Eastern & Southern Africa and Western & Central Africa

Transcription

1 SUMMARY OF DELIBERATIONS OF THE MEETING OF R-UNDG EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA AND WESTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA AND RCM-Africa SECRETARIATS I. Background Information 14 th & 15 th December, 2016 Nairobi, Kenya Over the last two years, the UN Member States reached historic agreements and set global agendas which have brought on new visions for the future - a future in which there is more equitable, more inclusive and sustainable development for the people and the planet, with peace, justice and shared growth for all, with nobody being left behind, as embodied in the SDGs. Some of the key global agreements/agenda and events include: a) Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related Sustainable Development Goals; b) Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction; c) Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development 1 ; d) Paris Agreement on Climate Change; e) World Humanitarian Summit; f) TICAD VI; g) Summit on Refugees and Migrants; h) Habitat III and i) most recently, COP 22. At the regional level, the African Union s Agenda 2063 outlines continental aspirations and agreements which would make the greatest impact in taking forward the various agenda/frameworks. The various visions, agenda, frameworks and agreements including Agenda 2030 and AU Agenda 2063, as well as other legislative guidance such as the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) 2 recognize the significance of the regional dimension for development as a bridge between the global and national levels, and call for stronger cooperation between the Regional Commissions, Regional UNDG teams; and Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams (UNCTs). Cognizant of the integrated and indivisible nature of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 2016 QCPR 3 while stressing the importance of strengthening national 1 General Assembly Resolution 69/313 (A/69/L.85): The Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development; 27 July General Assembly Resolution 67/226 on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) of UN operational activities for development: 21 December, General Assembly Resolution A/C.2/71/L.63 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system: 9 December, 2016.

2 ownership and leadership by building on existing efforts to operate as a system within and among countries and at the regional and global levels, also calls on the UN system to enhance coordination, coherence, effectiveness and efficiency of operational activities for development, in addressing the needs and priorities of programme countries. Agenda 2030 and AU Agenda 2063, both of which call for multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral approaches and partnerships to addressing development challenges, provide an opportunity for strengthening collaboration between the UN system and the regional entities in support of UNCTs and member states. Recognizing the contribution of the regional commissions and of sub-regional, regional and interregional cooperation in addressing development challenges, the 2016 QCPR calls upon the United Nations regional commissions and the United Nations development system to fully implement the statement of collaboration between the United Nations Development Group and the United Nations regional commissions on support to Member States in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 4. In the last three meetings held in Abidjan, Cote d Ivoire in March 2014; Nairobi, Kenya in March 2015 and; Dakar, Senegal in April, 2016, the R-UNDG reiterated the need to deepen collaboration with the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). Deliberate efforts have been made to have participation of the RCM-Africa in R-UNDG meetings, as a strategy of deepening collaboration. However, such engagements have not been followed through and/or translated into specific actions thereafter. It is against this background that the R-UNDG for Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA) and Western & Central Africa (WCA) and RCM-Africa Secretariats met on 14 th and 15 th December 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya to: 1. Have common understanding of the roles and responsibilities of R-UNDG, RCM- Africa and SRCMs and their respective Secretariats; 2. Explore potential entry points for enhancing collaboration between R-UNDG, RCM- Africa and SRCMs. 3. Come up with proposals for deepening collaboration between R-UNDG and RCM- Africa/SRCMs, for consideration and guidance for the R-UNDG at the joint UNDG ESA and Annual Meeting scheduled for 4 th and 5 th April, 2017 in Botswana. 4 Statement of Collaboration between RECs and R-UNDG on SDGs; 1 January, 2016.

