Management Group on Statistical Cooperation - MGSC Donor Coordination Process National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) www.instat.gov.al Luxembourg, March 2014 Valbona Petoshati

Coordination of the Government Dialogue and External Aid Attention given from GoA to the process of donor co-ordination, aiming to increase effectiveness of external assistance in supporting the national / sector priorities as well as achieving country’s objectives toward the European integration. Established co-ordination mechanisms. DSDC (Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination) DTS (Donor Technical Secretariat) Sector working groups - Strengthen Policy and Donor Coordination at Sector Level

DONOR COORDINATION STRUCTURE GOVERNMENT-DONOR ROUNDTABLES DONORS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF STRATEGY AND DONOR COORDINATION - DSDC DONOR TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT - DTS JOINT DTS – DSDC MEETINGS SECTOR WORKING GROUPS (SWGs) – COORDINATION TOOLS AT SECTOR LEVEL

SECTOR WORKING GROUPS (SWG) in statistics Since 2004, the Sector Working Groups (SWGs) have been a tool for coordination of external assistance at sector level. Over 30 SWGs were established by the GoA Following EC request to implement a Fast-Tracking Initiative of the Division of Labour in partner countries, there were nominated European lead donors for relevant sectors. SIDA is the leading donor in statistics sector. SWG is composed by the donors contributing to statistics EU, SIDA, ONE UN agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNIFEM), SDC, IMF, WB, USAID and other donors as per their interest to participate in the specific meeting. DSDC and other Line Ministries. Coordination, not an easy task! Different expectations, different requirements!

SECTOR WORKING GROUPS (SWG) in statistics represent an important forum for exchanging information on the pace of policies and projects, discussing sector priorities for financing and increasing external assistance effectiveness at the sector level. is intended to serve primarily as coordinating and supporting mechanism, concentrated on information exchange of on-going projects, funding priorities, and monitoring the implementation of projects. is not intended to substitute or to duplicate the functions of national institutions and/or donor agencies. is accountable to INSTAT as the host national institution is co-chaired by INSTAT (the sector’s leading institution) and SIDA (the donor focal points).

Coordination and Implementation of the assistance within INSTAT Technical Departments Project Implementation Units DEPARTMENT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, PROJECT COORDINATION AND PUBLICATION PROJECT COORDINATION SECTOR/IPA funds EUROPEAN INTEGRATION SECTOR

Project implementation/monitoring/reporting Dialogue between INSTAT and Donors bilateral and multilateral cooperation SIMULTANEOUSLY push and pull approach Projects are implemented by: INSTAT A dedicated unit established for the project management (contracted)/at least one project coordinator. The technical sectors of INSTAT responsible for the relevant activity Jointly by INSTAT and the Donor (different project components)

Project implementation/monitoring/reporting Project Steering committees – monitoring and reporting structures composed by the related project stakeholders or beneficiaries) Mainly monitoring and reporting structures Providing information on progress, the pace of the implementation Presenting possible problems/issues encountered Demonstrate the existing capacities to handle the requirements Sharing future plans Ensuring synergies among co-supporting projects elements/components, by different donors

Donor coordination survey: Issues encountered Fragmented existing information on the foreign assistance that INSTAT received during the years; Different requirements and procedures from different donors related to implementation and reporting procedure; particularly in joint contribution from several donors. Lack of the overall overview on projects with beneficiary institutions other than INSTAT. Aware only for the components covered by INSTAT; Extra efforts required in collecting and consolidate the information on the running projects within INSTAT; Difficulties in finding information on previous cooperation with donors because of lack of a consolidated records on the donors activity within the institution;

Lessons learned From the exercise of the donor coordination survey and from the process itself: Need for establishing a systematic system for projects identification and monitoring Keep track of the history of the assistance received and relations with different donors; Identify the contribution of each donor in term of money and domains Give proper visibility and acknowledge of each donors contribution Intensify relations with those historically invested in the development of the institution and beyond that. Be aware of the areas less covered by the assistance and identify blank areas

Lessons learned Define clear information and communication channels within INSTAT structure, about the existing and potential cooperation with different donors; For a better coordination and synergy between the national institutions, donors should share the overall information on the projects with multi-beneficiary stakeholders. Keep track of issues or problems encountered so to be addressed for future attention by the Institution

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