2002 CCA/UNDAF Rollout Lessons Learned from the 5 Country Teams

Political Dimensions of UN Reform Advocacy: UN reform is a political process: Reform is not just a HQ political issue but is at the country level and should be recognised as such. Advocacy with government and other partners is a pre-requisite for initiating the reform process at country level. CCA/UNDAF is an investment of time and resources which must be sold to the UNCT, staff, government and other partners.

Political Dimensions of UN Reform Planning: CCA/UNDAF requires early planning with partners and active participation at central, provincial, donor, and civil society levels (provide examples of sequencing, process, and partner roles) Governance: UN Reform does not happen in a vacuum and must consider first and foremost the political realities at country level: call for flexibility

Partnering in National Consultation Processes PRSP: –UNDAF Thematic Groups should be used to feed into the PRSP process and working groups. –The UN needs to advocate for non-PRSP, UN priorities –CCA/UNDAF should influence PRSP process and Governments policies MDGs: –MDGs are not prescriptive and UNDAF outcomes must be country driven and sensitive to national priorities. National initiatives: –UNCT (or appropriate senior staff) should participate in national consultation processes promoted by national Government

Field Support Timing and content: Support missions need greater flexibility, esp. based on analysis of local political situation. More intensive support needed during critical phases of CCA/UNDAF process which should be calendared with UNCT, DGO and UNSSC

Field Support Whose responsibility is it to assess UNDAFs? Agencies, regional bureaus, DGO, readers groups? Whose advise do we listen to and whose opinion is most valid? Feedback from those who assess (HQs/regional Focal Points/DGO) needs to be systematic, consistent and common. Assessors (eg regional offices) should get HQ guidance to review and make one single set of agreed upon recommendations to UNCTs. Need to articulate the technical facilitation, not oversight, to be provided by the regional bureaux

Field Support Capacity: lack of internal competencies and available time of technical specialists during CCA/UNDAF process make UNSSC/UNDGO support vital Use of consultants for core document preparation is discouraged; If using consultants, dont allow them to drive the process but facilitate UN staff to complete the process (give sample consultant TORs)

The S & H Tools Terminology: Need for harmonized CP log frames for all agencies and common understanding of RBM terminology Inclusion: Need for an in depth discussion at UNCT level to present a consolidated UNDAF results matrix Partners: Need for clarification of the involvement of others agencies and IFIs into the results matrix Implementation Modalities: Need for further discussion of partnership arrangements and programme modalities

Skeletons in the UN Closet Process is long & time consuming, unpredictable, & wears down staff involved. The cost/benefit must be demonstrated to teams BEFORE embarking on the process. (How?) Intensive senior-level staff time is required– opportunity costs may not be being recognised/ addressed. Consensus building slow & uneven Burden on RC very heavy – role and resources of the RC Unit needs clarification.

(More) Skeletons in the UN Closet… Differing procedures, time horizons, budget periods, etc of ExCom versus Specialised Agencies cause difficulties participation and role of Specialised agencies needs clarification and buy-in. Whose on board as the UNCT? Differing mandates and expectations among Agency HQs cannot be overcome at the country level, but must be resolved at HQ level Joint HQ instruction : give joint instructions which override normal individual agency practices - agencies are inclined to react to joint DG HQs guidelines. Dont harmonise if it doesnt simplify.

Revision of the Guidelines Take the UNDAF beyond the UN: strengthen link between IFIs and HQ/UNDG for increased country-level coherence Include lessons learned and specific examples from other countries Clarify level of detail needed in the UNDAF : a framework not a programme Clarify the resource framework especially related to: – Specialised agencies – Percentage of UN activities outside of the UNDAF outcome areas

Revision of the Guidelines Define tools for promoting government leadership/ownership Be realistic. Let country teams plan for the real 18 month CCA/UNDAF process Dont complicate : Determine only one set of guidelines which can be used by a UNCT throughout its entire CCA/UNDAF process Suggest how to best include non-resident agencies