Establishing a QA process
Options for obtaining QA
The process for obtaining QA is not prescribed, as agencies will need to tailor processes according to their own structures, policy processes and available resources. Some options are set out in the table below.
| RIA panel | Pool of reviewers | External reviewer | |
|---|---|---|---|
Distinguishing features |
Permanent or rotating Can contribute to RIA awareness raising/agency capability building and expertise |
Identified pool of experienced people/experts from which a panel can be drawn on a proposal-by-proposal basis May be used on an ad hoc basis Could comprise internal and external people (e.g. from other agencies) Can contribute to RIA awareness raising/agency capability building and expertise |
E.g. people from other agencies, private sector consultants, academics, subject matter experts May be suitable for large or complex pieces of work, or where conflicts of interest are difficult to avoid Less likely to contribute to agency capability building |
Particular considerations |
Concentrated resource commitment Process for identifying potential conflicts of interest May want chair and secretariat |
Timeframes for arranging reviewers and determining process - some pre-agreement may be useful Consistency of review opinion, across proposals and over time Process for identifying potential conflicts of interest |
Cost Reviewer needs to be familiar with the RIA requirements and the QA criteria Timeframes for organising review arrangements (incl. contracts) Contractual arrangements, e.g. how to take account of unforeseen changes in the policy process, allowing for iterations |
Selecting appropriate people
The Cabinet requirements state that if QA is provided by the agency it must be done by a person or group not directly involved with the preparation of the RIS and nominated by the agency's Chief Executive. This means that:
- The reviewer/s should have suitable capability - including a thorough understanding of the RIA regime, and sufficient experience and expertise in policy analysis.
- Internal reviewers should be sufficiently senior as to have sign-out authority on behalf of the agency.
- A certain level of independence is required.[3]
Notes
- [3]The person providing the QA should not be a member of the same team that has prepared the RIS. In smaller agencies where this is not possible, the QA may need to be outsourced in order to ensure independence (see Table 1 for options).
