JOINT PROGRAMMING

Working Group members:

David Lawson (UNAIDS)

Mari Matsumoto (UNDP)

Haleem Lone (UNICEF)

Giulia Vallese (UNFPA)

Peggy Nelson (WFP)

Background

2000 guidance note not operational.

Increased pressure from donors to enhance collaboration at country level.

Necessity to engage more in JPs.

SG’s second wave of reform (Action 14).

ExBo of UNICEF, UNDP & UNFPA requested JP report at 2004 annual session.

Process Followed:

Inter-agency group early 2003 to revise GN involving four ExCom agencies, and UNAIDS.

Active collaboration from financial policies group (ExCom + WHO) and legal experts, including UNOLA.

Review of country experience, sharing of first draft in August with selected countries and Specialized Agencies, country visits.

Where are we?

Complete package finalized and endorsed by UNDG Management and Programme Groups December 2003.

GN sent to all UNDG agencies through UNDG Chair for final endorsement this month.

Full commitment from four ExCom. Some Specialized Agencies can only concur but won’t be able to agree with all the elements in the GN.

Main elements of revised GN: Distinction b/w joint programming & joint programmes.

Clarifying main elements of a Joint Programme.

Importance of programmatic rationale.

Operational guidance, including on 3 fund management options: parallel, pooled and pass-through OR a combination of the 3.

Legal Agreements for pooling and pass-through: Prepared by legal experts and UNOLA’s and cleared by financial policies’ group.

GN will be reviewed after one year.

Parallel Fund Management

Pooled Fund Management

Pass-through Fund Management

Emerging ChallengesGN cannot address all cases or solve all issues.

Need to internalize guidelines.

Regional level training and support.

Regional quality control to see if JPs are emerging from CCA/UNDAF process.

Establish inter-agency support.

Web page, concrete examples.

Different Indirect costs or overheads.

Different reporting formats.

Emerging Challenges – con’tIncentives: Coordination takes time. Need to recognize efforts in Performance Appraisals and reward and oversee efforts in this area.

GN should be issued in French and Spanish.

Review if elements of JP Guidance Note need to be incorporated in CCA/UNDAF.