3 II. Summary of Deliberations The summary of deliberations of the meeting are presented hereunder, against each of the objectives: a) Roles and responsibilities of R-UNDG, RCM-Africa and SRCMs and their respective Secretariats i) Roles and Responsibilities/Functions of the R-UNDG The Regional United Nations Development Group (RUNDG) comprises a team of Regional Directors who are committed to mobilizing and leveraging resources in support of UN Country Teams, in their efforts to ensure effective UN system contributions to the realisation of national development priorities and accelerate progress towards attainment of internationally agreed agenda and goals including the Agenda 2030 and related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), other global agenda and regional initiatives including AU Agenda The R-UNDG works strategically with partners to identify and act upon regional priorities. As agreed to at the Global Regional Directors Team (RDT) meeting held in Oslo in March 2008, articulated in the Management and Accountability Framework 5 and reiterated in the 2012 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) 6, the core functions of the Regional UNDG Team are: i) Provision of technical/programme support to RCs and UNCTs; ii) Quality support and advice on the common country programming (UNDAF) process; iii) Performance appraisal and oversight of RC and UNCT and; iv) Trouble shooting in complex country situations, dispute resolution etc. While providing overall strategic and policy guidance on all the four core functions, the Regional Directors in Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA) and Western & Central Africa (WCA) have put in place inter-agency technical level structures (Working Groups) to undertake the first two functions (Provision of technical/programme support to RCs and UNCTs and; Quality support and advice on the common country programming (UNDAF) process). The inter-agency Working Groups provide integrated technical and programming support to the UNCTs on Common Country Programming (UNDAF) processes (development, 5 The Management and Accountability System of the UN Development and Resident Coordinator System including the functional firewall for the RC System: 27 August General Assembly Resolution 67/226 on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) of UN operational activities for development: 21 December, 2012.

4 implementation, monitoring and evaluation) and sharing best practices and experiences; applying strategic and forward-thinking analysis and technical support to policy development/implementation, programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and report to the Regional Directors, through the secretariat on support provided to UNCTs and strategic/policy issues that require the attention of the Regional Directors. Members of the interagency Working Groups are identified by their respective Regional Directors. The performance appraisal and oversight of RC and UNCT function of the Regional UNDG Team is undertaken directly by the Regional Directors (at the level of D2 and above), who have direct supervisory role of the RCs and Heads of Agencies, as stipulated in the UNDG guidelines for RC-HC-DO and UNCT performance appraisal, issued on an annual basis. The Regional Directors also undertake the fourth function ( Trouble shooting in complex country situations and dispute resolution) directly, including through the Regional Directors Country Focal Point Mechanism. To deliver more effectively on their four core functions, the Regional Directors in ESA and WCA have assigned themselves responsibility to provide targeted and continuing support to specific countries through the Regional Directors Country Focal Point Mechanism, which aims to ensure that each country has easy access to the Regional UNDG Team through a Regional Director, for guidance and leadership on strategic issues and be the first point of call, enabling the Regional UNDG Team to effectively follow up with each country on the status of implementation of the agreed priorities. The Regional Directors also designate R-UNDG Champions who provide strategic guidance and leadership on specific agreed priorities. Informed by the four core functions, the R-UNDG identifies key priorities and actions to be undertaken on an annual basis in support of UNCTs. In addition to support for in-country/unct events, the R-UNDG develops products/tools to support UNCTs efforts in support of member states. Under the leadership of respective R-UNDG Champions and through relevant R-UNDG Structures, the R-UNDG has developed: i) Great Lakes Regional Strategic Framework and a related Resource Mobilization and Communication Strategy; ii) Sahel Strategy; iii) Strategic Framework for Resilient Development in Africa; iv) Strategy of Support for Middle Income Countries; v) Orientation Package on the Interim UNDAF Guidance; vi) Guidance Notes on UNDG Programming Principles; and vii) Roll out Strategy of Business Operations Strategy (BOS).

5 The R-UNDG for ESA and WCA covers 22 7 and 24 8 countries respectively. The configuration of R-UNDG is different from one agency to another hence some countries in Africa do not fall under ESA or WCA, but fall under R-UNDG for Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Some countries e.g. Somalia, which falls under R-UNDG MENA, is covered by some agencies in ESA e.g. UNWOMEN. In some cases, some countries under ESA e.g. Burundi, are covered under R-UNDG WCA for some of the agencies e.g. UNAIDS. Each of the R-UNDGs (ESA and WCA) is supported by a Secretariat. The R-UNDG Secretariat for WCA is based in Dakar, Senegal at the UNDP Regional Office while the Secretariat for ESA is based in Nairobi, Kenya at the UNEP Regional Office for Africa. Role of the R-UNDG Secretariats The Secretariats coordinate the work of the R-UNDG by facilitating implementation and monitoring of the R-UNDG s agreed policy and strategic decisions as well as priorities. Specifically, the Secretariats: Formulate the R-UNDG results framework based on identified priorities and ensure alignment of the Working Groups work plans to the agreed priorities. Monitor, review and report on progress in the implementation of the R-UNDG priorities. Coordinate R-UNDG s support to the UNCTs through mobilizing and facilitating integrated and timely support (through the Regional Directors, Regional Directors Country Focal Point Mechanism, Deputy Regional Directors, inter agency Working Groups, the Secretariats or mobilization of expertise from global UNDG Roster of Experts, UN System Staff college, consultants, etc.) as well as financial resources. Provide support to the RC-UNCT performance appraisal. Serve as Central clearinghouse for UNCT requests for assistance/information and knowledge sharing. Facilitate knowledge sharing and provide UNCTs with technical and coordination support on the implementation on policies related to global initiatives including UN reform, RC system, Delivering as One and UNDAF, among others. 7 R-UNDG ESA covers 22 countries: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 8 R-UNDG WCA covers 24 countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d Ivoire, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sao Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.

