Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. 3.1 During the implementation of the previous Country Program, the creation of National Directors at the Deputy Ministerial level, who were entrusted with the overall guidance and coordination of UNDP projects and programs, yielded stronger ownership of UNDP programs. Assigning such functions at the highest pos- sible level secured alignment with national development priorities and policies. A proactive effort was made to avoid fragmentation in projects and use of resources, and the program was streamlined to ensure consistency and impact around the two main development priorities for the period: to ensure participation and to address inequalities. Further effort will need to be made in 2010-2015 to better mainstream the emerging challenge of climate change into all development planning and policy making, and to continue mainstreaming gender is- sues. Efforts to promote human rights and to strengthen the Human Rights Defender's Office were successful, setting a sound basis for integrating a rights-based approach into all UNDP programs during the next cycle.
3.2 Democratic governance. UNDP interventions in this area were aimed at promoting and protecting human rights, including combating drug and human trafficking and fighting corruption. The institutional capacity of the Human Rights Defender's Office was strengthened and a tolerance center was established. Surveys and base- line studies on human rights and human rights education (including tolerance education) revealed deficiencies at various levels. Recommendations of assessments of institutional frameworks, existing policies and capaci- ties were incorporated in the second-generation Anti-trafficking National Action Plan to provide an adequate institutional response, and drug-related legislation was improved and harmonized. Despite tangible progress made in this area, victims of trafficking continued to be stigmatized. In support to the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), a gap analysis on the compatibility of national legislation and proce- dures with UNCAC requirements was conducted. Recommendations from this gap analysis were presented for incorporation into the national anti-corruption strategy and policy documents.
3.3 Socio-economic governance. Activities in this area introduced systemic, institutional, and behavioral change in some sectors. The concept of human development was promoted and integrated into national strat- egies, including the PRSP-2. The main thrust has...
Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. 3.1 Under the 2003-2007 Country Programme for Niue and the Multi-Country Programme for the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau, UNDP supported the implementation of national development plans in all four countries. National and community-based programmes were developed and implemented in three related areas: MDG achievement and human poverty reduction, democratic governance, and environment and energy for sustainable development. UNDP demonstrated responsiveness and flexibility in times of natural disasters, when projects were revised to meet new and demanding priorities while ensuring that the planned impact of the country programme was achieved. As a trusted and neutral partner, UNDP played a strategic role in decolonization in Tokelau and decentralization in the Cook Islands. UNDP plans on continued work in this political arena, particularly to strengthen national parliaments. UNDP also supported the development of national sustainable development strategies, national MDG advocacy programmes and MDG reports in the Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa which highlights that progress towards the achievement of MDG 6 is mixed between the 4 countries and will need further attention, particularly in data collection. Strengthening national systems for MDG-based planning, data collection, monitoring and evaluation will deepen this work.
3.2 UNDP also supported community development, youth development and gender mainstreaming. UNV Programme, a volunteer arm of the United Nations and administered by UNDP, rendered its support to development especially but not limited to these areas by mobilizing volunteers for a greater community participation and inclusion of the most marginalized segments of communities. It promoted South-South cooperation between Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau as well as among other Pacific island countries, especially through regional environmental initiatives. There now exists an “environment hub” of international, regional and local experts in the region, particularly within Samoa-based organizations. A UN Resource Centre for Climate Change (UNRCCC) is currently in the process of being established in Samoa on land donated by the Samoa Government for this purpose. The UN, agencies in the Pacific, through the UNDP Multi-Country Office, will work closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and other key Ministries of the Government of Samoa, UNDP Headquarters, UNDP Regional Centers and relevant CROP institutions to realize th...
Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. 26. The fifth country programme (2008-2012) and its extension (2013-2014) focused on strengthening UNFPA’s support to government in collaboration with development partners in the core programme areas of reproductive and newborn health, gender, culture and human rights, and population and development. The overall goal of the programme was to reduce the high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.
