UN Coherence, Effectiveness, and Relevance (CER): High level monitoring and evaluation approach

1. UN Coherence, Effectiveness, and Relevance (CER):High level monitoring and evaluation approach NOTE: This tool/guidance has been developed by the Global Change Management Support Team under the guidance of the Inter-Agency Task Team for Change Management. It has not been tested at the country level and there are no examples of its application from any country office at this time.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THIS DOCUMENT • Show the recommended approach to Monitoring and Evaluating CER • Purpose of M&E within CER • M&E Process Overview • From UNDAF M&E to CER M&E

3. PURPOSE OF M&E WITHIN CER • Monitoring tracks progress towards the results agreed during the initial planning steps of the coherence, effectiveness, and relevance programme • Measures progress toward achieving the pillars of CER • Measures progress of implementing CER • Helps identify possible problems or roadblocks and to make corrections • Evaluation assesses the impact of CER • Determines whether the results make a worthwhile contribution to national development priorities • Determines whether the UN system has become more coherent, effective and relevant

4. GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR M&E WITHIN UN COHERENCE 1. Visible linkages between the UNDAF or common programming tool Results Matrix/M&E Matrix and the M&E Framework for the non-programmatic work streams must be developed. 2. Indicators for the non-programmatic work streams relate to UNDAF or common programming tool outcomes. They aim to be strategically accountable for the UNDAF or common programming tool outcomes. 3. For non-programmatic workstream indicators that do not relate to the UNDAF or common programming tool outcomes but are nevertheless required (e.g., common banking), there exists an UNDAF or common programming tool-independent space in the overall CER M&E framework.

5. CONCEPTUALIZATION OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES Work out the Business Operations matrix so that it can be simply attached to the current UNDAF or common programming tool M&E Framework 1. Visible Linkage 3. Established space for non-programme specific indicators 2. Focus on the “Outcome” level Keep the UNDAF or Common Programming Tool Results Matrix Format as is

6. CER M&E PROCESS FOLLOWS UNDAF Process overview Assign M&E group Set indicators, baselines, targets Develop M&E plan Conduct monitoring and evaluation Key activities • Form inter-agency M&E group that will advise the Outcome groups and the OMT on their M&E work • Define key indicators for outputs of the results matrix • Set baselines and targets for each of the indicators • Develop guidelines for M&E plan that includes • - M&E Management • M&E Framework • M&E Calendar • Develop evaluation plan based on guidelines • Develop TORs for evaluation • Prepare Management response to evaluation

7. FROM UNDAF OR COMMON PROGRAMMING M&E TO CER M&E (1/2) • The CER M&E process is very similar to UNDAF M&E in terms of its approach • It can be regarded as an extension of the latter because it includes M&E for Business Operations • This implies • For M&E of UNDAF or common programming tool: Follow UNDAF guidelines • For M&E of UN Business Operations: Follow a similar approach but, based on the outputs of the results matrix for Business Operations developed in Step 3, include tracking of • Common services and harmonized business practices • Common premises, where appropriate • Joint Communication • Common Budgetary Framework

8. FROM UNDAF M&E TO CER M&E (2/2) Assign M&E group Set indicators, baselines, targets Develop M&E plan Conduct monitoring and evaluation Existing process Description of UNDAF M&E • OMT to form part of the M&E group (since OMT will monitor outcomes of the Operations work streams) • Determine indicators for the operational outputs (based on the indicators currently used for OMT reporting) • Set baselines and targets for the operational outputs • Include Business Operations component of M&E plan, i.e. M&E Results Framework for common services and harmonized business practices, common premises (if applicable), joint communication, common budgetary framework work streams • Include operations workstreams in the evaluation Extension • Formation of inter-agency groups around each outcome • These groups are responsible for using the results matrix and M&E plan as the basis for joint monitoring with partners • The M&E group monitors the outcome groups • Determine key indicators for the outputs that will be used to confirm the quality of the results in the matrix (NOTE: A few good indicators are superior to a long list of indicators that are cumbersome to monitor) • Set baselines and targets for the indicators • Develop M&E plan composed of M&E management structure, M&E framework and M&E calendar to serve as the basis for all M&E activities • Evaluate the M&E plan in regular intervals • Document progress in Annual Progress Report Inclusion of Business Operations as required extension of UNDAF M&E for CER

9. NEXT STEPS: DEVELOPING M&E PLAN FOR COUNTRY • Follow CER M&E guidelines based on UNDAF guidelines paragraphs 103-122 • Review examples of M&E plans including TORs for M&E groups, M&E Framework and M&E Calendar • Fill out M&E plan template • Finalize M&E plan with partners