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Joint Offices Notes for oral presentation - UNDGO Global ExCom Regional Directors Meeting. June 9, 2006. Joint Offices: Rationale and Mandate. Efficiency gains from economies of scale particularly in countries with small and/or limited UN presence Increased effectiveness
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Joint OfficesNotes for oral presentation - UNDGOGlobal ExCom Regional Directors Meeting June 9, 2006
Joint Offices:Rationale and Mandate • Efficiency gains from economies of scale particularly in countries with small and/or limited UN presence • Increased effectiveness • Ability to remain relevant and keep a UN in-country presence (e.g. in Net Contributor Countries and MICs) • TCPR mandate and reporting in 2007
Joint Offices • The Principles: • One Programme • One Leader • One Team (with some shared services) – scope for seeing different models emerge. • The Objectives: • Increased cost-efficiency • Increased effectiveness of UN • Reduced transaction costs for UN, government & partners
Cape Verde Model • One common country programme • One Representative (also RC) • One common identity (Funds & Programmes) • One budget (with agreed agency shares of financial contribution) • One support agency – (UNDP in Cape Verde)
Lessons learned • Critical roles for: • Government • contrast Guyana and Vietnam • UNCT • Need commitment of agencies and RC leadership • Regional Directors/ Offices • selection of countries, • dialogue with governments on why the UN in that country should be a Joint Office, • endorsement of country programme, • approval of new structures, • continued oversight • Headquarters – Leadership, coordination and approvals • Staff – fully informed of purpose and process Requiring continued support dedicated follow-up and timely addressing of issues Understanding of agency processes and building trust helped accelerate process Differences in business processes are bridgeable – considerable commonality
Lessons learned (contd.) Selection of countries for joint offices • Subjective and ad-hoc selection criteria has not worked • Country and regional level leadership critical No one model • Cape Verde first pilot – teething issues • Other models to be developed based on country and regional specificities but within the core principles and objectives for Joint Offices Further issues to be addressed: • UN Legal Identity • Utilization of savings on support budget for programmes • Reassurance to Governments’ that Joint Offices will not result in reduced impact of UN • One UN branding yet retaining agency identities and not losing agency mandates and fundraising capacities
Lessons learned (contd.) Further issues to be addressed: • Greater clarity over reporting and accountability of RC and individual agencies for results and operational matters • Greater harmonization of business processes at country, regional and headquarters levels • Overtime need to demonstrate increased efficiency and effectiveness of the UN system at the country level • Participation of the RC in Regional and HQs meeting of all the agencies represented
Viet Nam – One UN • One UN - two stage process • One UN comprising of UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF • Other UN agencies may join if and when they choose • One Programme – UNDAF 2006-2010 • One Leader – RC • Country Directors for Funds & Programmes • One budget - yet to be clarified • One management practice – yet to be clarified • Single physical location
Key Factors – Viet Nam One UN Model • Government leadership – National Task Force set up • Strong UNCT support • Strong donor support • UNCT and Regional Directors leading the process working with HQs & DGO
Criteria for selection of other joint offices • Identification of 20 Joint Offices: • TCPR and Report of the Secretary General on the management process for implementation of GA resolution 59/250 • Selection criteria based on what has been seen to work • The criteria: • Host country factors • Stability and security • Agreement of the government • In country UN factors • Harmonized programme cycle • Well functioning UNCT with a cohesive working environment and leadership
Emerging Typologies of Joint Offices Emerging typologies since no single joint office model • Unified representation, hosted office – e.g. Libya • Unified representation, unified office – e.g. Cape Verde • Unified representation, separate agency offices – e.g. Vietnam