6 R-UNDG activities/priorities are funded from UNDG Cost Sharing Agreement (funds received contributed by agencies at the headquarter level and channelled through the United Nations Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO), through agency contributions at the regional level and by UNCTs when they request for specific support. ii) Mandates/Functions of the RCM-Africa Started in 2002 as a consultative mechanism for Delivering as One in the UN system and for supporting Regional Initiatives. There are 5 RCMs: 1. Addis Ababa for Africa 2. Beirut for Middle East and Western Asia 3. Bangkok for Asia and Pacific 4. Geneva for Europe 5. Santiago in Chili for Latin America. The mandate of the RCM-Africa is to coordinate the work of the UN System in Africa in support of the African Union and its organs to implement the priorities of Africa at the regional and sub-regional levels. The RCM-Africa is therefore unique as it aligns itself to the agenda of the African Union. The Co-Chairs of the RCM-Africa are the UN Deputy SG and the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission. Given that the UNDSG is not in Addis Ababa, the ECA Executive Secretary/Deputy Executive Secretary deputizes as a Co-Chair. The Priorities of the AU are contained in Agenda It has to be noted that the AU considers Agenda 2063 to be broader than Agenda 2030 (SDGs) and Africa is the only continent that made an input into the formulation of the SDGs through the Africa Common Position. The RCM-Africa devoted its 17 th Session on the alignment between the Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. There are over forty UN agencies, organizations, offices, funds and programmes participating in the RCM-Africa. In addition, the AUC, the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) and the RECs actively participate in its activities, as do the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank. The Sessions of the RCM-Africa are held annually to review its work and get guidance and direction so as to ensure greater coherence and coordination of UN activities in Africa in support of the development priorities of the African Union. The SRCM is a sub-regional component of RCM-Africa, which provides support to the RECs that are considered as building blocks of the AU. ECA established four sub-regional mechanisms in Rabat for North Africa, Niamey for West Africa, Yaoundé for Central Africa and in Kigali and Lusaka for East and Southern Africa 9. SRCMs are vehicles for UN agencies 9 East and Southern Africa has one SRCM considering the tripartite arrangement made by COMESA, SADC and EAC for enhanced coordination and coherence.

7 and organizations operating at the sub-regional level to work with the RECs and intergovernmental organizations supporting sub-regional programmes and priorities. All SRCMs hold annual consultative meetings on the strengthening and coordination of the support provided to the priorities of the RECs and sub-regional IGOs. SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE R-UNDG AND RCM-Africa

8 b) Potential entry points for enhancing collaboration between R-UNDG, RCM-Africa and SRCMs i) Regional/Sub regional Initiatives The R-UNDG is undertaking a number of regional and sub-reginal initiatives which could serve as entry points for enhancing collaboration with the RCM-Africa. These include the Great Lakes Region initiative; Sahel Strategy; El Nino Strategy for Southern Africa and the Horn of Africa initiative. a) Sahel Strategy: 6 Countries are involved in this strategy. i.e. Mauritania, Niger, Chad, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mali. The strategy is based on 3 pillars i.e. Resilience led by UNICEF and UNOCHA, Security led by UNOWA and Governance led by UNDP. The AU, UN lead by UNDP and World Bank are supporting this initiative. Evaluation of the strategy is undergoing so as to reflect Agenda 2030 and Agenda The AU and the ECA Sub Regional Office in Niamey can be an entry point to the Sahel Strategy. Action Point: UNDG WCA to share evaluation report with the secretariats once it is finalized. b) El -Nino: This strategy is for the countries in Southern Africa. Based on 3 pillars i.e. Resilience, Humanitarian Response, Economic and Impact. UN, World Bank and SADC are supporting this initiative. Action Point: UNDG ESA to share with RCM-Africa the RIASCO Action Plan. c) Great Lakes Regional Initiative: Comprises6 pillars i.e. i) Sustainable land and natural resources management; ii) Economic integration, cross-border trade, and food and nutrition security; iii) Border Management and Cross-Border mobility; iv) Youth and adolescents; v) Gender and Sexual/Gender Based Violence (SGBV); and vi) Justice and Conflict Prevention. The UN system and the Office of the Special Envoy on Great Lakes (OSEG) are supporting this initiative. Plans are underway through the OSEG to hold a partners /donor pledge meeting to raise funds for the initiative. Action Point: The ECA Sub Regional Office in Kigali can be an entry point to this initiative.

