Institutional Capacity Assessment for Regulation in Brazil: results and perspectives

Abstract

This technical report presents the result of the assessment of institutional capacity for regulation in regulatory bodies in infrastructure in Brazil. The methodology was developed by the Brazilian Office of the Comptroller General, CGU, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services, UNOPS, and consists of the application of a questionnaire, containing 39 questions grouped into 8 dimensions that constitute the Institutional Capacity Index for Regulation (i-CIR). The sample comprises 23 infrastructure regulatory agencies from the three spheres of government, involving information for the years 2019 and 2020. The results indicate that aspects related to risk management, regulatory impact analysis, and contract regulation are those that need to be improved in the scope of action of regulators. The financial autonomy dimension also needs attention, as it depends on the joint action of regulatory bodies with institutions of the executive and the legislature of the respective administrations. The findings aim to serve as input for the adoption of measures to strengthen the institutional capacities of regulators, increasing the quality of services provided to society.