UNDG Toolkit Improved Functioning of the UN Development System at country level An overview of the U

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UNDG Toolkit - Improved Functioning of the
UN Development System at country level - An
overview of the UNDG Toolkit -
UNDG Meeting, 30 January 2009
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Why do we need the UNDG Toolkit?

• The UN General Assembly has formally approved
  some important measures to improve the
  functioning of the UN development system at
  country level
• Stresses that the purpose of reform is to make
  the United Nations development system more
  efficient and effective in its support to
  developing countries to achieve the
  internationally agreed development goals, on the
  basis of their national development strategies,
  and stresses also that reform efforts should
  enhance organizational efficiency and achieve
  concrete development results. (TCPR 2007
  A/Res/62/2008)
• Recalls the potential of the United Nations
  Development Assistance Framework and its results
  matrix as the collective, coherent and integrated
  programming and monitoring framework for the
  operations of the United Nations development
  system at the country level, bringing increased
  opportunities for joint initiatives, including
  joint programming, and urges the United Nations
  development system to fully utilize such
  opportunities in the interest of enhancing aid
  efficiency and aid effectiveness (TCPR 2007)
• Encourages the United Nations funds, programmes
  and specialized agencies, as appropriate and in
  consultation with programme countries, to further
  lower transaction costs.. (TCPR 2007)
• Decides accordingly that the continuing and
  deepening intergovernmental work of the General
  Assembly on system-wide coherence will focus
  exclusively and in an integrated manner on
  Delivering as one at country and regional
  levels, harmonization of business practices,
  funding, governance, and gender equality and
  empowerment of women. (GA resolution System-wide
  coherence, A/62/L.51)
• The UNDG Toolkit supports the practical
  implementation of the TCPR 2004 and 2007
  resolutions for improved functioning of the UN
  development system at country level

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Objectives of the UNDG Toolkit

• Provide a comprehensive framework that can guide
  countries through the key steps necessary for
  creating a more coherent, effective and relevant
  UN and implementing the change effort
  successfully
• Make tools available that can be used by
  countries on an à la carte basis including
  activity plans descriptions, templates, sample
  documents, etc. drawn from a combination of
  existing tools, e.g., those used in the CCA/UNDAF
  process, and new tools
• Help those supporting countries aiming to
  enhance coherence, effectiveness and relevance
  successors to the Global Change Management
  Support Team in their work in the future

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What's different in the UNDG Toolkit?

• One integrated strategy, based on six work
  streams
• UNDAF (integrated UN Programme)
• UN Business Operations
• Harmonized business practices and Common Services
• Common Budgetary Framework
• Joint Resource Mobilization
• Common Premises
• Joint Communications
• 2. Structured change activities to support the
  UNCT with the change effort to build a more
  coherent UN delivering programmes more
  efficiently and effectively

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What's NOT different in the Toolkit?

• The UN Programme work stream uses existing UNDG
  approved UNDAF process and guidelines,
  supplemented by practice examples from the
  country level
• The business operations work streams use existing
  guidelines for joint communications, common
  services, common premises and joint resource
  mobilization, supplemented by practice examples
  from the field
• Existing structures are used to the fullest
  extent possible for the development,
  implementation and ongoing management at country
  level

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PRINCIPLES GUIDING DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOOLKIT

• Create a toolkit that could be used to find a
  specific tool, to work on an individual step in
  the change process, or to guide a complete
  process
• Ensure that tools can be used irrespective of
  countries choice of objectives for common
  country programming, coordination of financial
  frameworks, Common Services and harmonized
  business practices and empowering the RC and UNCT

Flexible Recognize that countries have different
situations and needs

• Leverage existing work within UN agencies but
  tailor tools so that they are relevant to
  increasing UN coherence, effectiveness and
  relevance
• Identify existing inter-agency task teams which
  can support countries efforts
• Create new tools based on the needs of pilot
  countries that are specific to the process and
  validate at country-level

Cross-agency Draw upon the tools and experiences
of all agencies
Practical Ground tools in actual country-level
needs and keep them user friendly

• Develop as many of the required tools as possible
  for direct use in pilot countries
• Refine tools on on-going basis based on
  experience in pilot countries
• Include robust practical material (guidance
  notes, templates, examples) to back-up
  theoretical frameworks

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INTER-AGENCY PROCESS AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNDG TOOLKIT

• July- October 2008 -Prepared by the Global
  Change Management Support Team (CGMST) and inputs
  provided by pilot countries
• 2-3 October 2008 Rome Reviewed and Revised by
  Inter-Agency Task Team on Change Management
• 9 December 2008 WG on Country Office Business
  Operations reviewed and endorsed the toolkit for
  further UNDG decision

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A quick glance at the UNDG Toolkit


Tools and Examples from Countries

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