility requirements and use of project and recipient risk information to substantiate funding decisions. |
Management response OFI agrees that there should be a consistent understanding among OFI staff of flexibilities built into the UAS contribution program. Action: OFI will provide a written directive to Regional Directors clarifying the interpretation of UAS's policy authorities, based on the detailed findings of the audit. If there is any uncertainty with respect to project eligibility post-directive, those projects are to be referred to OFI's Director General or ADM for approval. |
September 2010 |
Status: In Progress
Update/Rationale: A Directive on Determining Eligibility of Proposed Activities and Expenditures for distribution from OFI Director General to UAS Directors has been drafted and is under review prior to distributing to UAS Directors by the end of December 2010. AES: Underway |
5. Annual work plans should be established by UAS HQ and each region. These work plans should establish objectives, regional management and program priorities, planned actions and timelines, targets for recipient and community service standards, and expected results (program priorities and expected results should align with the UAS Performance Measurement Strategy to be developed and implemented following the completion of the summative evaluation which is currently underway). The regional plans should be approved by HQ and progress tracked through a quarterly reporting process. |
Management Response: OFI agrees that there is room for improvement in the annual work planning and priority setting activities in HQ and each Region. Action: |
September 2010 |
Status: In Progress
Update/Rationale: Annual work plans have been developed by UAS HQ and regional units. UAS Directors are developing a three-year UAS Strategic Business Plan, which will serve as an integrated business plan including strategic program objectives, frameworks for key activities and joint action, as well as financial and HR resourcing considerations. The plan also will incorporate the new UAS logic model and performance measurement strategy currently under development. The integrated UAS strategic business plan will be completed by December 2010. AES: Underway |
6. OFI should more fully develop its training regime for Regional Development Officers to ensure that it adequately addresses the dual nature of this role, that being the requirement to support the Community Committees in discharging their responsibilities and the requirement to manage and administer UAS contribution agreements. |
Management Response: OFI agrees that training and development is important for employees to carry out their work. While OFI does provide training and development it would benefit from further developing its training regime. Action: |
September 2010 |
Status: Complete
Update/Rationale: The UAS Officers Training Map has been developed with input from all UAS sectors. It will be evergreen and updated annually as part of OFI HR planning exercises and will be included in individual learning plans. AES: Close - Fully Implemented |
7. To ensure efficient and effective processes for the review and approval of projects and the establishment and administration of contribution agreements, OFI should revamp the processes and timelines for soliciting proposals, reviewing project eligibility, preparing and executing funding agreements, processing recipient payments and closing out project files. Service standards should be established and achievement against these standards should be tracked and monitored by OFI HQ on a regular basis. |
Management Response: The requirement for community driven processes of decision –making and/or priority setting, coupled with the capacity issues of some UAS communities (also identified in the audit) creates some inherent delays in funding some UAS recipients. Having said that, OFI acknowledges that the UAS could benefit from additional improvements in the processing of contribution funding agreement. Initial steps taken by OFI to address the timeliness in establishing contribution funding agreement (acknowledged in the audit) will be followed up with service standards and operational guidelines and processes that ensure consistency across all regions in the completion of the contribution funding agreements. Action: |
Annually / Ongoing |
Status: In Progress
Update/Rationale: OFI is actively participating in the INAC departmental service standards development initiative, as part of INAC's PTP implementation initiative, and will apply these standards when working with UAS recipients. OFI has also taken steps to streamline its UAS grants and contributions administration, in two ways: OFI has reorganized its internal G&C administration staff group, and secondly, OFI Saskatchewan Region is piloting an initiative whereby INAC Saskatchewan provides it with UAS G&C administration support, intended to lead to more efficient processing of UAS recipient agreements and payments. AES: Underway |
8. OFI should more fully define the purpose of the Central Fund, as well as the criteria, policies and procedures used in the solicitation, submission, and assessment of Central Fund projects. |
Management Response: OFI agrees that it would benefit from more fully defining the purpose as well as the criteria, policies and procedures used in the solicitation, submission, and assessment of Central Fund projects Action: |
September 2010 |
Status: In Progress
Update/Rationale: A guideline for Utilization of Central Fund has been drafted and is under review prior to distributing to UAS Directors by the end of December 2010. AES: Underway |