Management Response

: Multi-Country Office for the Pacific (Fiji)
: 2012 - 2013 , Multi-Country Office for the Pacific (Fiji) (MCO)
: GEPG Evaluation
:
: Multi-Country Office for the Pacific (Fiji)
:

<>
: Approved
Recommendation: Evaluation Recommendation 1: AusAID and GEPG to consider an extension to the programme. During the extension phase GEPG to consider deepening its engagement with relevant stakeholders and in support of BRIDGE and TSM activities to work with its stakeholders to build stakeholders ownership of the programme. GEPG to consider progressing outcome 3 and 4 outcomes focusing in particular on electoral management bodies, political parties, media, NWMs and women NGOs
Management Response: Management Response: Partially Accepted. GEPG will deepen its engagement with stakeholders by further strengthening their capacity to gain increased understanding of the principles of democracy and gender equality for long-term learning and ability for gender responsive policy development.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Build capacity of strategic partners by facilitating Train-the-Facilitator (TtF) BRIDGE (Elections) training for senior duty bearers in Parliament, Government, Civil Society and Community to become facilitators to roll-out GEPG mandate at all levels using existing GEPG trained BRIDGE Facilitators. SRO & GEPG National Coordinators (NCs) & Government bodies 2012/12 Completed Future funding for emerging GJDG required, & funds for Government/ training departments
Build capacity of strategic partners by facilitating Train-the-Trainer (ToT) BRIDGE (Democracy Governance-DG) training for senior duty bearers in Parliament, Government, Civil Society and Community to become facilitators to strengthen and enhance improved knowledge and understanding of global standards and ethical behaviours and practices to inform and enforce gender mainstreaming and gender responsive budgeting policies and efforts and also advance discussions and implementation of TSM initiatives and options. SRO & Government departments (e.g. training units) 2013/06 Completed Future funding for GJDG required, & funds for Government/ training departments
Customize to national and local context existing gender equality courses to national & local contexts targeting women?s increased participation in decision-making (such as Gender Responsive Budgeting, leadership and other courses) into BRIDGE methodology and deliver to duty bearers to complement their learning, understanding and knowledge to trigger them to effect change at all levels 2013/06 Completed In SI, Vanuatu close alignment with government development strategies through GEPG Steering group, in PNG establish new national steering group with post-election 2012 government (as of Q3/4 2012 ? post elections)
Align planning process activities with Government development plans & Gender priorities SRO & GEPG NCs with Government bodies 2012/01 Completed In SI, Vanuatu close alignment with government development strategies through GEPG Steering group, in PNG establish new national steering group with post-election 2012 government (as of Q3/4 2012 ? post elections)
Establish a BRIDGE Reference Group of Facilitators (Think Tank/resource pool) and facilitate in a workshop feedback from facilitators actively engaged in Phase I to review and assess the achievements of GEPG mandate implemented using BRIDGE methodology and modules, the changes encounter, the lessons learned and the way forward to inform strategies for GJDG phase SRO & regional BRIDGE trainers 2013/12 Completed Active BRIDGE trainers from Pacific region to form Pacific Regional trainers network & think tank on Democracy & Gender. In 2013 UN Women supported the creation of a self-sustainable national BRIDGE network. The goal of the network is to be closely engaged with the national and local government, NGOs, and community based organizations to address gaps in supporting women?s political participation and representation.
Recommendation: Evaluation Recommendation 2: Institutional capacity building. GEPG in the second phase the programme to focus on the institutional capacity building of its major stakeholders. GEPG to identify priority areas of support that would contribute to progressing GEPG?s outcomes results GEPG to support major stakeholders to strengthen and develop gender responsive structures, mechanisms and processes would provide potential avenues to move towards development of policies and strategies that that are gender inclusive.
