The Government of Kerala, India, is preparing a Kerala Local Government and Service Delivery Project for funding assistance from the World Bank. The chief component of the project is a block grant for Panchayats – specifically for the state’s 999 Gram Panchayats and 53 Municipalities – to provide them with additional untied financial resources to utilize in fulfilling their decentralized mandates. The grants will complement the existing maintenance and development grants and follow the 3rd State Finance Commission recommendations, with the formula for the distribution of these grants and other fiscal rules continuing as is at present. 

In order for the World Bank to undertake its project appraisal tasks, ODI (i) conduct a rapid independent analysis of the fiscal framework and financial position of GPs and Municipalities; and (ii) advise the team with respect to the design and implementation issues surrounding the grant through the preparation process.

ODI (i) conduct a rapid independent analysis of the fiscal framework and financial position of GPs and Municipalities; and (ii) advise the team with respect to the design and implementation issues surrounding the grant through the preparation process.