Transforming Governance at the Grassroots: Driving Impact Through SNG II with Abacus 

Industry Focus and Scope

The Sub-National Governance Programme II (SNG II) is a development-focused initiative aimed at improving governance and public financial management at the provincial and district levels in Pakistan. Funded by the FCDO and implemented by Oxford Policy Management with Abacus as a key consortium partner, the programme worked closely with the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab. 

SNG II’s mission was to empower local governments, improve resource planning and utilization, and ultimately enhance the delivery of essential services to millions of citizens. The programme addressed efficiency gaps in governance and public financial management, focusing on areas such as planning, decentralization, revenue mobilization, and institutional capacity building. 

The Challenge: Meeting Rising Expectations with Limited Resources 

For the provincial governments of KP and Punjab, the challenges were complex and deeply interconnected. Inefficiencies in planning and financial management made it difficult to allocate resources where they were most needed, while decentralization reforms were still in the early stages of implementation at the district level. It was clear that addressing these issues required not just incremental improvements but a comprehensive approach; one that could combine stronger governance systems, smarter resource management, and innovative solutions to enhance service delivery. 

Key Challenges 

• Governance Efficiency: Optimizing systems, processes, and structures to ensure effective and responsive service delivery. 

• Financial Management: Enhancing planning, budgeting, and resource allocation to maximize impact. 

• Decentralization: Operationalizing administrative and fiscal decentralization to empower district-level governments. 

• Innovation & Evidence-Based Policy: Designing, testing, and scaling new solutions to improve governance and service delivery. 

The Solution: Technical Assistance and Strategic Capacity Building 

As a trusted partner, Abacus provided technical assistance to support the provincial governments in achieving more efficient governance and service delivery. The programme focused on four key areas: 

• Planning and Reform: Supporting the strengthening of government planning frameworks to improve the alignment between policy priorities and resource allocation, ensuring that administrative functions were carried out more efficiently and with greater strategic coherence. 

• Budgeting and Transparency: Enhancing budgeting processes to promote better financial oversight, improve expenditure management, and increase transparency, thereby enabling more accountable decision-making and reinforcing public confidence in government systems. 

• Fiscal Space: Identifying and supporting opportunities to optimize existing resources and create additional fiscal room to support essential services, allowing governments to better prioritize critical development needs. 

• Innovation: Supporting the design, piloting, and scaling of innovative approaches that strengthened governance practices, encouraged evidence-based policymaking, and improved the effectiveness of service delivery mechanisms. 

Outcome & Impact: Transforming Governance and Touching Lives 

The impact of SNG II has been both tangible and far-reaching. Public financial management improved significantly, allowing governments to deliver essential services more efficiently and reach the most vulnerable, including women, girls, and people with disabilities. Citizens’ confidence in government performance grew, driven by more transparent processes and visible improvements in service delivery. By strengthening systems and increasing available resources, the programme directly contributed to better quality services and more empowered local governments. At the district level, the initiative indirectly benefited an estimated 12 million people in KP and 12 million people in Punjab, demonstrating how strategic reforms and capacity building can create meaningful, large-scale change.  

Conclusion 

SNG II illustrates how expert technical support, combined with strategic advisory, can transform governance and public service delivery. Through its role as a consortium partner, Abacus contributed to strengthening governance structures, refining resource management processes, and supporting local governments in becoming more responsive and accountable. These targeted interventions enabled improved service delivery, enhanced transparency, and long-term institutional resilience, highlighting how collaborative partnerships can turn systemic governance challenges into opportunities for sustainable and inclusive development.