Management Response

: Sudan
: 2012 - 2013 , Sudan (CO)
: Building capacities for Gender Equality in Governance and Protection of Women Rights in Sudan 2008-2011
:
: Sudan
:

Overall we accept the recommendations

: Approved
Recommendation: Strengthen UN-Women Leadership in Sudan and South Sudan by fast tracking the following planned initiatives:- Decentralize decision-making to empower country offices to make timely operational decisions.
Management Response: Recommendation is acceptable
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
UN Women has already taken action to devolve decision making to the country office by the appointment of a Country Representative who assumed office on 1st June 2012. The SRO and HQ continue to provide support when required and to also provide training opportunities for country representatives to enhance their decision making capabilities. This is part of UN Women global strategy to strengthen country offices. HQ ? Africa section, SRO- RPD, DRPD and CO ? CR to ensure office meets requirement for DOA. 2012/12 Completed
Recommendation: II. Decentralize financial management; each office to be supported with a Finance Officer with the responsibility to develop systems within UN-Women and support partners in establishing financial systems
Management Response: The recommendation is accptable
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
UN Women Sudan has a Finance Officer currently on a Service Contract. However for delegation of financial management to the country office, the Finance Officer and Administrative Officer must have fixed term contracts, which them the required rights to the web based finance system . UN Women has taken steps to change the contract type to allow delegation of authority. The Administrative Officer on fixed term will assume duty on 20 August 2012. The recruitment process of the Finance Associate has been finalised by UNDP and UN Women awaits the issuance of the contract to the successful candidate. UNDP, Sudan - HR 2013/06 Completed Recruitment process started in 2012 and was finalized
Recommendation: III. Organize partners? forum to share UN-Women mandate and discuss partners? concerns and priorities.
Management Response: Recommendation is acceptable
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development, Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Efficiency, Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Training for UN Women Sudan partners is planned for 30 August 2012. Training will cover mandate of UN Women, guiding frameworks, strategic plan, Sudan AWP ? goal, outcomes, outputs and indicators and linking work plans of the partners to the aforementioned. The agenda will include item for discussion of partners? concerns & priorities CO ? M&E Specialist, CR & consultant. 2012/08 Completed Training is planned for 2013
Recommendation: IV. Utilize the evaluation findings to develop partnership strategy for the new program plan. The strategy should be supported with well researched tools and approaches on partnership selection, disbursement of funds, partner project planning, reporting, budgeting and institutional building to support a focused program plan with fewer outcomes
Management Response: Recomendation is acceptable
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable, Advocacy
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Key partnerships are listed in Item VII of the UN Women Sudan AWP for 2012/2013. These include key partners in Government and the UN and unlisted CSO partners. Based on the recommendations of the SIDA Evaluation Report and also prior internal strategising for the 2012/2013 AWP, the number of CSO partners will be reduced considerably to ensure better resourced programme interventions for impact. UN Women has well developed and tested tools for partner selection, disbursement of funds, partners and project planning, reporting etc. There will be greater compliance with the use of these tools. The 2012/2013 AWP has only 4 outcomes. The above will be the overall responsibility of the Country Representative. Sudan Country Office ? all program staff. 2013/12 Completed
Recommendation: V. Recruit adequate staff to support operations at country office.
Management Response: Recommendation accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
The new office structure provides an expanded staff for both programmes and operations in the Khartoum and Darfur offices. These were incorporated in the AWP for 2012/2013. They include (for Khartoum) 3 programme specialists for Governance, Peace & Security and Gender Justice, an M&E Specialist; 5 administrative staff ? a Finance Associate, Administrative Associate, an Administrative Assistant and 2 drivers. In Darfur, 2 programme staff ? a Programme Specialist & Head of Office and Peace & Security Specialist; 2 administrative staff ? an administrative Assistant and a driver. At the management level there is a Country Representative, Deputy Country Representative and a Head of Programmes. About 70% of the staff should be on board by end September 2012. The recruitments are being managed by UNDP Sudan (national staff) and UN Women HQ (international staff) UNDP Sudan ? HR Unit UN Women HQ ? HR Unit Country Office - CR 2012/10 Completed
Recommendation: VI. Train staff on RBM to enhance program planning and monitoring and roll out training to partners.
Management Response: Agree with the recommendation
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
RMB training is part of staff capacity building for UN Women Africa section. A regional training for all M&E officers and a programme specialist from each country office is being organised from 18-24 August 2012. At the country level it will form part of the capacity building for staff and implementing partners UN Women Africa section (HQ) SRO - management CO ? CR, M&E Specialist 2012/08 Completed
Recommendation: VII. Provide guidelines for review and adaptation of long term plans that are matched with supporting resource and communication strategies in fast changing environment e.g. the post conflict areas to remain relevant to ever changing priorities.
