UN Working Group on Transitions (Crisis/ Post-Crisis) (UN-WGT) Terms of Reference

Transcription

1 5 December 2014 UN Working Group on Transitions (Crisis/ Post-Crisis) (UN-WGT) Terms of Reference I. Institutional context The UN Working Group on Transitions (WGT) was established as one of the standing working groups of the UNDG 1. Its purpose is to act as a collaborative forum between the UN Development Group (UNDG) and the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs (ECHA), to develop policy and provide guidance on issues relating to transition environments. The Working Group was initially established to ensure a seamless transition from emergency relief response to longer term more sustainable recovery and development programming in both complex emergencies and situations of disasters caused by natural hazards. The WGT was focused on addressing key challenges prevalent in transition environments characterized by both capacity and resource gaps and inconsistent leadership, prior to longer-term planning and programming being established. The working group sought to address these challenges by leading the development of policy, guidance and joint action to ensure strategic and operational collaboration and coherence of UNDG and ECHA agencies on these issues. Since the establishment of the WGT there have been considerable developments in both UN policy and architecture. Indeed the WGT directly contributed to establishing the foundations for greater coherence among the political, peacekeeping, humanitarian, human rights, and development actors in transition contexts with the establishment of what is now the Integrated Assessment and Planning (IAP) process, the Integration Steering Group, as well as the peacebuilding architecture. Each of these entities addresses critical issues of peace-keeping and peacebuilding and seeks to ensure coherence between the different UN structures and entities. Given these developments, the WGT s focus and modus operandi have gradually adapted and shifted increasingly to become a primary information sharing and consultation platform on issues relating to transition. Despite these developments, as these different forums have defined constituencies and do not include all ECHA and UNDG agencies, it is recognized that there is still a need for a common forum where the full range of issues relevant in transition contexts can be discussed by a broad range of actors. The WGT will therefore be maintained to serve as a consultation and information sharing forum for working group members. The WGT will have flexibility so that it can consider all relevant issues in transition situations (both conflict and natural disaster) including: preparedness, prevention, early recovery, peace consolidation and peacebuilding, durable solutions for displaced persons, resilience, post 2015 agenda and New Deal related issues. Despite the shift in provision of direct country support to Integrated Task Forces (ITFs) and regional UNDG teams, it is recognized that there is still a need to enhance overall policy coordination and interpretation. Given that most policies developed by the different HQ mechanisms and working groups hit the field vertically with little guidance of how they interrelate and shape the work of the UN in transition contexts, the WGT will play a role in translating these policies into practice in an efficient and coherent manner. The WGT will continue to use 1 Originally established in 2006 as the UNDG-ECHA Working Group on Transition. 1

2 the term transition as the nature of the concept encompasses the complex nexus of issues that come into play in post-crisis contexts. Though the WGT will not implement transition-related projects, its work will be informed by the ongoing processes at UN headquarters and operations in the field. This includes aligning its views with the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Support Office, the Integrated Assessment and Planning (IAP) process and with transition-related work streams of the IASC. The scope of the WGT s work plan is largely determined by the General Assembly through the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR). However, the WGT may take up additional issues as needed that have a bearing on transition, including partnerships and joint work with UN Secretariat Departments to respond to headquarters policy needs, field based requests or issues raised by the WGT constituency or its co-chairs. II. Overall objective 1. Consultation and Information Sharing Provide a forum through which transition-related policy developments, guidance and advocacy across the UN s different fora and pillars can be broadly shared with working group members. Garner the views, positions and concerns of working group members so that they can contribute to policy development across relevant fora and pillars. When necessary, articulate a common position on key transition-related issues of concern that cut across agency mandates, themes, and specializations. Support the development and monitoring of QCPR instruments related to transition issues. 2. Policy Guidance and Advocacy Address policy and operational gaps to strengthen support given to UN field presences in transition settings. Enhance overall policy coordination and coherence, shared interpretation, and joint implementation of policy guidelines and instruments. Formulate and advocate for joint positions on key areas of common interest Provide field presences with a forum for discussing and raising issues related to the support they receive for transition with relevant headquarters partners. III. Tasks and expected results The Work Plan of the WGT sets out the expected tasks and deliverables per biennium, including any products to be developed through task teams under the WGT. The WGT currently has two standing task teams, respectively the Task Team on follow up to New Deal and INCAF and the Task Team on Conflict Prevention 2. 2 See further below for ToR of the task teams. 2

