Review of the Cluster System of the Regional Consultations

1. Review of the Cluster System of the Regional Consultations Emmanuel Nnadozie Chief, NEPAD Support Unit ECA

2. Background • Resolution 1998/46, the Economic and Social Council • called for the regular holding of regional consultations among United Nations agencies • First meetings held in 1999 under the chairmanship of the Deputy Secretary General • Since 2000, the meetings have been convened by the respective Executive Secretaries of the five Regional Commissions • 5 clusters created in 2002 at the 4th RCM • 7 clusters in 2004 • 9 clusters in 2006

4. Where are we today? • We have had reviews of the RCM but not necessarily of the Cluster System • The 7th RCM made specific recommendations for revitalizing the clusters

5. 7th RCM recommended… • Mainstreaming gender, youth, and capacity building in Cluster support to the AU and NEPAD • Programme and resource alignment with AU and NEPAD priorities • Joint planning and joint programming based on NEPAD action plan • Dedicating staff to the support AU and NEPAD programmes in UN agencies • Mobilizing resources • Seconding staff to ECA’s Support Unit • Monitoring actions and outcomes

6. Achievements… UN System continues… • Commit substantial material and financial resources in support of AU and NEPAD • Build institutional and human capacity • Develop policies, strategies and programmes • Build increased coordination and collaboration, and synergies at different levels • Build and strengthen confidence among UN agencies and between the UN, AU Commission and NEPAD Secretariat

7. Achievements… Likewise… • The creation of the sub-clusters has sharpened the focus of cluster activities for greater relevance and effectiveness • There is a growing number of cluster projects and activities at various stages of implementation • Communication between the NEPAD Secretariat and ECA, as well as with some cluster conveners has been enhanced

8. Also… • ECA SRO’s have a better understanding of the objectives and functioning of the cluster system • They are taking steps to promote sub-regional coordination • Continuous communication and advocacy for NEPAD have created increased national, sub-regional, regional and global support

9. Why cluster review? In spite of the achievements and the 7th RCM • The performance of the clusters has been rather uneven and unsatisfactory • Meetings are still infrequent • Operational rules and procedures not developed by all clusters • Joint programmes are still rare • Programme alignment with AU and NEPAD remains the exception • Level of involvement of the AU Commission and NEPAD Secretariat still unsatisfactory

10. Also… • No effective or formal mechanism for mutual cooperation and delivery • Lack of dialogue and cooperation among the participating organizations • Duplication or overlap of activities or initiatives • Unpredictability of and inadequate representation at meetings • Lack of clarity on the objectives and responsibilities of each cluster • The 7th RCM and SGs and JIU reports call for the cluster system to be reviewed and revitalized for greater efficiency and effectiveness

11. The review • ECA commissioned a review of the UN cluster system in support of NEPAD • The external review of the UN System-wide Cluster Support for the implementation of the NEPAD seeks to: • Provide institutional systemic operational and strategic • Strength the support mechanism • Make it more effective and productive • In this regard, ECA organized an Ad hoc expert group meeting to examine the review report • Participants: NEPAD Secretariat, RECs, member states, private sector, UN agencies

12. Findings of the Review • Issues relating to: • Cluster and subcluster activities • Leadership and commitment • Structure and system • Accountability • Coordination and collaboration • Linkage with national level mechanisms • Resource mobilization • Communication, outreach and advocacy • Subregional coordination

13. Cluster and Sub-Cluster activities Commitment/Leadership Main issues • Inadequate commitment, leadership and institutional support for effective functioning of the cluster system • The dispersed locations of clusters conveners, co-conveners and focal points Recommendations • High-profile leadership will provide much needed impetus for the effective functioning of the cluster system • The intervention of the Secretary General may be necessary to garner sustained commitment and support

14. Structural/Systemic Main issues • Alignment of programming cycles, preparation of joint plans • Gender issues have not been systematically mainstreamed into the activities of the clusters Recommendations • should be factored into any strategy designed to ensure the effective functioning of the cluster system • It may be necessary to have a dedicated person in each cluster • Gender should be adequately mainstreamed in the activities of the clusters and sub-clusters

15. Accountability Main Issue • The non-implementation of existing recommendations is an issue that deserves urgent attention Recommendations • The cluster system should institute a mechanism for ensuring accountability, at the cluster and individual agency levels. • Recommendations should be revisited

16. Coordination/Collaboration Main issues • The current coordination mechanism is too broad and fluid and does not elicit clear commitments on the part of participating agencies • Linkages with AU Commission, NEPAD Secretariat, AfDB and the RECs is still problematic Recommendations • Clusters should take into account activities of sectoral ministerial bodies • Representatives of AU Commission and NEPAD Secretariat should attend meeting of UN system support to AU and its NEPAD Programme • The Cluster system should include other partners and regional actors outside the UN system

17. National-level linkages Main issue • Lack of ownership and leadership at the national level • Lack of linkage between regional and national level mechanisms Recommendations • A mechanism to link support to NEPAD at the regional and sub regional level. • Incorporate NEPAD priorities into their national development priorities

18. Resource mobilization Main issue • Mobilization of Resources is inadequate Recommendation • Should prepare an action plan

19. Communication/Outreach/Advocacy Main issues • Weak communication between UN agencies and the NEPAD secretariat. • Inadequate communication and advocacy on achievements of the UN support to AU and NEPAD Recommendations • Intensify communication and advocacy to create awareness about progress and achievement • The communication, advocacy cluster should link with the communication and advocacy networks of AU/RECs, • Establish an information sharing and knowledge-networking platform involving all stakeholders

20. Sub-Regional Coordination Main Issues • Gap between regional and national level interventions • Inadequate knowledge of the work of UN agencies at the sub regional level • Sub-regional coordination may be difficult if regional integration issues are not clearly factored into the cluster system. • The multiplicity of RECs and overlapping membership • Capacity and financial constraints encountered by RECs limit their ability to attend all meetings

21. Recommendations • Put in place appropriate coordination mechanism • Improved information and exchange • Address Regional Integration in the Cluster System • RECs should be provided with timely information about NEPAD activities • Cluster meetings could be held back-to-back with major regional meetings to improve interactions • ECA and other UN agencies should intensify efforts to fully implement the recommendation of the seventh RCM on sub regional coordination

22. Additional Recommendations Prioritisation/ Rationalisation • Focus more attention on the rationalisation/prioritisation of overall Programme objective. • The UN system should prioritize its areas of support to NEPAD • UN support to NEPAD should take into account the role of other regional players • The NEPAD secretariat and the UN should consider implementing quick-win projects in key priority sectors

23. Capacity Building • UN support to AU/NEPAD should take into account the Ten-Year Capacity Building Programme for the AU and the RECs • Strengthen the capacities of RECs and the Private sector and national implementing organs