27. UNFPA worked with Implementing Partners to promote quality sexual reproductive health and rights, and strengthening of the overall national health system. Support was provided for the development of strategies and policies, provision of technical guidelines, establishment of quality assurance systems, strengthening of logistics management system for supply of drugs, equipment and consumables, training of health-care providers, upgrading of Service Delivery Points (SDPs), investing in Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR), creating demand and improving service utilization through community mobilization and participation.
28. These efforts improved Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) services from their grossly inadequate and poor quality levels in 2008. UNFPA through the ADB funded Health Systems Strengthening Project refurbished and fully-equipped five (5) comprehensive facilities and twenty-two (22) Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) facilities in five districts. Large investments were also made on health care providers for provision of SRH services, including training of skilled birth attendants, midwives and nurse anaesthetists for the provision of CEmONC services.
29. Support was also provided for the training of CHOs on surgical and obstetrical skills as a means of shifting the task of performing C-section to CHOs with greater possibility of retention and sustainability of quality CEmONC services. In addressing morbidity, comprehensive fistula programming improved access to treatment and reintegration to address the presumably high fistula prevalence. On average about 200 fistula patients are treated and reintegrated into their communities annually.
30. Family planning was revitalised through the strengthening of extensive partnerships and advocacy with the government and development partners, including the development and roll-out of strategies and technical guidelines and quality assurance system. Support was also provided for building human resources capacity in Long Acting and Reversible Methods (LARM) and provi...
Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. 18. The eighth country programme (2007-2011) was approved for $18 million. Of this amount, $12 million was designated from regular resources and $6 million from other resources. Due to 25 January Revolution, the CP was extended until Mid-2013. Regular resources provided during the whole cycle reached $20,430,487 and $2,852,432 was spent under other resources.
19. The program focused on: a) developing the capacity of providers of RH services and strengthening the national health systems; b) building local capacities in planning and monitoring of population data and generating evidence; c) training various groups of advocates to promote SRH/GE and combat GBV. The programme included national-level interventions as well as focused interventions in selected areas with poor social indicators.
20. The programme also facilitated a) institutionalization of participatory planning process and introducing a monitoring system nationally for assessing gender projects, b) development of a reference manual and training guide for religious leaders on GBV and population and reproductive health issues that was adopted by Ministry of Awkaf; c) successive increase in the national budget allocation for contraceptives procurement; d) conduction of a national representative survey of young people in Egypt; e) promotion of national in-house expertise in conducting local trainings and development of manuals that fostered efficiency, sustainability and ownership; f) development of population database and a yearly population report; g) production of a number of operations research and studies to promote evidence-based interventions and to assist the policy making;
21. The independent country programme evaluation took place prior to the Revolution, and highlighted the following achievements: a) programme interventions were relevant, effective and sustainable due to their linkage mostly with government institutions; b) the added value in terms of capacity development of service providers (FP, VCT, YFC) contributed to increased utilization of RH services, d) some attitudinal change in religious leaders that may lead to reduced GBV e) integrating YFS with other RH services proved beneficial in attracting clients; f) peers prove to be an effective strategy for spreading RH messages to adolescents; g) sensitizing media personnel is effective to underscore sexual harassment in the street; h) UNFPA is one of the few agencies supporting VCT; Lessons learned point to the need for:
a) improved ...
Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. 25. History - The United Nations began providing assistance to Somalia before independence and unification of the former British and Italian trusteeship territories in 1960. The first agreement between Somalia and a United Nations agency after independence was signed in 1962. UNDP signed its first assistance agreement with Somalia in May 1977, but UNFPA had already assigned its first staff to work within UNDP in the early 1970’s.
26. When civil war broke out in 1988 UNFPA continued to work in Somalia until December 1990, when the last of UNFPA’s staff left Mogadishu. Thereafter UNFPA and most UN agencies based their country offices for Somalia in Nairobi. In 2003, UNFPA assigned a representative to be based in Nairobi for the Somalia office. From 2003-2006, UNFPA supported comprehensive reproductive health service delivery focusing on training and provision of medical supplies for internally displaced persons.