9 d) Horn of Africa: UNICEF, WFP, OCHA, FAO, UNISDR and UNDP came together in response to the drought. Issued country specific reports and analysis. Coordinated from the regional level and it is very country specific. There have been talks with key development partners e.g. IGAD Action Point: UNDG ESA to share more information. Proposed Actions RCM-Africa/SRCM Kigali to work towards supporting cross border/sub-regional initiative through: Advocacy among member states Policy analysis coherence and mobilizing partners Mapping: RCM-Africa to share report of this meeting with the SRCMs to assess how much has been done/their involvement across the various regional initiatives. ii) Topical/Thematic Issues A number of thematic/topical issues/priorities in Africa, could serve as potential entry points for deepening collaboration between the RCM-Africa and R-UNDG. These include but are not limited to: Resilience Youth Bulge and Adolescents Illicit Financial Flows Food Security Data for Development Migration/Mobility Security Government Absorptive Capacity Governance Proposed Action Hold joint policy debates on agreed topical/thematic issues/priorities. For 2017, in line with the AU Theme of Harnessing Africa s Demographic Dividends through investing in the Youth and Young People', it is proposed to hold a policy

10 debate/dialogue on 25th March during the 18th Annual Session of RCM-Africa scheduled for Dakar, Senegal. The RCM-Africa and R-UNDG Secretariats would develop a concept note with proposals of potential sub-themes; key speakers, etc. iii) Country Programming (UNDAF) Process UNDG in Latin America, Asia and Pacific and Europe have and/or are increasingly moving towards Regional UNDAFs informed by the UN multi-country presence under the leadership of one Resident Coordinator. In UNDG ESA and WCA, the cross border activities within sub-regional initiatives e.g. Great Lakes Region Initiative, could be seen as regional UNDAFs, depending on the different activities i.e. country specific, cross border and/or sub-regional with the latter two rending themselves to regional programmes/ regional UNDAFs. Proposed Actions R-UNDG ESA to invite a member from the RCM-Africa secretariat when a country is having a specific event e.g. to participate in the Strategic Prioritisation Retreats (SPRs), trainings on the programming principles and/or visioning exercises. Explore the possibilities of addressing sub-regional and cross border issues through Regional Programmes, if found/as appropriate. iv) Governance Structures The existing structures such as the AU Liaison Team; RCM-Africa and SRCM and their Clusters; R-UNDG Working Groups; and Regional Directors Country Focal Point Mechanism, could serve as potential entry points for deepening collaboration between the R-UNDG and RCM-Africa, including through participation in the various structures. For instance, UNECA as a member of the R-UNDG could be part of the QSA-PSG. Proposed Actions Retreat with the UN and the incoming officials of the AU in July at the Margins of the AU Summit. Also invite the Regional Economic Communities. Participation of AUC, RCM-Africa in R-UNDG meetings and vice versa.

11 RCM-Africa and R-UNDG Secretariats to prepare a concept note and what the clusters and working groups do so as to identify support required by country teams. v) Knowledge Management The secretariats identified various tools and products that can be used to enhanced strategy. Proposed Actions Link both secretariat KM teams to have a good indication of skills available and the existing tools and foster discussion on how to create a general collaboration space and common tools. Identify meeting needs and initiate development of tools for these (Compendiums and Community of Practice spaces). These serve as future repository for historical reference and knowledge banks to the various themes of focus. Portal that describes UNDG, RCM-Africa and identifies synergies. Blog on Key issues and agendas. Skills bank, experts roster. This will allow us identify areas of convergence and also serve as a quick repository for consultancy engagement and meeting panel speakers.