MLSS - PATH protracted delay in upgrading the Beneficiary Management Info System

Auditor General's Findings

The Auditor General’s 2016/2017 Report notes that, up to the time of reporting, PATH had still not upgraded the Beneficiary Management Information System (BMIS) that was the subject of previous audit reports. The upgrade of the BMIS was to integrate the Beneficiary Management Information System, Steps to Work and Case Management processes to interact effectively and efficiently in the monitoring of beneficiaries. The reported further noted that PATH’s failure to enhance the BMIS will prevent the Ministry from tracking the progress of beneficiaries who have been trained under the Steps to Work program for permanent employment and to facilitate the successful implementation of the Graduation Strategy.

Permanent Secretary (current): Colette Roberts-Risden

Breach Category: Project Management

Permanent Secretary (at breach): Colette Roberts-Risden

Breach Type:

Status: Full Compliance

Last Assessed:

Year Reported: 2017

Year Resolved:

JAMP Update

The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal requested documentation to substantiate the current status of the upgrade of the BMIS that has been raised in the 2016/2017 Report and other audit queries.

Response from MLSS:

3.2.177 ii) Delay in Implementing Project Activities

The aim of the BMIS upgrade is to integrate the BMIS PATH Payment module with the Beneficiary Reconciliation System (cheque reconciliation) and not monitoring of Case Management and Steps to Work clients. As it relates to this reconciliation process, a contract has been engaged with E-Gov Jamaica Ltd. The reconciled system was deployed in January 2018 as scheduled and is currently being tested. Go Live of the system is scheduled for the end of February 2018.

Concerning Case Management, the project has developed a platform to data enter applicants for these interventions. Evaluating Expressions of Interests for the development of a software requirements document that will enable the purchase of suitable software to enhance the monitoring of cases has been
completed and consulting firm identified.

As it relates to the Steps to Work MIS, a system was developed internally with the demographics of clients. Under the Social Protection Project, this system was to be enhanced to better enable the tracking of clients. During the procurement process, the firm that was selected had a contract sum far above the budgeted figure. During the Mission in April 2017, the World Bank acknowledged that indeed the budget would not be able to offset the cost of the consultancy and agreed to assist the MLSS to source grant funding to enable the enhancement of the STW MIS. It was also agreed that this activity could not be undertaken during the life of the Project.

The BMIS was modified to facilitate the graduation programme. The graduation programme was implemented effective September 4, 2018. Between September and November 30, 2017; 11,000 families enrolled on the Programme in 2002 and 2003 have reapplied to the Programme using the modified BMIS platform. Currently the reapplication process is being undertaken for families that enrolled in PATH between 2004 and 2007.