Management Response

: Nepal
: 2016 - 2016 , Nepal (CO)
: Final evaluation of the "Localizing women, peace and security agenda in central Terai districts of Nepal" (GPI-CT)
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Nepal

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The final evaluation of the Project “localizing women, peace and security agenda in central Terai districts of Nepal” provided instrumental findings, lessons learned, conclusions and recommendations for UN Women Nepal country for future programming. The evaluation has found that overall, the project is relevant for the gender responsive planning and budgeting process to contribute to the peace building needs of the project district and contributed in establishing the knowledge hub on GRB and national action plan on UNSCR’s 1325 and 1820 at national and sub-national level. The findings and recommendations of the evaluation have been taken into the consideration in Strategic Note 2014-2017 and NCO plans to integrate the recommendations in the upcoming strategic note 2018-2021.

: Approved
Recommendation: The timing of the project activities should be matched with the time frame of the government’s 14-step planning and budgeting process even in contingency plan or in project NCE period to ensure effectiveness of the project and measure the project result towards project outcome. It is strongly recommended the government officials and stakeholders who are involved in different steps of planning and budgeting process should be trained on gender responsive planning and budgeting process at the local bodies (DDCs, MCs and VDCs) for implementation and monitoring of NAP on women, peace and security (UNSCRs 1325 and 1820) immediately before the start of those particular steps like before DDC organizes a pre-planning workshop, before MC/VDC organizes meeting of revenue advisory committee, before pre-planning workshop at ward level of VDC and MC, before area (Ilaka) level planning meeting is organized and before Integrated Planning Formulation Committee (IPFC) meeting is organized. Then the project should support MoFALD and other relevant ministry to monitor each plan and budgeting process and evaluate in line with strategies for localizing GRB, 2015 to see the project results.
Management Response:
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Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Peace and security (SPs before 2018), Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development, Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership, Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Relevance
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1.1 Align the timing of the new project activities on Gender Responsive Budget (GRB) with the time frame of the government’s 14-step planning and budgeting process. Governance and Leadership Unit (GLU) 2018/04 Completed The enclosed key action is irrelevant in the current context. In the change context, UN Women’ is in discussion with the Ministry of Finance, GRB Committee on revising the conceptual framework and its roll out at all levels.
1.2 Continue to train the district level Gender Responsive Budget (GRB) committee members on GRB prior to the annual 14-step bottom up planning and budgeting process of the government at the local level. Governance and Leadership Unit (GLU) 2018/04 Completed In 2017, LDTA trained 28 members of district GRB committees of 12 districts (Sunsari, Makwanpur, Kailali, Banke, Kavre, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Gorkha, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Tanahun and Syangja districts) on GRB with UN Women’s support. This will support the bottom up planning and budgeting processes of the government for the year 2018 and beyond.
1.3 Continue advocacy to raise resources to conduct Gender Responsive Budget (GRB) system evaluation. Governance and Leadership Unit (GLU) 2018/04 No Longer Applicable The planned GRB evaluation in 2017, has been withdrawn. Nepal is currently being restructured from five regions to seven provinces and 753 local government. In light of the current development the GRB committees formed at the district levels are no longer valid. UN Women Nepal in close collaboration with Ministry of Finance has planned to conduct a GRB need assessment in 2018.
Recommendation: The ongoing exit plan should specify clear roles and responsibilities of its partners with action points in post-project scenario for the continuity and sustainability of the project. The plan should also illustrate the reporting and monitoring mechanism at different levels - VDC, MC, district, and at national level and coordination and communication mechanism between local budget demand and supply side. The source of income for the project activities and their reliable monitoring mechanisms would help the sustainability of the project activities after the completion of the project.
Management Response: Partially Accepted - This has been addressed in the revised strategy. The revised exit strategy (plan) includes clear roles and responsibilities of partners in post-project scenario including monitoring mechanisms.
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Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Peace and security (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication, Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability, Impact
Key Actions
Key Action not added.
Recommendation: In an inter-agency project like GPI-CT having a dedicated project manager will enhance the project’s vertical and horizontal coordination. This would fill the vacuum between the programme designers at central level and programme implementer at district level. Similarly, it will strengthen monitoring of different activities of the project implemented by different agencies leading to outcomes of the project. In case of emergency resulting from economic, social and political upheavals this coordination and management structure will also help to come up with alternative plan to mitigate the possible risks and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the project.
Management Response: Rejected- The ProDoc had budgeted for a dedicated Primary Contract Person-Unit Manager. A dedicated Project Officer was also recruited by UN Women to coordinate with the partners and support project implementation.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Peace and security (SPs before 2018), Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Key Action not added.
Recommendation: The evaluation team recommends expansion of similar initiative like GPI-CT project with some adjustments based on the local contexts of target project areas. One important consideration to be made during designing and implementing of project is that the time frame of a project should be adequate to bring about anticipated changes. The project should have a contingency plan and an exit plan at the project designing phase. Similarly, it is vitally important that target groups at local levels are adequately consulted and engaged while designing projects.
