UNIFEM’s Programme Appraisal Committee PAC

1. UNIFEM’s Programme Appraisal Committee PAC S.K Yuhua Gabriela Alvarez

2. UNIFEM’s Programmes/projects • UNIFEM SP • Principles of programming: HRBA, Women’s empowerment, gender mainstreaming, results orientation, national ownership, interagency, partnership, UN common efforts, Learning and knowledge sharing

3. Programme formulation • Concept development • Context analysis • Consultation with partners • Learning from UNIFEM’s previous experience • Results Framework (LOGFRAME) • Management arrangement • Monitoring and evaluation • Plan communication • Budget

4. UNIFEM PRODOC Format • Executive Summary • Context Analysis • Justification • Expected results-logical framework • Programme strategies • Programme Partnerships • Programme management • Monitoring, evaluation and learning • Finance • Annexes; (a) performance monitoring framework (b) Implementing partners Capacity assessment criteria.

5. Results Framework LOGFRAME

6. Programme Appraisal • Is the critical analytical review of the design and formulation of the programme/project that leads to its approval or rejection. The purpose is to ensure that the programme/project has been designed in a sound and results-orients way and in accordance with UNIFEM programming principles. • The review will result in: • Recommendation for the RPD to approve the programme as is • Recommendation for the RPD to approve the programme upon minor revisions • Recommendation for the programme to be further developed and re-submitted for appraisal at a later date • Recommendation for the programme formulation to be canceled

7. Required Documentation • The programme/project document in the standard UNIFEM format • Project summary using the Programme Progress Report format • Note from Thematic Adviser (in the case of sub-regional and regional programme proposals) • Note from Geographic Section Chiefs (in the case of thematic advisor proposals)

8. Project/Programme Appraisal Criteria (1) • Situation analysis reflects international/national legal frameworks and mainstream processes, (CCA/UNDAF, PRS, MDG, CEDAW) • Results, strategies, and constituencies contribute to SP. • Existence LOGFRAME and results and indicators are SMART • HRBA is reflected. • The linkage between the justification/situation analysis and programme/project.

9. Project/Programme Appraisal Criteria (2) • The capacity of implementing partners. • Strategic stakeholders/partners have been involved • Builds on UNIFEM previous work • Sustainability. • National ownership. • Management arrangements • Adequate monitoring and evaluation section. • Proposed budget includes adequate staff for management • Resource mobilization strategy with specific funding arrangements

10. Project/Programme Appraisal Committee PAC • Will include interagency representatives and be composed of a minimum 5 of professional staff members. A minimum of 2 will be professional staff members from UNIFEM and at least 2 will be from other agencies. At the discretion of the RPD, the PAC can include representatives of Government and/or civil society organizations (such women’s organization), provided they are not implementation partners in the programme/project.

11. L-PAC Procedures (1) • The RPD/CPD or her/his designate senior staff shall chair the PAC meetings. • The Project document (including a logical frame and budget) will be made available to the participants 3 full days before the meeting is held. • The proposal shall be presented by the UNIFEM staff responsible for the initiative under review. The presenter will be responsible for ensuring that PAC minutes are recorded • The PAC will offer their comments on the proposal and discussion will be held. PAC provides a recommendation to the RPD/CPD to either approve, review or reject the proposal. • SRO Operation’s staff is responsible for providing written comments on the project budget and financial arrangements, prior to the PAC meeting. These comments will be circulated to the members of the PAC along with the proposal to be reviewed or presented at the meeting. The attendance of operations staff should be strongly encouraged.

12. L-PAC Procedures (2) • The presenter will draft the minutes of the discussion within 3 working days of the PAC. The draft minutes will be distributed by the presenting section to all PAC participants for comments. Comments from PAC members are to be received within three working days of the distribution of the minutes. Changes will be incorporated as required and the minutes signed by the Chair • The presenter is responsible for reviewing and incorporating the changes/modifications in the proposal that were requested by PAC. Thereafter, the project/programme document is submitted for approval and signature by the RPD/CPD. • The RPD/CPD is then to review the revised document against the PAC minutes and the check list and then sign the cover sheet (see attachment). • The SRO is then to ensure that the approved project document is uploaded on intranet and is shared with the relevant sections • Entering the budgets in ATLAS

13. Programme/Project Approval • The approval of a programme document constitutes a commitment to implement that programme or project. It is formalized through the signing of the document by UNIFEM and the implementing partner. Approval Authority • In the context of the delegation of authority, RPDs/CPMs will be granted authority to approve projects/programmes through a local PAC process.

14. Approval Procedures • Programme Document Finalization Office proposing the programme incorporates recommendations from PAC • Donor Cost-Sharing Agreements The programme document cannot be approved until the cost-sharing agreement has been signed with the donor. • Budget Clearance The Operations verifies the availability of funds, and forwards the programme document to the RDPs/CPMs for signature. • Required Signatures Programmes that UNIFEM directly manages require the signature of the UNIFEM RDPs/CPMs only. Programmes with Implementing Partners require the signature of the Implementing Partner also. • Approval of Funds for a Programme/Project Once the required signatures are collected on the programme document, UNIFEM BRMS approves the funds in ATLAS KK and implementation can start.

15. Sub-Regional Programme Formulation, Appraisal and Approval (programmes of $100,000 - $500,000 SROffice/CPO Draft concept paper Undertake situational analysis Hold consultations with stakeholders and relevant sections Thematic Advisers Review concept, consider applicability to ongoing work, and advise on global/regional opportunities and threats Geo Section Review concept and provide inputs Facilitate consultation between RPDs/CPMs and Thematic Section SROffice/CPO Decide on whether to develop (a) a full programme document; or (b) preparatory assistance Geo Section Review Programme Document drafts Facilitate consultation between RPD/CPM and Thematic Section SRO/CO Determine key elements of programme Hold consultations with Geographic Sections and Thematic Advisers, UN Agencies, international donors, NGOs and institutions Draft programme document Thematic Advisers Advise on substantive issues and assist with drafting, if necessary Operations Review and provide feedback on financial, budgetary and human resourcesmatters SRO/CPO Confirm readiness of the programme document for appraisal/approval with Thematic Advisors and Operations Ensure mandatory components for prodoc completed and feedback incorporated SRO/CPO Clear prodoc for LPAC Schedule LPAC and circulate prodoc Ensure posting to Intranet Chair or assign Chair for LPAC Elicits recommendation to approve or reject prodoc Local Project/Programme Appraisal Committee - PAC Suggests revisions Recommends to approve or reject prodoc