Management Response: Agreed with the recommendation
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Peace and security (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
A midterm review of the AWP will take place at the end of 2012. Regular review of AWPs and country , global and sub regional strategies are part of UN Women?s evaluation process so additional guidelines do not have to be developed, but rather using existing strategies to ensure continued relevance of programmes. The country office will initiate the review SRO ? M&E Specialist, DRPD CO ? CR & M&E Specialist 2012/09 Completed
Recommendation: Strengthen the Capacity of the Respective Ministries of Gender i.e. MoGCSW and MoWSS in the Two Countries for Policy Implementation. Conduct capacity assessment of the MoGCSW and MoWSS specifically the Gender Directorate to clarify human resources required to lead policy analysis, planning and turning resolution into action.
Management Response: The recommendation is acceptable
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable, Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
UNWOMEN Sudan will consolidate the ongoing support to the Ministry of Social Security and Welfare to strategically position itself to meet its mandate and honour its commitment towards the Sudanese women which was articulated in the National Policy for Women?s Empowerment and Gender Equality. This requires negotiation with the Ministry. A proposal has been made to undertake a gender audit of the Ministry. UNFPA undertook a gender audit for 5 state level ministries and also capacity for GM in selected federal line ministries. Latter was not exhaustive and did not include human resource capacity. Tools used also had limitations CO ? CR, Governance Specialist 2013/12 Completed Ongoing
Recommendation: Revise partnership model between UN-Women and the two Ministries with long term programmes that support national gender empowerment outcomes and not short term projects
Management Response: The recommendation is acceptable
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
UN Women has moved beyond short term projects and programme interventions target institutional capacity building, policy development and policy implementation. UN Women does not receive multiyear funding and therefore cannot commit to multi-year funding of its partners CO ? CR & all programme staff 2013/12 Completed
Recommendation: Develop coordination mechanisms for collaboration with UN Agencies, line ministries and CSOs. MoGCSW
Management Response: UN WOMEN will lead the Gender Thematic Group of the UNCT and is part of the Gender Forum that is initiated as part of the UN WOMEN support to the Ministry of Social Security and Welfare. UN Women will also have monthly meetings with the Minister responsible for gender. The Deputy Representative will chair and coordinate the Gender Theme Group and the Country Representative will meet monthly with the Minister. A civil society advisory group for UN Women is to be set up.
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination, Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
UNWOMEN will lead the Gender Thematic Group of the UNCT and is part of the Gender Forum that is initiated as part of the UNWOMEN support to the Ministry of Social Security and Welfare. UN Women will also have monthly meetings with the Minister responsible for gender. The Deputy Representative will chair and coordinate the Gender Theme Group and the Country Representative will meet monthly with the Minister. A civil society advisory group for UN Women is to be set up Country Office ? Deputy Representative 2013/12 Completed
Recommendation: UN Women should build on its success and achievements working with the National Elections Commission in Sudan by ensuring the gender mainstreaming of the plans and operations of the commission are fully integrated into the commission.
Management Response: Agree with the recommendation
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
This is included in the AWP for 2012/2013. In a partnership with the Political Parties Affairs Council (PPAC), Un Women will support a gender analysis and review of the operational policies of the Electoral Commission. PPAC ? Chairman CO ? Governance Specialist 2013/06 Completed
Recommendation: UN-Women should continue its support for the Directorate of Women Affairs in Sudan to strengthen their capacity for engendering line ministries plans and activities.
Management Response: Recommendation is accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
This is ongoing. Support to the Ministry for 2012 is about US$450,000. Director ? Directorate of Women Affairs. CO ? Governance Specialist. 2013/04 Completed
Recommendation: Build Capacity of Women Organizations for Implementation Develop guidelines, tool kits and other material to support gender analysis, gender mapping, disaggregated data and gender framework for implementation by partners.
Management Response: Recommendation is accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development, Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination, Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
This is part of the AWP activities for 2012 and training is planned for end August 2012. Institutional capacity building will be integrated into all agreements signed with CSO implementing partners. UN Women already has tools and guidelines that need to be followed. CO ? Head of program M&E Specialist,consultant. 2013/04 Completed
Recommendation: Revise disbursement plans to provide longer term funding to support program and not short term projects
Management Response: Not fully accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
As mentioned earlier UN Women cannot commit to multiyear funding as the organisation does not receive multi-year funding. However programme interventions are now focused on achieving results rather than short term activity interventions. CO - CR 2013/04 Completed
Recommendation: III. Focus on fewer partners with longer term comprehensive programme support
Management Response: Recommendation acceptable
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
This a major decision for 2012. CO ? CR & Programme officers of the various thematic areas; Governance, Gender Justice, Peace & Security & Darfur. 2012/12 Completed
Recommendation: Develop guidelines for partner project implementation.