27. In February 2007 UNFPA re-opened its office in Mogadishu and, in addition, opened four new field offices of Baidoa in March 2007 and Galkayo in August the same year. In Hargeisa the office was opened in February 2007 and Garowe in May same year.
28. By mid 2007 much of south and central Somalia had come under control by militant groups. These groups became increasingly hostile to humanitarian workers and banned many of the NGOs through whom UNFPA and other UN agencies were working. UNFPA was forced to close its Mogadishu, Baidoa and Galkayo field offices by mid 2008. The field offices in Hargeisa and Garowe, however, continued to operate.
29. UNFPA’s Executive Board in 2007 approved its first regular Country Programme (CP) for a two year period, 2008-2009. The programme was later extended to cover 2010, so as to align itself with the UN Country Team’s (UNCT) plan for the next programme cycle, 2011 to 2015. The Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) for the 2008 – 2010 period was never signed.
Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. 20. UNFPA began its assistance to the Unified Republic of Yemen in 1992. The Third Country Programme (2002 – 2006) focused on two core programme areas: Reproductive Health and Population and Development Strategies. Gender equity and equality were mainstreamed throughout the programme. The Fourth Country Programme 2007 – 2011 had three components: Reproductive Health, Population Development and Gender. Both the Reproductive Health and Population and Development components contributed to the same outcome: Effective implementation of the National Population and Reproductive Health Strategy. The outputs under RH were: 1) Increased availability of reproductive health services, with a focus on the poor, including young people in programme areas, and 2) Increased demand for reproductive health services, including information, educational services and awareness relating to reproductive rights, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS, in targeted programme areas. 9 OCHA, Yemen Humanitarian Snapshot, 10 August 2011 The outputs under P&D were: 1) Priority components of the national population and reproductive health strategy are reflected in national, sectoral and local plans, taking into consideration women’s empowerment concerns, and 2) National information systems providing disaggregated population and MDG-related data are improved, data disseminated and utilised. The Gender outcome was: Improved institutional framework ensuring that women and girls have the benefit of their equal rights, with as output increased national and local support for women’s empowerment and rights, including reproductive rights. In the course of 2011, with the intensifying crisis situation in the country, the CP increased the scope of its humanitarian interventions, in particular protection of displaced women and girls and the support of RH services in humanitarian settings, through the provision of MISP.
21. According to the findings of the country programme evaluation, major achievements of the fourth country programme (2007-2011) include:
a) Health staff, including midwives, was trained,
b) Improved availability of reproductive health services and good supply of commodities,
c) Integration of population issues including reproductive health, gender and youth into the fourth National Socio-economic Plan for Poverty Reduction,
d) Improved capacity of governorates on data analysis and utilization through introduction of RAPID model to identify multi-sectoral population problem...
Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. The achievements of the sixth country programme include: providing technical assistance for the 2004 census; improving the quality of vital statistics and strengthening the role of the media in addressing population issues. The programme also trained female health care providers in order to increase the percentage of women receiving reproductive health services in rural areas. In addition, the programme integrated population, reproductive health and gender into non-formal education activities. Community-based organizations increased awareness of reproductive health (including youth reproductive health) and women’s rights in selected communities. The midterm review of the programme acknowledged UNFPA contributions in population and development and in reproductive health. It also highlighted the need to increase the focus on gender and to establish mechanisms to ensure programme synergy and effective coordination and monitoring. The review recommended that the programme be more focused, taking into account both human and financial resources available. In addition, and as part of the preparations for the (2008-2012) cycle of cooperation, a stakeholders analysis was conducted which provided further lessons learned and recommendations building on the mid term review. The stakeholder analysis recommended further clarifying the strategic vision of the programme and strengthening the coordination mechanisms between the different partners. Finally, the stakeholders analysis recommended increased partnership with the private sector through a clear strategic and resource mobilization plan.
Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. Key results achieved
15. Government commitment to the reform of the social welfare system, including the transformation of social services and residential care institutions, is producing tangible results. There has been a steady reduction of the number of children placed in residential care institutions. The ratio of children in institutional versus xxxxxx care has been reversed from 2:1 to 1:218. These practices have become a model for other countries in the region, including Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, where similar transformation plans are in place. The new social welfare law19 calls for the implementation of the case management approach as a modus operandi for all centres for social work (CSWs). This approach provides the basis for a client-oriented system response, where CSWs manage and oversee the implementation of individual case plans, and facilitate the referral to appropriate services.
16. Serbia made significant progress in establishing a juvenile justice system, adopting a Law on Juvenile Justice in 2006 in line with international standards. Specialized training for judges, prosecutors and the police on juvenile offenders and minors-victims has been mainstreamed, in line with the law. This experience has been recognized and shared within the region as good practice. With the creation of an intersectoral Juvenile Justice Council in 2009, further reforms needed for full implementation of the diversion provisions of the law will be set in motion. 18 Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Analytical Department, Draft master plan on the transformation of residential institutions. 19 Adoption of the new law is expected in January 2011
17. A regulatory framework to prevent and protect children from violence has been adopted. This was followed by the specialized protocols for key sectors, notably health, social welfare, justice and education. In each of these sectors, capacity development of professionals has been undertaken. The majority of advances can be noted in the education system, where implementation of the Schools without Violence standards have led to improved reporting of violence and greater use of non-violent conflict resolution. The success of this approach has allowed the Ministry of Education to leverage further support from a World Bank programme.
18. The 2009 review of the National Plan of Action for Children found that the plan had significant influence on the development of key policies, notably those related to ...
Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. 3.1 The three themes of the previous CPD (2007-2011) were HIV/AIDS; Environment and Poverty; and Justice, Peace and Security. Significant achievements were made in policy-level interventions and in leveraging limited resources to great effect. As such UNDP’s smaller but highly strategic interventions unlocked large amounts of funding and technical support. The ADR conducted in 2010 described the CO programme as ‘flexible, facilitating, cooperative, supportive, efficient and in-tune with Government needs. The funding flexibility at critical junctures was highly valued by both state and non-state partners’. Such flexibility made it possible to support the development of the Jamaica Debt Exchange programme, regarded as a successful model in a middle income country resulting in the equivalent of 3.5 % of GDP (USD 527.5 million) being released as interest saving in 2010 and 2011. Credible action on reducing Jamaica’s short term debt servicing costs was a requirement for the signing of the IMF Standby Agreement (SBA). The JDX’s success facilitated access to the much needed IMF support as well as to other low-cost funding from the several development partners. While they have helped to ease some of the immediate pressure on the Governments fiscal position, portents for the future are still worrying, and more work needs to be done. Conditionalities set by the IMF and other donors that will have significant impact on the macro-economy, have not yet been fully implemented and their impact on the population has not yet been assessed or planned for. Building on the past success the CO will continue to leverage its identified ability to be flexible and responsive to urgent initiatives as recommended in the ADR.
3.2 The programme’s open approach to partnership also improved collaboration with a broad plethora of civil society entities and allowed better use of the pool of national talent. The office facilitated knowledge sharing amongst state, civil society and donor agencies through an on-line Community of Practice (CoP) focusing on security and justice. The ADR recommends that the CO build on this platform by supporting information sharing on best practices for good governance and to further develop internal communication to promote and improve coordination and collaboration.
3.3 The programme made important contributions to strengthening the capacity of security and justice institutions at national level, and to a limited extent, governance institutions at the local ...
Past Cooperation and Lessons Learned. 3.1 UNDP assistance and programme support via its SPD 2005-2009 (extended to 2011 to facilitate UNDP corporate strategic plan and UNDAF alignment)) prioritised four thematic areas: governance reform and institutional development; poverty reduction and social sector development in support of the MDGs and other national and international developmental goals; capacity building for environmental and natural resources management; and risk reduction and disaster management.