3 IV. Expected duration and timeline The WGT is a standing body in the UNDG architecture. V. Linkages with other (UN) working mechanisms, processes, or institutions In order to ensure that the WGT is appropriately linked to, and not duplicative of other processes and discussions across the UN System, it is important that the WGT forge strategic partnerships with key institutions and forums, and establish links with other processes at headquarters. Strategic Partnerships - In order to ensure that the WGT is appropriately connected to other processes the development of partnerships with key strategic partners will be critical. IASC: The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (including its working groups and task teams) is a key partner both at the strategic and operational level. The UNWGT will seek to ensure its efforts are complementary and where relevant fully aligned with the work of the IASC. World Bank: As a critical partner of the World Bank across a broad range of transition, recovery, peacebuilding and statebuilding areas, the WGT will aim to involve the World Bank in its discussions and in the development of policy on transition planning and financing, and to stay abreast of the partnership efforts anchored in the UN-WB partnership working group and high level meetings. Linkages with other UN Fora - The UNWGT will aim to ensure its recommendations are consistent and coordinated with the management and operational policies developed by the other working groups under the UNDG. It will also ensure coordination with the work done within the framework of the CEB s High Level Committee on Programming (HLCP). The WGT will work in close collaboration with the other UNDG Working Groups, as relevant. Similarly, the WGT will endeavor to ensure that its policy development and guidance avoid overlap and are consistent with discussions within ECHA and the work led by DPKO, DPA and PBSO, including on integrated planning and integrated strategic frameworks, as well as the Senior Peacebuilding Group and the Peacebuilding Contact Group. VI. Working methods The Working Group adheres to the general working methods of the UNDG as standard and agreed for all UNDG Working Mechanisms (refer to document: UNDG Functioning and Working Arrangements, Annex 1: UNDG Working Mechanisms Working Methods). Chair and Secretariat - The WGT will be co-chaired by two agencies, rotating every second year. DOCO and OCHA will serve as a joint secretariat and will support the work of the group Work Plan - The WGT will agree on its results-based work plan, which follows from the UNDG work plan, the ECHA priorities and the tasks mandated by the QCPR, and will report back as required by UNDG. Regularity The WGT will meet formally three to four times a year. Ad-hoc meetings may be called as and when the situation demands. 3

4 Task Teams In order to advance key areas of the work plan, ad hoc Task Teams will be established for defined periods of time to undertake specific areas of work. The output from these groups will be circulated for broader consultation and eventual sign off by the larger WGT. Reporting The co-chairs will report to UNDG and ECHA. VII. Membership Membership of the working group is comprised of the members of UNDG and ECHA, and will include UN Secretariat entities DPKO, DPA and PBSO, as well as World Bank and IOM as invitees. The WGT may decide to invite colleagues from other UNDG working groups, Regional UNDG Teams or UNCTs to selected meetings. Participation shall be at senior decision-making level when so required (e.g. for part of annual retreats) 3, and field colleagues shall be invited to participate at meetings when relevant and be consulted when key deliverables are being developed. Terms of Reference for supporting Task Teams A: Terms of Reference of Task Team on Conflict Prevention Objective The Task Team on Conflict Prevention is the successor mechanism to the Framework Team and has been established as a UN-system wide task team under the UN Working Group on Transitions (WGT), to coordinate and support early country-level responses in conflict prevention. The task team will abide by the guiding principles of the UN/WGT, and will have three key main functions: Scope (1) To serve as a forum to share, support, and reflect on country and regional conflict dynamics and analysis, and to engage in conflict early warning and horizon scanning, including sharing the analysis with the Rights Up Front team in the Executive Office of the Secretary General (including any entity that may succeed the team) and the mechanisms it supports, such as the Regional Quarterly Review and the Senior Action Group. (2) To lead and coordinate the development of specific guidance, tools and other knowledge products that seek to address identified capacity gaps and needs among UN staff in the area of conflict analysis and conflict-sensitive programming, especially at the country level. (3) To support the joint implementation of existing system wide guidance and policies as well as to coordinate inter-agency HQ level technical and/or programmatic support to selected countries based on findings of the above horizon scanning or conflict analyses, and on-demand for support for the UN Country Team. 3 For the majority of the regular and ad hoc meetings, level of participation will vary from Director-level to working level, given the nature of the working group. 4