Management Response: Recommendation is acceptable
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
This already exists within UN Women. 2012/01 Completed
Recommendation: Organize partners? orientation for new partners to clarify approaches, strategies, tools and methodologies.
Management Response: Recommendation accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable, Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
This will be covered in partners training mentioned above. CO ? CR, M&E Specialist & consultant 2013/05 Completed
Recommendation: Develop institutional capacity building strategy to address partner needs. It is recommended that such a strategy would provide a framework for identifying capacity required by partners to be effective, efficient and accountable.
Management Response: Recommendation is acceptable
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency, Impact, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
An institutional partner assessment tool exists in UN Women. It is a comprehensive tool for assessing the institutional, human resource, programme and financial management capacity of partners. Additional tools were developed by the SRO to also assess the capacity for gender analysis, mainstreaming and knowledge of women?s rights framework. The assessment enables UN Women to address the identified gaps. Institutionla capacity building component will be a part of any agreement signed between June and December 2012. CO ? CR & all program officers. 2012/12 Completed
Recommendation: Improve monitoring and evaluation through development of a strategy and framework jointly with partners.
Management Response: Recommendation accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM, Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Impact, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
An M&E strategy and Monitoring Plan exist. Country Office to however improve on its monitoring and do more joint monitoring that would include donors. CO ? CR, M&E Specialist and all programme officers. 2012/12 Completed
Recommendation: Engage strategically in inter-agency work to raise profile and credibility of UN-Women. Collaborate with other UN agencies to leverage capacities and resources available for gender to have greater impact.
Management Response: Recommendation accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
UN Women to work with UNAMID Gender Unit, Police and Rule of Law unit to implement activities in Darfur related to training of Police, and formal and informal justice sector personnel. UNAMID will avail technical personnel and logistics and UN Women will provide funds, tools and additional technical support for activities,. CO ? CR, Gender Justice Specialist and Programme Manager, Darfur. 2012/12 Completed
Recommendation: Engage UNCT structures e.g. UN Coordination Group on joint gender programmes, UN Agencies and Donor Joint Group in identifying joint funding opportunities on common themes
Management Response: Recommendation accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
The UN has revived the Gender Theme Group and UN Women is coordinating the Group. MoGCSW has requested coordination of UN support to the Ministry. This will be led through the Gender Theme Group. Also mapping of UN support to the ministry and eventual development of a UN Joint Programme on Gender. UN Women coordinated the development of an Action Plan for the UNCT for implementation of the SG?s 7 Point Action Plan on Gender Responsive peace building. CO ? Deputy Representative 2013/12 Completed
Recommendation: Provide leadership on UN, Government, CSO gender coordination mechanisms to strengthen collaboration and partnership.
Management Response: Recommendation accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination, Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
The UN has revived the Gender Theme Group and UN Women is coordinating the Group. MoGCSW has requested coordination of UN support to the Ministry. This will be led through the Gender Theme Group. Also mapping of UN support to the ministry and eventual development of a UN Joint Programme on Gender. UN Women coordinated the development of an Action Plan for the UNCT for implementation of the SG?s 7 Point Action Plan on Gender Responsive peace building. Country Rep 2013/12 Completed
Recommendation: Continue to engage donors in UN-Women events and meetings to maintain donor interest.
Management Response: Recommendation accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable, Advocacy
Organizational Priorities: Partnership, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
This is being implemented. Agreed with donors to invite them to key programme activities and to organise joint monitoring missions. One already organized in June 2012 with Swedish Embassy to El Fasher. CO ? CR, Programme officers including the M&E Specialist. 2012/12 Completed
Recommendation: Continue to Support This Core Group of Women Parliamentarians Develop a broader programme to provide continuous training of women parliamentarians on core themes including CEDAW, SCR 1325, 1820, Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People?s Rights of Women in Africa, gender budgeting; representation and engagement with constituency; advocacy, lobbying and representation skills in both countries.
Management Response: Recommendation accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Advocacy, Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination, Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency, Gender equality, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Women parliamentarians are being supported in 2012 to enhance their knowledge on key GEWE frameworks, skills for advocacy and communication and institutional support to the organisation. CO ? Head of Programmes & Governance Specialist 2012/08 Completed
Recommendation: Engage women parliamentarians in developing strategies for effective legal reform, e.g. Child Act in Sudan.
Management Response: Recommendation accepted
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable, Advocacy
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Gender equality, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Comments above also apply. UN WOMEN cannot support reforms on Child Act as this is a UNICEF mandate. Current need for the women parliamentarians is individual and institutional capacity building. CO ? Head of Programmes & Governance Specialist 2013/04 Completed