Management Response: Management Response: Accepted. There is plan for transition into the emerging UN Women Governance programme (GJDG). The planning of the broader Governance / GJDG programme will take into consideration the recommendations made for capacity building of stakeholders for increased gender responsive structures.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Provide expert technical input into the support development & design of Gender policies (e.g. Vanuatu Gender policy, SI Gender policy, or a Parity law etc.) as members of strategic national gender taskforces/committees. SRO, NCs with respective Ministries responsible for Women/ gender 2012/12 Completed Governments to request/ endorse policy input by GEPG/ UN Women
Train Senior Public Servants for increased gender responsive policy development & budget allocations, parliamentary structures for increased gender sensitive pacific parliaments and gender balanced legislations. SRO & NPCs, Responsible Ministries of Women/ Dept of Women, Public Service Commissions 2013/01 Completed Governments to request/ endorse institutional capacity building, Future funding for GEPG GJDG required
Establish more formalized partnerships and facilitate Elections BRIDGE and DG BRIDGE capacity building extended targeting major regional, sub-regional, national, provincial, local and community stakeholders like Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators Network-PIANZEA, Melanesian Spearhead Group-MSG, national council of churches, chiefs, youths and indigenous groups SRO & development partners, regional organisations 2014/01 Completed BRIDGE networks have been established in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu with support from UN Women. These networks of accredited BRIDGE trainers and facilitators will roll out BRIDGE training in their respective countries with little or no support from UN Women.
Recommendation: Evaluation Recommendation 3: GEPG to consider prioritising and nurturing strategic relationship with academic institutions such as USP, University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and Research Institutes as a focus on the second phase. Linkages with the universities and research institutes to be strengthened to support research agenda.
Management Response: Management Response: Accepted, where applicable and suitable
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Finalize USP Journalism school course on Journalism & Gender Conduct research with support of former USP (now UNSW) researcher on BRIDGE workshop impact and learning curve of participants? questionnaires SRO, USP School of Journalism 2013/01 Completed USP to offer Gender & Journalism units in future curriculum
Hire full time GEPG Research officer to conduct research on women?s political leadership & traditional leadership in Pacific, emerging women?s political participation, attitudinal behaviour change. As of GJDG (2013) 2013/01 No Longer Applicable Future funding for GJDG required
Finalize ongoing research with national research institute. The following were engaged by GEPG for baseline studies: NRI (in PNG), USP Dept of Development studies (for SI), PPPS in Vanuatu). SRO with respective researcher 2013/07 Completed Capacity limitations were observed, leading to late completion of the respective research tendered
Establish with academic institutions regular seminar series for GEPG updates, dissemination of research findings and knowledge tools SRO 2013/07 No Longer Applicable UN Women in negotiation with USP (Fiji)
Recommendation: Evaluation Recommendation 4: Proactive and deeper engagements with local actors, particularly at the local government levels. National and local stakeholders must be allowed to identify priorities in terms of implementations. Church based organisations are potential change agents being one of the largest organisations in these countries with the largest members.
Management Response: Management Response: Partially Accepted, as coordination with local actors for capacity building has been an integral part of customized capacity building and TA provision in all interventions countries. An increasing demand for further capacity building expressed by local / provincial governments is noted.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Conduct capacity building of Local level government/ local stakeholders (e.g. through targeted BRIDGE courses, Gender Responsive Budgeting as of 2013/ transition phase) SRO, NCs with Local level governments 2012/12 Completed Future funding for GEPG GJDG required
Establish formal partnership with churches and national council of chiefs (to facilitate inclusion of gender agenda into their meetings/ fora) SRO, NCs with national council of churches 2013/07 Completed Future funding for GEPG GJDG required
Recommendation: Evaluation Recommendation 5: GEPG during its extension to strengthen its collaborations and coordination with relevant development partners for better synergies and effectiveness. This includes working with regional and international development partners including AusAID, UNDP, EU, CDI, AEC, Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).
