Administrative Agents – Value for Money

1. Administrative Agents – Value for Money UNDG – Donor Meeting[New York – 11 February 2012]

2. Role of Administrative Agent MPTF Office Mission: "To provide transparent and accountable fund management services to the UN system to enhance its coherence, effectiveness and efficiency"

3. Key functions of Administrative Agent • Key functions (as per AA protocol) • Receipt of contributions from donors • Administration of funds received • Disburse funds to PUNOs based on instructions from Steering Committee / Resident Coordinator • Consolidate statements and reports, based on submissions provided by each PUNO • Provide final narrative and certified financial reporting • Disburse funds to any PUNO for any additional costs of the task that the Steering Committee may decide

4. Other Functions of Administrative Agent • Support key life-cycle events for MDTF / JP • Provide advice during establishment (MOUs; SAAs) • Process extensions • Follow-up on closure • Ensure transparency – public website • Knowledge management and innovation • Document lessons learned (Annual reports) • Support continuous improvement (e.g. JP review) • Advise Steering Committees • Innovate (GATEWAY; National Funds)

5. Key performance indicators • KPIs to measure AA performance (example MPTF Office) • 750 million in annual deposits by donors • No outstanding receivables overdue for > 1 year • 90% - 95 % of fund transfers to PUNOs within 3 – 5 days • 100 % of certified financial statements ready by 31 May • 75% annual reports submitted to donors by 31 May and 95 % by 30 June • Number projects operationally and number projects financially closed in ERP system • Number Funds / JPs financially closed

6. Value of the AA within broader framework  AA function

7. Value for Money – for UN-system • AA role: To provide transparent and accountable fund management services to the UN system to enhance its coherence, effectiveness and efficiency • From DaO Evaluation – summary report: • Additional financial resources from the One Fund proved crucial in motivating more organizations to work together. • As innovative mechanisms for unearmarked and predictable funding, these funds can facilitate responses to national needs and priorities, especially on cross-cutting issues. • The role of the MPTF Office as AA of the One Fund helped to introduce some uniformity in financial approaches.

8. Value for Money – for programme countries • From 2006 Independent evaluation IRFFI: • MDTF reduces political and implementation risks to donors and government through pooling resources • From New Deal (G7+) - Strengthen capacities: • we will increase the proportion of funds for capacity development through jointly administered and funded pooled facilities • From DaO Evaluation – summary report: • The One Fund modality has ensured better alignment with and more flexible responses to national priorities • Pilot countries have demonstrated increased national ownership and leadership . • From JP Review: • reduction of transaction costs for government

9. Value for Money – for donors • From JP Review: • reduction of transaction costs for donors • From DaO Evaluation – summary report: • One Budgetary Framework approach has fostered Government leadership and close interaction among Governments, donors and UN entities throughout the resource management cycle. • From MPTF Office Client Survey – opportunities for improvement • improve Annual Narrative and Financial Reports submission. • improve explanation of the UNDG SAA