Management Response: Partially accepted- The project was the last project funded by the United Nations Peace Fund for Nepal (UNPFN). The expansion of similar project is subject to availability of funds. However, UN Women will consider adequate time frame for projects, continue to organise consultations with stakeholders and beneficiaries, prepare an exit plan and contingency plan during the design phase.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Peace and security (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
4.1 Continue advocacy with the UN RCO and other donors regarding the timeframe of projects to ensure achievement of anticipated results and their sustainability. Women, Peace and Security & Humanitarian (WPSH) Unit 2018/04 Completed UN Women advocated with the Government of Finland regarding the importance of longer time frame for programmes to ensure achievement of anticipated results. As a result, Government of Finland has expressed an interest to support UN Women Nepal Country Office Strategic Note (2018-2022).
4.2 Prepare an exit plan and a project contingency plan during the project design phase. Programme Unit 2018/04 Completed NCO has reached out to the Regional Office for the corporate guidance on exit strategy. The NCO is receiving security plans from all partners for programme implementation. UN Women HQ evaluation unit has been preparing guidance on exit strategy at the corporate level. The NCO will implement the exit strategy guidance for future projects once finalized.
4.3 Continue the practice of organizing preliminary consultations with the stakeholders, including the primary beneficiaries during the project design phase. Programme Unit 2018/04 Completed Extensive stakeholder consultations have been conducted to develop the UN Women Nepal (NCO) Strategic Note for the period 2018-2022. The NCO conducted in-depth consultations with government line ministries, development partners, civil society organizations, including crowd sourcing during the launch of Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG). UN also conducted in-depth consultation to design the upcoming UNDAF (2018 to 2022).
Recommendation: Awareness raising programmes on gender equity and equality related issues should be organized at the ward, VDC, MC, and DDC levels to sensitize the service providers. This will ensure a higher level of sensitivity when serving the service receivers. Similarly, political leaders at the local and central level should also be made aware of the importance and value of GRB so that the project and any similar initiative in future can receive informed support and cooperation from them.
Management Response:
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Peace and security (SPs before 2018), Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
5.1 Organize district and municipal level orientations at the local and central level with political leaders, including the district and municipal level Gender Responsive Budget (GRB) committee members on the importance of GRB and budget tracking. Governance and Leadership Unit (GLU) 2018/12 Completed UN Women is currently discussing with the Ministry of Finance, GRB Committee on revising the conceptual framework of GRB, its roll out at all levels. UN Women will continue supporting the Ministry of Finance, as part of the GRB committee member should the Ministry decide to organise orientation workshop in coming year
Recommendation: The project partners should pursue any possibility for the continuation of the project jointly. However, the partnership will require a carefully thought out mechanism for efficient coordination and implementation. Such a mechanism must clearly outline the different roles for each partner in the course of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project.
Management Response: Partially accepted- The project was the last project funded by the UNPFN. There is no possibility for the continuation of the project. However, UN Women will explore the possibility of similar joint projects and continue to outline clear roles for each agency.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018), Peace and security (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Partnership, Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency, Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
6.1 Continue discussion with UNDP to explore any possibility for designing similar project. Governance and Leadership Unit (GLU) 2018/04 Completed In light of the ongoing federal restructuring in Nepal, UN Women has initiated discussions with UNDP and other potential partners involved in the Local Governance Community Development Programme/Sub-National Governance Programme (including Switzerland, Norway, UK, EU, UNICEF and UNFPA) on future collaboration related to governance, particularly local governance, in the new federalist context. These discussions have revolved around a potential future project with a strong emphasis on governance. A potential project would include components related to localization of GRB and access to justice.
Recommendation: Training and orientation programmes for stakeholders must be held before the budget allocation meetings so that they can make informed interventions. For example, training on Gender Responsive Budget must be conducted before actual budget allocation work is carried out at the ward, VDC, MC, and DDC levels so that trained and aware participants can make the needful interventions such as prioritization of programme activities.
Management Response:
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Peace and security (SPs before 2018), Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable, Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
7.1 Develop joint programme work plan with the concerned government authorities, including the Local Development Training Academy (LDTA) and provide training to the government officials on GRB before the local planning process begin in the district. Governance and Leadership Unit (GLU) 2018/04 Completed A total of 1,027 officials (female 403: 39 per cent) at local level enhanced their knowledge and understanding on GRB, its localization, GRB analysis and GRB software application as a result of 41 capacity development trainings/orientations organized from December 2015 to October 2017. Post-test result shows an increase in the level of knowledge and skills of 82 per cent of the participants, as against the pre-test result which showed 78 per cent of the participants with no knowledge to limited knowledge on GRB. With the knowledge and skill enhanced on GRB, the newly elected local representatives and the local level officials including municipalities, rural-municipalities, ward committees, DCCs had shown commitment to institutionalize GRB and integrate it in the 14-step planning process as per the GRB Localization Strategy endorsed by the government in 2016.