5 The Task Team on Conflict Prevention will be a sub-group of the UN Working Group on Transitions (WGT). It will perform the following functions: Engage in conflict analyses, horizon-scanning, and early warning in post-conflict and early prevention contexts in a manner consistent with and complementary to, existing mechanisms across the UN system, including those established through the Rights Up Front Action Plan (RuFAP). Promote information sharing and coordination on early responses to potential violent conflicts, including suggesting country cases to the Co-Chairs of the Regional Quarterly Review for their consideration. The Task Team may also receive requests for action from RuFAP mechanisms for follow up, including analytical support, joint missions by member agencies, or other support deemed appropriate. Facilitate (in collaboration with DOCO) the provision of coordinated support to conflict analyses exercises undertaken by UN Country Teams related to UNDAF roll-out. Additionally, facilitate conflict analyses pertaining to Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) activities and the UN Integrated Assessment and Planning (IAP) processes. Encourage and facilitate joint programming or individual agency responses, even if the programme management and implementation lie outside of the team s mandate. Should a sub-set of agencies, funds, or programmes decide to develop joint programming on particular gaps or needs identified by analyses shared through this team, the fundraising, programme design and implementation may be undertaken jointly or separately. Facilitate the sharing of good practices and lessons learned on conflict prevention, developed by individual entities or through joint programming initiatives that emanate from, or relate to, the work of the team. Provide opportunities to connect good practices with field and country specific needs including through exchanges between UN agency thematic experts and country analysts. Support learning and capacity enhancement of staff in conflict analysis, conflict prevention, and conflict-sensitive-programming particularly at country level. This may include but is not limited to organizing training for UNCT staff on conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity (building on the technical expertise and niche of the Task Team Members); training linked to the implementation of joint UN system-wide guidance and policies; online training on specific thematic issues, the organization of global or regional learning and exchange of knowledge events and the use of different media and formats for organizing capacity enhancement programmes and relevant experience sharing for country level and HQ colleagues. The Task Team shall define its own procedures including the creation of small informal groups as it may consider necessary, so as to ensure relevance, quality and addedvalue. Working methods 5

6 Adheres to the general working methods of the UNDG Working Mechanisms (refer to document: UNDG Functioning and Working Arrangements, Annex 1: UNDG Working Mechanisms Working Methods). Leadership The Task Team shall be led by a Chair and Co-chair, who shall be nominated/elected by the members for a term of one year renewable for another year, maximum. The leadership of the Task Team shall be rotational among the member agencies. Reporting Mechanisms The Task Team will provide an annual report to the WGT that will be circulated by the Secretariat to all Task Team members. Membership Membership is open to all UN entities that are engaged in conflict prevention activities and programmes. Membership is also open to UN representatives of UN interagency mechanisms that engage in areas relevant to conflict prevention. Secretariat support Secretariat support which will be hosted by the United Nations Development Programme, (in the interim) will undertake the following tasks: Convene meetings and activities of the Task Team under the direction of the Chair/Cochair; Coordinate the team s engagement and joint activities; Facilitate the accountability function of the WG including relevant reporting through the WGT and to other UN bodies as may be necessary; and coordinate the implementation of Task Team decisions and work plans; Facilitate the exchange of information among members of the Task Team and serve as repository of good practice; Assist the team in its communication and advocacy role both at HQ and at other levels; Support in full consultation with the relevant UN entities, the organization of conflict analyses, learning events and other functions and initiatives of the Task Team; On behalf of the Task Team, serve as liaison with the RuFAP team in the Executive Office of the Secretary General (or any entity that succeeds the team) and the mechanisms it supports as well as any other relevant inter-agency mechanisms, ensuring ongoing reporting back to Task Team members. The Secretariat is a coordination function operating on behalf of the UN System and is not expected to engage in direct project or programme implementation within the remit of any of the agencies. Frequency of Meetings Meetings will take place as may be agreed by the members, including the organization of emergency meetings should the situation so require. 6

