The department accepted the subsequent recommendation made in the earlier

ANAO Report No.11 2014–15 The Award of Grants under the Clean Technology Program 66

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both cases, the committee member that had the conflict was recorded in the minutes as being a spokesperson for the relevant applications. Program performance measurement

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CGGs stated that grants administration should focus on the delivery of government outcomes. 77 ANAO’s Grants Administration Better Practice Guide also highlights the importance of developing a performanceevaluation framework during the design phase of a program. For the programs, the responsibilities of the program delegate and the grant recipient, in terms of monitoring and evaluation, were identified in the program guidelines, but were not supported by an evaluation strategy. The department advised ANAO in July 2014 that: It was anticipated that the Program would be evaluated in 201516. A formal evaluation strategy has not yet been prepared. However, [the department has] given detailed consideration to the project metrics that would be required to support a program evaluation.

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advice was updated by the department in October 2014 to reflect that the evaluation is planned for 2016–17 rather than 2015–16 and that this timing has been reflected in the department’s forward evaluation plan. The department further advised ANAO that: A robust measurement and verification regime has been introduced with more than 70 different metrics from completed projects and that due diligence is being undertaken on reported data 78 with a view to preparing a detailed evidence base for the evaluation. As at 16 September 2014, 192 projects have been finished this does not include projects that have been terminated. After measurement and verification it is estimated that these projects will abate over 1,730 kilotonnes of carbon which exceeds and is generally consistent with what was recommended by the Committee and approved by the Program Delegate 1,713 kilotonnes. Program Management undertakes a thorough due diligence process. It also undertakes measurement and verification training with the State Office network. 77 Department of Finance and Deregulation, Commonwealth Grant Guidelines, July 2009, p. 17. 78 Program documentation stated that a post-project report must include: an independent financial audit of the total eligible expenditure; an update of the estimates of financial benefits provided in the application; and measurements and supporting evidence of the verified energy or carbon savings delivery by the project.