Management Response

: Fund for Gender Equality
: 2015 - 2016 , Fund for Gender Equality (HQ)
: UN Women Fund for Gender Equality (FGE) Meta Evaluation/Meta Analysis of WPP and WEE (Impact 1 and Impact 2) programme evaluations undertaken between 2009-2015
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: Fund for Gender Equality
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In the second semester of 2015 UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality (FGE) commissioned an independent meta-evaluation/meta-analysis exercise to assess the quality of 24 decentralized evaluations led by its grantees in accordance to the UN Women Global Evaluation Report Assessment and Analysis System (GERAAS) standards for evaluation reports, as well as to draw evidence-based information and insights about what works in regards to women’s political and economic empowerment and the processes and approach of the FGE. The results of this exercise are presented in the Meta-Evaluation and Meta-Analysis (ME/MA) reports. 22 evaluation reports assessed (92%) were identified as “satisfactory” or above in the Meta-Evaluation exercise and were therefore included in the Meta-Analysis. Please see detailed recommendations and management response below.

: Approved
Recommendation: Explore opportunities to extend the timeframe of the grants mechanism to a four-year timeframe in instances where more transformative changes are sought.
Management Response: FGE will explore opportunities and take action as needed.
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Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
- FGE to explore potential and strategic/programmatic value of extending grant duration to 4 years in next round of grant-making (Cycle IV). - In addition, Explore potential for options securing continuity of successful interventions aiming to transformative changes (ex. pre-selection and invitation to successful grantees to reapply – assess results from UNTF experience). FGE Sec. 2017/07 Completed Note that given senior management decision to discontinue FGE (exit/accountability strategy approved November 2017) the key actions and their management response have had to change. Please note that the repackaging decision of how to go about Round 4 with the existing funds that FGE has is based on this recommendation and the potential for continuity (additional duration) and ensuring transformative change (onus on up-scaling for larger impacts of the horizontal or vertical kinds).
- Work with grantees to design and implement Exit/Sustainability Strategies. FGE M&Rs 2018/06 Completed This exercise has begun as some of the programmes are ending in 2018. M&Rs are working with grantees to ensure that exit strategies are in place. Similarly - the strategic decision by FGE to do a Round IV up-scaling process with and for 7 grantees is in line with the importance of sustainability.
Recommendation: Further strengthen the quality of programme design by developing a database of the practice, models and results of FGE interventions – and using this to help establish clear quality requirements for future proposals. Deepen the analysis of the most common theories of change used in programmes in order to test these (and to contribute to refining the UNW Flagship theories of change in the process).
Management Response: These recommendations touch the heart of the Fund’s Knowledge Management, and offers an opportunity to turn the programmatic experiences from FGE’s 7 years of existence into programmatic knowledge that can feed into UN Women mainstreamed programming, the new FPIs and even its policy work.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development, Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM, Partnership, Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality, Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
- Grants Management System (GMS): FGE’s grant database, currently in development, and will be ready for roll out by third quarter of 2016. - The existing Programme and Reporting Matrix, used to keep track of Cycle I and Cycle II grantee results, will be updated. FGE Sec. (Data Base Consultant & Knowledge Management/Reporting Expert) 2016/10 No Longer Applicable Note that given senior management decision to discontinue FGE (exit/accountability strategy approved November 2017) the key actions and their management response have had to change. In the case of GMS, the decision was made to discontinue its use given challenges of roll out and the fact that FGE will no longer have new grantees past Round III.
- Systematization and knowledge products from results from past grantees based on ME/MA and the FGE programe matrix (from cycles I and II programmes) will be produced. These would include key practices, results and models to offer guidance to applicants in future grant-making cycles and other programmatic work of UNW. FGE Sec. 2016/12 Completed Note that given senior management decision to discontinue FGE (exit/accountability strategy approved November 2017) the key actions and their management response have had to change. In this case please note that FGE team is working hard in 2018 to make sure we systematize all of the knowledge from our successful 7 years of grant-making for marginalized women across the globe, before FGE "ends" with ROUND 3 closure in 2019.
Recommendation: Continue to reinforce the importance of a clear and shared management structure for projects based on partnerships that facilitates coordination, joint planning and oversights as well as ownership by stakeholders Define clear governance structures with explicit roles, functions and responsibilities (such as Project Steering Committees or project supervisory boards) in order to ensure efficient and effective programme implementation. Ensure that the design of programmes includes measures to address contingency and resilience as well as clear baselines to capture dimensions of change during implementation.