7 B: Terms of Reference of Task Team on Follow up to New Deal and INCAF Background At the annual work planning retreat held in December 2011, the UNDG/ECHA Working Group on Transition (WGT) decided that one of the key priorities of the WGT for 2012 would be to engage with and input into the follow up to the New Deal and the work of the International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF). Given the wide array of activities foreseen in follow up in particular to the New Deal, the WGT decided to establish a task team to follow up on the specific activities related to this output. The New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States developed by the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding was endorsed at HLF-4 in Busan by 36 countries and multilateral organizations, including the UNDG members. The New Deal sets out five peacebuilding and statebuilding goals legitimate politics, security, justice, economic foundations, and revenues and services to guide national and international efforts in conflictaffected and fragile states. Building on these goals, fragile states and their international partners committed in Busan to focus on supporting inclusive country-led and country-owned transitions out of fragility, and build mutual trust by providing aid and managing resources more effectively and aligning these resources for results with recommendations related to transparency, risk management and investment in country systems is expected to see a focus on the implementation of the New Deal, both at the global level through the further discussions in the International Dialogue, and at the country level, in particular through the seven self-nominated pilot-countries (including Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Timor-Leste, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan). INCAF finalized the guidance on transition financing in 2011, and implementation thereof is expected to be amongst the key objectives of INCAF throughout 2012, and will be linked closely to the implementation of the New Deal. As part of this work, INCAF is expected to focus on risk management and development of risk management standards. Objectives The objective of the task team will be to provide a coordination platform to ensure strong and coherent UN participation in the follow up and implementation of the New Deal and the INCAF transition financing guidance, including elements of the 2011 WDR that are relevant for these processes. Activities and work plan The Task Team will carry out the following specific activities (as per the UNDG/ECHA WGT work plan 2012): Engagement with the International Dialogue and INCAF follow up process. Inform the work on Peacebuilding indicators, to be developed under the auspices of the SPG. Support the consideration of the Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals in the 2012 UN General Assembly and other fora, as called for in the New Deal. Input into the discussion on Compacts. Provide information and support to the field, as required, in particularly to the pilot countries, including on transition financing 7

8 Input into the discussion on Risk Management systems and provide support to its implementation at country level Liaise with other entities regarding the follow up on operationalization of the WDR on development and conflict. A work plan for the task team for 2012 with specific deliverables and a timetable will be developed based primarily on the planning of the International Dialogue and INCAF. It will be focused on a limited set of results with clear timeframes for deliverables. Continuation of the Task Team will be considered in connection with 2013 work planning for the UNDG/ECHA WGT. Working methods Adheres to the general working methods of the UNDG Working Mechanisms (refer to document: UNDG Functioning and Working Arrangements, Annex 1: UNDG Working Mechanisms Working Methods). Participation and partnerships The Task Team is open to all members of the WGT. The Task Team will report to the full UNDG/ECHA WGT and also provide updates to the Senior Peacebuilding Group. Links will be established with other related forums and processes in the UN system to ensure coherence and avoid overlap, in particular with the Senior Peacebuilding Group, which provides a link to the peacebuilding architecture and a framework for discussion on issues of relevance to this, including Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals and indicators, and with the UNDG Task Team on Busan. Other important forums in this regard include the UNDG Joint Funding and Business Operations Network, the IASC Group on Humanitarian Financing, the PCNA Steering Group, and the Peacebuilding Contact Group. Annex I: Membership UN Working Group on Transitions No. Organization Representative CC 1 FAO*^ 2 IFAD* 3 ILO* 4 ITU* 5 OHCHR*^ 6 UNAIDS* 7 UNCTAD* 8 UNDESA* 8

9 9 UNDP*^ 10 UNEP* 11 UNESCO* 12 UNFPA* 13 UN-HABITAT*^ 14 UNHCR*^ 15 UNICEF*^ 16 UNIDO* 17 UNODC* 18 UNOPS* 19 UN Women* 20 WFP*^ 21 WHO*^ 22 DPA^ 23 DPKO^ 24 PBSO 25 OCHA^ 26 OSRSG/CAAC *^ Secretariat: DOCO Invitees: World Bank IOM * UNDG member ^ ECHA member 9