Management Response: Management Response: Partially Accepted: Increased coordination will be sought through participation at existing regional key events of development partners and regional stakeholders. Due to expressed meeting fatigue by Governments and regional partners alike, existing meetings will be used during the GEPG transition phase and future Governance Programme (GJDG)
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: Partnership, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Participation at annual regional Gender and Development Forum (GAD) hosted by SPC for development partners SRO, Development partners 2012/06 Completed GEPG has participated in annual GAD meetings since 2009
Joint programming within framework of UNDAF 2013-2017 and UN Gender Group SRO, NCs, UN partner agencies 2012/12 Completed Joint programming as per UN partners agencies? commitment to political empowerment of women
Participation at regional women?s Triennial conference GJDG (2013) 2013/10 Completed Cooperation & availability of development partners for regional coordination on the nature of conducting the conference to maximize impact (rather than a show-and-tell event with an outcome statement/recommendations) At the 12th Triennial Conference for Pacific Women, conference participants endorsed an outcome statement to accelerate progress on mechanisms to promote the advancement of women. Furthermore, the Ministers called for the post-2015 development agenda to adopt a transformative stand-alone goal to achieve gender equality, women?s rights and women?s empowerment, structured around several target areas: freedom from violence, gender equality in capabilities and resources, gender equality in decision-making power, and a voice in public and private institutions. UN Women played a significant role in supporting the Triennial Conference and subsequent Ministerial Meeting. UN Women drafted two overview papers on Violence against Women and on Regional and International Processes for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Recommendation: Evaluation Recommendation 6: GEPG/AusAID to consider the second phase of the programme contingent upon the development of a comprehensive logframe. GEPG to consider and ensure that agreed upon programme outputs and outcomes are realistic and achievable, and that they clearly indicate how programme achievements will contribute to making positive changes in women?s political participation. The next phase of such a programme would benefit from having a comprehensive M&E plan to further strengthen partners? efforts to collect feedback on the longer term results of their activities.
Management Response: Management Response: Rejected. Note: GEPG has a comprehensive Logframe, Development Results Framework and M&E framework endorsed by the UN & Donor Appraisal Committee, which has been used since its programme inception in 2008. The outcome language of the M&E framework and related planning documents and reporting matrices were adjusted to reflect the updated UNIFEM / UN Women global outcomes and in line with global gender discourse. As the GEPG intervention logic did not change, the original logframe is still being used.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Use of GEPG Development Results Framework, M&E and original GEPG logframe for programme results based implementation, monitoring. GEPG is transitioning into the Access to Gender Justice in the Pacific programme and the GEPG framework is no longer applicable. SRO, NCs 2012/01 No Longer Applicable GEPG has used programme logic and logframe & adjusted to new UN Women use of Development Results Framework for AWP results based implementation, M&E
As per planning process of upcoming Advancing Gender Justice in the Pacific (AGJP)programme: Development of new logframe, M&E framework, DRF for AGJP/ new Governance programme SRO 2013/12 Completed Planning process for new phase/ expanded Governance programme under way. The new draft project document for AGJP is being finalized for PAC. With funding from the Government of Australia DFAT, the transition from GEPG to the Access to Gender Justice in the Pacific (AGJP) programme has been completed.
Recommendation: Evaluation Recommendation 7: Strengthen the monitoring and evaluation framework with identifiable indicators base on baseline surveys that is rigorously applied as a management tool to monitor and track changes in progress of results and provide basis of continuous learning. This includes putting in place: i. systems and processes for continuous and systematic data collection and reporting that would feed into the whole monitoring and evaluation of programme results; ii. consider establishing the national Technical and Advisory Groups (TAGs) to provide continuous review of programme implementation and performance monitoring; iii. recruit an M&E specialist to be directly responsible for M&E activities; and iv. conduct a mid-term review of the programme.
Management Response: Management Response: Partially accepted. Note: Reference to establishment of TAG ? upon suitability and as per stakeholders agreement
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
M&E framework available & used. the GEPG M & E framework is no longer applicable. SRO, NCs 2012/12 No Longer Applicable
Hire Governance programme M&E officer for GEPG is no longer applicable. SRO 2013/07 No Longer Applicable Upon departure of GEPG Research, M&E officer, it was tried twice to recruit Research, M&E programme specific officer, no suitable candidate found
Conduct mid-term evaluation of future Governance programme SRO 2015/01 No Longer Applicable Future funding for GEPG AGJP required. With the conclusion of GEPG, the governance programme has transitioned into the Advancing Gender Justice in the Pacific (AGJP) Programme. There has been no further non core resources mobilized for the programme hence it is unlikely to have an evaluation as noted in this MR.