Management Response: FGE will provide more guidance to grantees in terms of the importance of setting strong and successful partnerships.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable, Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Partnership, Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
- Establishing MOU and legal contracts with their implementing partners. - Setting a programme steering committee where appropriate. - Requesting grantees to provide more detailed information in the “prodoc section” on managing arrangements, such as: detailed roles, responsibilities and expectations for each implementing partner in project proposal and all stakeholders. - If partnership issues arise (or are foreseen to arise as part of risk and mitigation strategy), FGE to explore with grantees development of “mitigation strategy” which should include communication strategy between partners. M&R Specialists and field colleagues as needed 2019/01 No Longer Applicable Note that given senior management decision to discontinue FGE (exit/accountability strategy approved November 2017) the key actions and their management response have had to change.
Recommendation: Leverage the flagships initiative in UN Women to enhance synergies and clarity of roles with UN Women decentralized offices and the Fund. Support these synergies with coordination mechanisms at the regional and global level with policy advisors (for intervention design and analysis) and programme advisors (for implementation support).
Management Response: In the context of the new corporate FPIs, FGE will serve as an entry point to strengthen civil society, and specifically, women’s organizations. FGE has already taken a series of steps to link its work to the FPIs. The 50 finalist programmes from cycle III (grantees and Next-in-Lines selected in 2015) were linked to 8 FPI, and were included in to the respective CO/MCO/RO AWPs 2016. FGE will further contribute to the FPIs - please see actions below.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination, Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
- Securing strategic alignment in key common indicators of FGE grantee programmes with relevant FPIs. New grantee programme indicators are being aligned with those of FPIs, facilitating the integration of their results into FPI reporting. - Identifying opportunities for connecting FGE successful programme experiences and lessons learned to country-level or regional FPIs in development, ensuring replicability, scalability and sustainability of good practices. FGE M&Rs in close cooperation with CO/MCO and RO 2017/12 Completed Note that given senior management decision to discontinue FGE (exit/accountability strategy approved November 2017) the key actions and their management response have had to change. Please note that the repackaging decision of how to go about Round 4 with the existing funds that FGE has is based partially on the action of learning from successful initiatives to work on scalability and sustainability. Indeed 7 grantees have been selected to be up-scaled in order to secure transformative change.
Recommendation: Taking into account changes in the grant sizes of different rounds, investigate options to promote FGE interventions that target the meso and macro level of change – especially by supporting the emergence of local capabilities of civil society to envision, design and demand support for transformative interventions (including through synergies with other initiatives).
Management Response: The Fund will intentionally promote the establishment of synergies between FGE supported grantee programmes and higher level initiatives taking place at national and international levels, both led by UN Women and beyond.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable, Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
- Making sure that programme design of its new (24+) programmes from cycle III ensures that interventions are linked to other initiatives supported by UN Women Country offices (i.e. FPIs) and other relevant initiative ongoing at the national level aimed at meso and macro level of change. - Actively promoting building networks and south-south cooperation among grantees working in a particular region or in a theme across regions, enhancing their capacity to delivery on their programme and to further engage in their country. We will do this through a capacity building plan to be implemented throughout the life of their programmes (2-3 years). An important activity will be the Grantee Convening in May 2016. - The Exit or Sustainability Plans of grantees will be systematically prepared for all grantees in line to secure continuation of their activities and whenever possible, scalability of their programmes. FGE Secretariat & M&R Specialists 2019/01 Completed We at FGE are committed to this action and are continuing to respond to the 3 bullet points here. This is also being done with our new up-scaling initiative for Round 3 grantees that will be chosen for up-scaling (as there will not be a Round 4 call for proposal). Actively promoting networks and south south exchange will be an important part of the Upscaling selection initiative. Indeed the specific objectives of the Up-Scaling Convening which took place from 19-23 March 2018 included: 1) Strengthening the capacities of grantees and UN Women colleagues in programme upscaling, results-based management, reporting, and social innovation. 2) Building a community amongst and between all partners to promote alliances in the area of upscaling gender equality programming. 3) Creating a space for sharing results, challenges, opportunities, experiences, & lessons learned.
