MAPPING DONOR SUPPORT TO THE SOCIAL PROTECTION SECTOR

1. Ministerul Protecţiei Sociale, Familiei şi Copilului MAPPING DONOR SUPPORT TO THE SOCIAL PROTECTION SECTOR Interim Report to the Social Protection Coordination Group 24 January 2008

2. Status • agreed in principle on 31 October that mapping exercise would be worthwhile • form of questionnaire as survey instrument agreed by email • returns received from most respondents by 22 January – thank you! – and paper circulated 23 January • interim report – needs completion when all returns received, and checking/updating by respondents

3. Form of report • paper which summarises some of the key data reported and tries to draw some conclusions • only presents information included in returns • annexes which compile all of information in the returns, plus information from other sources, and estimates/inferences • amendments invited to both parts - please

4. Some findings (1) • external assistance reported at 22.01.08 totals €40.396m (2004-2012) – overall total may be over €73m • precision difficult: may • capture some non-SP project expenditure • omit SP components of other projects • omit NGO/community contributions • record some but not all closed projects • not yet capture all donors’ plans for future years

5. Some findings (2) • number of different routes or channels for assistance – but largest amount goes in contributions to the SIF • apparently good spread of donor engagement across all focus areas (aspects of MSPFC’s work) and strategic objectives – except disability assessment and accreditation & quality inspection • [apologies to SIDA – omitted from gender equality line (!)]

6. Some findings (3) • number of donors or amount spent does not necessarily mean that the right amount of support is being provided to key objectives, or in the right way • but may provide a starting-point for dialogue between MSPFC and concerned donors • not all areas of work have lead donor, some have more than one

7. Some findings (4) • wide range of current thematic and project-related channels of communication between donors and Ministry • SPCG only opportunity for sector-wide overview of plans, commitments and developments

8. Conclusions and next steps • can (with help) refine and improve the mapping, but will never be definitive • need to focus on key issues of coordination – eliminating major gaps and overlaps in coverage • perhaps concentrate on smaller core of projects/programmes directly supporting strategic objectives • step towards integrated programming of national and donor resources

9. Conclusions and next steps (2) • need to ensure allocation of resources by SIF – as largest channel of donor funding – is closely aligned with MSPFC intentions • group may wish to give further consideration to how this can best be done

10. Conclusions and next steps (3)- monitoring and reporting • need to ensure that information collected is not wasted, and can be used by SPCG as basis for monitoring activity in the sector • could make database available on internet (preferably MSPFC website) so donors can update directly – either in “private” area or open (read-only) to public • need decision on way forward

11. Conclusions and next steps (4) • please provide outstanding returns, and any amendments/improvements to paper and annexes by 14 February • we will collate changes, re-circulate amended version, and investigate internet options • will also prepare, in the light of discussion here, a draft action plan setting out some practical steps for strengthening harmonisation/coordination