Continue the use of TAGs where the national partners agreed to adopt this kind of coordination mechanism, established groups are functioning in SI, Vanuatu SRO, NCs, Government bodies/ ministries as per practical need and identified/ agreed among partners 2013/07 Completed Establishment of TAGs where the national partners agree to adopt this kind of coordination mechanism, established groups are functioning in SI, Vanuatu
Recommendation: Evaluation Recommendation 8: Creating an enabling environment for the efficient and effective delivery of activities including: i. Strengthen the technical capacities, through training, of national and sub-national coordinating units to prepare them for the ?expanded? role of GEPG; ii. reviewing management and financial systems and processes and developing clear operational guidelines to facilitate implementation of effective and efficient accountability and responsibility mechanisms. This includes reviewing the financial practices which are fraught with delays and affect the implementation of the programme; iii. Consideration to be given to the decentralisation of some decision making authority and programming processes to PNG national office to facilitate efficient operation of the programme. As a stand-alone programme office GEPG PNG to be also responsible for Bougainville.
Management Response: Management Response: Accepted. In line with ongoing UN Women transition & UN Women Pacific office expansion & a new UN Women architecture stipulating the role of multi-country offices and field offices, administrative procedures and processes are being reviewed and improved and where applicable, administrative functions are decentralized to increase response time & streamline business processes. It is envisioned that the future GJDG Programme will have its own Operations staff for increased operational capacity.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Conduct staff training: M&E, policy development, TSM & other technical areas as per identified training plan SRO, NCs, Asia-Pacific Evaluation officer, UN Women Bangkok 2013/12 Completed In-house training & external training as per available time/ budget. TSM and transformational leadership training for potential women candidates completed in December 2013 in Vanuatu.
National Coordinators to be project managers in line with 2011 UN Women Internal Control Framework: Staff training on financial rules & procedures of UN Women/ UN system. SRO, NCs, Project Support Unit/ Operations Manager 2012/12 Completed In-house training of Project Support Unit
Increase staff presence at county levels for programme and administrative functions SRO 2013/12 No Longer Applicable Future funding for GEPG GJDG required
PNG UN Women office transition to full country office status, including PNG based programmes such as GEPG. Accountability Framework already agreed with PNG on decentralization. SRO, PNG CPM 2013/01 Completed Detachment of GEPG PNG from Regional programme as of 2013, separate funding needs for future Governance programme
Financial systems revamped, with clear lines of responsibilities established in the operations section of the SRO for efficient service delivery. GEPG to have a Programme Associate at SRO to take care of all operational compliance issues and link between the Programme and the Operations Section at the SRO. SRO, OM 2012/12 No Longer Applicable SRO is expanding field presences in line with UN Women programme expansion in PICs, the administrative structure will be strengthened.
Recommendation: Evaluation Recommendation 9: Strengthen capacity of the GEPG programme and consideration be given to the establishing/recruitment of: i. a dedicated programme management position to be responsible for over sighting and managing the progamme including planning, coordination and implementation; and ii. Media and communications officer to be responsible for advocacy.
Management Response: Management Response: Partially accepted: Transition planned into a broader Gender Justice in Democratic Governance Programme, with increased staff strengths as per expanded programme portfolio. It is noted that any Governance Management post will by default have to be able to provide technical oversight and serve as technical adviser in addition to the managerial oversight of programme management.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Hire of additional staff (managerial/ technical) for GJDG SRO 2013/12 Completed Additional technical staff will ease the pressure on managerial oversight, however it is not practical to detach management from technical guidance / TA provision as per the required experience to be able to successfully manage a governance programme, Future funding for AGJP required. Two technical/professional staff were recruited to implement the CEDAW and the Women's Political Participation projects in Solomon Islands with funding from EC.
Hire full time Media officer SRO 2014/01 No Longer Applicable Future funding for AGJP required. The AGJP programme which succeeded the GEPG programme is still fundraising and has not been able to mobilize resources for its full programme. Therefore it is not in a position to hire a full time Media officer.