Recommendation: Within WEE, ensure that interventions that aim to enhance knowledge and self-awareness about one’s rights are combined with practical assistance that enables women to put their learning into action – most especially in terms of income generating activities, business incubation, transport, health and social protection services. Within WPP, continue to support spaces and capacity for women leaders to engage with communities (either directly or through media as an interlocutor) in order to better understand, represent and address their day-to-day needs
Management Response: Since 56% of new portfolio from cycle III is on WEE, there is great potential for implementation of this recommendation.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018), Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Relevance, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
- The TA assistance phase to further strengthen grantee programme design. M&Rs 2016/07 Completed
- The dissemination strategy of the ME/MA, the KM Initiative and of the Annual Report 2016. M&Rs and FGE Sec. 2016/07 Completed
Recommendation: Continue to build on work with men and boys to enhance the effectiveness and impact of both WPP and WEE interventions.
Management Response: - The Fund will make sure that the strategy of working with men and boys is thoroughly integrated in the finalization of the programme design as well as it will monitor its implementation of cycle III grantees. - FGE will also draw and share knowledge and lessons learned from the grantee experiences and results engaging men and boys in their programmes, as part of its Annual Reporting and ME/MA dissemination processes.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018), Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind, Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Key Action not added.
Recommendation: Empower existing FGE-supported networks and self-help groups by promoting the ICT approaches developed by grantees – particularly in India – more widely across FGE interventions.
Management Response: FGE will also draw and share knowledge and lessons learned from the grantee experiences and results on use of ICT. Some proposed steps could be:
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Knowledge management, Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership, Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
- Systematize and present successful ICT approaches for WEE and WPE in FGE Annual Report geared to reach donors, grantees and a broad audience. - Promote south-south cooperation on the use of ICTs among grantees. Use Webinars, Facebook and other resources for knowledge sharing. FGE Secretariat 2017/02 No Longer Applicable
Recommendation: Enhance training and capacity development interventions with strong targeting strategies, medium-term accompaniment (hand-holding), and longer-term monitoring systems.
Management Response: FGE will undertake necessary actions.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
- A capacity building plan for new grantees is being developed. It would cover the full life span of the grantee programme (2-3 years). - Training on capacity building during FGE Grantee Convening will take place in May 2016. FGE Sec and M&Rs 2016/07 Completed
- FGE to jointly develop with UN Women Training Center a checklist for effective training (ongoing) and to provide specific training to grantees during the grantee convening. - At the same time, grantees will be encouraged and supported to establish capacity building of their targeted groups and beneficiaries that is in line with the recommended elements (sustained in time, connected to institutional systems and processes, and based on longer term interventions). FGE Sec and M&Rs 2019/01 Completed At FGE we are committed to this action and as such, even though the FGE is going to close a per Senior Management desicion, with the existing funds we have until 2020, the new up-scaling initiative process with existing grantees includes capacity building for grantees and beneficiaries. Please contact FGE team for more information on the up-scaling initiative.
Recommendation: Continuous investment in networks and partnerships promises to both enhance the sustainability of interventions and boost the management capabilities of grantees.
Management Response: FGE will take necessary measures to implement this key recommendation.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development, Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership, Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Relevance, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
- The Fund has already created a Facebook group for past and active grantees. It will continue to promote active participation and exchange from grantees. - FGE Sec. & M&Rs 2016/07 Completed Addendum (March 2018) _ the fund is continuing to work on the deepening of exchanges by grantees, as witnessed during the 19-23 March Convening which took place in NY. Grantees benefitted greatly from networking and cross-thematic learning during the convening and this will continue in 2018-2019: - FGE to invite grantees to the FB Working Out Loud Group to continue sharing and exchanging. - Communities of Practice: FGE to organize webinars on thematic, operational, other areas to strengthen work of grantee and promote their knowledge sharing.
FGE will expand its networks thanks to further collaboration with EmpowerWomen and iKnow Politics networks inside UN Women, as well as to build relations with other external platforms, and whenever possible establish communities of practice. FGE Sec. 2019/01 Completed Note that given senior management decision to discontinue FGE (exit/accountability strategy approved November 2017) the key actions and their management response have had to change. We continue to reach our colleagues as much as possible, including in the case of Empower Women for example - with the 2017 FGE evaluation and use of their website to reach our targeted stakeholders.