The quality of the regulatory environment is strongly dependent on the quality of processes for designing regulations. If used systematically and across the whole of government, regulatory impact assessment (RIA) can ensure better-quality government intervention. In addition, documenting and publishing the evidence and analysis used to design regulations can enhance accountability and transparency in the policy-making and decision-making processes.

The Mauritian Government has identified a robust regulatory impact assessment (RIA) framework as a priority in order to enhance the country’s business environment, increase scrutiny of regulatory proposals, and to ensure a more evidence-based approach to rulemaking. Related expected benefits also include the improvement of the quality of regulation, as well as the development and institutionalisation of a “RIA culture” in the public administration, through enhanced awareness and capacity.

The OECD has been entrusted by the EU with the task of supporting the Government of Mauritius in the development of a RIA framework, with a view to improving the business environment and promoting Mauritius as an attractive base for trade and investment. This project was undertaken as part of the action “Establishing RIA in Mauritius”, which is financed under the European Development Fund (EDF).

This chapter presents an overview of the main instruments, key actors and institutions, and processes involved in Mauritius’ rule-making system. A RIA pilot exercise carried out in 2015 is briefly summarised at the end of the chapter.

Design, methodologies and implementation modalities for RIA need to reflect underlying policy objectives and suit the administrative and cultural context and related capacity. With this premise in mind, this section discusses the key strengths and potential challenges of Mauritius’ rule and policy-making system that should be considered in order to develop a well-targeted, proportionate and effective RIA system in Mauritius that is also as quick and easy to implement as possible. It focuses on four main areas: political commitment and stakeholder buy-in; governance of RIA (including oversight); capacity and accountability in the public administration, and methodological aspects.

This section presents a range of options for embedding RIA within the rule-making process in Mauritius, based upon the strengths and challenges identified in the previous section. To do so, it also draws on lessons learned from RIA implementation in a range of countries and an initial benchmarking of RIA-related best practices and guidance material from various relevant jurisdictions.

This section presents the OECD recommendations for establishing a RIA framework in Mauritius that is firmly embedded within the country’s rule‑making process. These recommendations build on the analysis of the strengths and challenges of the policy-making system and the lessons learned from RIA implementation in a range of countries, as set out in the earlier sections. They also draws upon the outcomes of the stakeholder workshops. They are structured around four main priorities: ensure political commitment and stakeholder buy-in; establish robust governance for RIA; establish an appropriate RIA process and methodology, and ensure the development of relevant RIA-related capacity over time.

Based on the analysis and recommendations presented earlier in this report, the OECD has developed an action plan outlining the four priority areas for reform and with concrete actions for establishing a robust RIA framework in Mauritius. The action plan provides a timeline and key milestones for rolling out this programme of work. It also indicates the responsible entities for the various actions proposed under each priority. Moreover, it will also help to assess progress made in delivering the new RIA framework.