Jacobs, Cordova & Associates in partnership with The Ergo Group, a policy and technology strategy firm, developed a regulatory information database system for Enterprise Saskatchewan (ES). Enterprise Saskatchewan is the ministry level agency in charge of reviewing new and existing regulations for their impact on businesses and the province’s competitiveness. The project built a centralized inventory of regulations and permits, automated the provision of updated information on permits to Canada’s BizPal permit system and implemented an inter-ministry process and web-based application for managing regulatory review, including the province’s RIA process.

Canada, Enterprise Saskatchewan, 2011

The project objectives were:

• Preparation and delivery of a presentation of a wide range of institutional arrangements and reform techniques that have been employed by other countries to undertake regulatory reform (both for system-wide reform efforts as well as approaches for specific reforms) including lessons that may be applicable for the Nicaragua reality
• Participation in a 4-day mission to share these experiences and lessons with some of the institutions who are already undertaking or supporting specific reforms.
• Preparation of a report on specific advice for the Government officials and donors on how to strategize the development of a government wide reform process.

Jacobs, Cordova & Associates provided:

• High-level advice to Minister of Investment Promotion, Minister of Finance and the Head of ProNicaragua Workshop on strategies and institutional set up for regulatory reform
• Advice on mechanism to coordinate and communicate the reform efforts in order to improve the World Bank Doing Business indicators
• Strategic memos and executive reports on (a) the type of legal and administrative framework for reform.

Nicaragua, The World Bank, 2011

Treasury Board wished to develop broad-based indicators that measure the Government’s success in implementing its regulatory reform agenda. Much has been invested in Canada’s regulatory reform. We suggested several steps to develop options for developing indicators over time. Our paper clarified aspects of the Canadian reforms that are relevant to the selection of indicators, reviewed international experience with indicators, and recommended an expanding program of regulatory performance indicators based on criteria of relevance and practicality.

Canada, Policy Research Initiative, 2009.

For the province of Ontario, we assessed the main components of the Open for Business program, and provided snapshots of 15 “good practice” reforms from other OECD countries that might be useful in designing and implementing an effective business-oriented program of regulatory reform.

Canada, Minister of Economic Development Ontario, Canada, 2009.

Jacobs, Cordova & Associates prepared for the Canadian government an evaluation of current trends in the process and methods of RIA by Canada’s peers and competitors in global markets. Our report assessed the most recent trends in the most advanced RIA countries, and identified lessons to enable Canada to stay at the forefront of good regulation practices. Our report, Regulatory Impact Analysis in Regulatory Process, Method, and Co-operation Lessons for Canada from International Trends, was published in 2007. The report can be downloaded at http://www.bibliotheque.assnat.qc.ca/01/mono/2007/04/933268.pdf

Canada, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada, 2006.

Jacobs, Cordova & Associates prepared a report for the Canadian Competition Bureau exploring how seven leading OECD countries undertook ex ante competition analysis during their rulemaking processes. The report concludes that it is important to consider that widening the mandate of competition authorities to ex ante analysis of draft regulations would have important resources implications and impacts on the administrative frameworks of these bodies, which so far have mostly concentrated on enforcement matters and e1x post analysis.

Canada, Canadian Competition Bureau, 2005.

http://regulatoryreform.com/ pdfs/Canada%20Smart%20Regulation%20Report% 20Sept%202004.pdf

Canada, Government of Canada, 2003.

This workshop sponsored by the International Training Center of the International Labor Organization (ILO) was delivered to high-level officials from the Costa Rica Government in San Jose in June 2007. Its objectives were to raise awareness on the different aspects of a systemic regulatory policy and introduce key regulatory reform tools such as RIA, administrative burdens reduction initiatives and active regulatory consultation.

Costa Rica, ILO, 2007.

Jacobs, Cordova & Associates analyzed the environmental institutional capacity in El Salvador to improve institutional coordination, the EIA system, inspection/enforcement capabilities, and public participation in the decision-making process.

El Salvador, The World Bank/IFC, 2005.

• Assisted OECD in the design mechanisms and international practices for systematic reviews of existing regulations.
• Provided advice and solution design to OECD on key inputs during the review process.
• Reviewed OECD periodic and final reports or the OECD consultants.
• Punctual advice on emerging issues during the review process
• Supported OECD in the preparation of meetings (assistance with selection of international experts, preparation of discussion notes, etc.)

We participated in official meetings with Mexican government officials, representatives of the business community and donors. We reviewed progress and comment reports during the appraisal phase and prepare a series of discussion notes and concept papers for Mexican and OECD officials and experts.

Mexico, OECD, 2008.

Jacobs, Cordova & Associates assessed the existing regulatory institutions, procedures and tools in charge of the quality of the stock and flow of new regulations, and proposed an institutional framework to increase the quality, transparency, accountability, and efficiency of laws and regulations.

Paraguay, IDB, 2005.