Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office GATEWAY beta

Fund Dates

• Start Date: 28 February 2012
  
• End Date: 30 June 2013

Overview

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have established a Joint Programme entitled "The Joint Programme on Acceleration Efforts to Attain Targets of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 and Neonatal Component of MDG 4 thru Joint Programming: Rapid Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality in the Philippines" (JPMNH), using a pass-through funding modality. The purpose of the Joint Programme is to support the coordinated implementation of the maternal and neonatal components of the MNCHN strategy in selected areas of the country, in order to accelerate progress in achieving the targets of MDG 5 and the neonatal aspects of MDG 4. The three main objectives of the Joint Programme are, as follows:

1. To improve the provision of continuum of quality care and services from pre-pregnancy, antenatal, intera-partum, post-natal and neonatal care based on agreed national standards adapted to local conditions;
2. To increase equitable access to and utilization of RH/maternal and newborn information, goods and services in the JPMNH priority areas;
3. To enhance the effectiveness of national and subnational support to local planning, implementation, and monitoring of the MNCHN strategy.

Assistance Strategy

The Joint Programme guided by the key principles of 2005 Paris Declaration, the 2008 Accra Agenda for Action, UN Reform, the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP), Health Sector Reform in the Philippines under Formula One (F1) with special emphasis on the national strategy for rapid reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality, the new Philippines-Australia Programme Health Strategy (2009-2011), the mandates of other development partners and the four thrusts previously developed by the three UN agencies. The JPMNH for MDG 5 and the neonatal component of MDG 4 will be executed in two phases for seven year (2009-2016) which will be in sync with the next country programme cycles of the UN agencies and the Government of the Philippines.

Governance

The Joint Programme will utilize the existing health sector coordination and oversight mechanisms.

During the transition period, the existing JP National Steering Committee (JPNSC) led by Department of Health (DOH) will be maintained, moving gradually towards exploring the potential role of the NEDA-Social Development Committee as part of the JPNSC during the Full Operationalization Period. The JPNSC will be co-chaired by the Department of Health (DOH) and co-chaired by the lead UN agency. UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO Heads of Agencies and representatives of Philhealth and civil society organizations (CSOs) will comprise the membership of the JPNSC. AusAID representative will have an observer status. The functions of the JPNSC are, as follows: set the over-all policy direction of the JP, review/approve annual work plans, decision on resource allocation and submission of instructions to the Administrative Agent for disbursement of installments, reports (with a standard reporting form) and expenditures, review processes and address policy and programmatic constraints and direct the tasks of the technical working groups.

Administrative Agent

Funding for the Joint Programme utilizes a pass-through funding mechanism. Under this modatility, Participating UN Organizations agree to channel funds for the Joint Programme through the Administrative Agent. The Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) of the UNDP serves as the Administrative Agent (AA) of the Joint Programme. The AA is responsible for concluding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Participating UN Organizations  and Standard Administrative Arrangements (SAAs) with donor(s), as well as for the receipt, administration, and management of contributions from donors; disbursement of funds to the Participating UN Organizations; and consolidation of financial reports produced by each of the Participating UN Organizations and Participating Non-UN Organizations and provision of these reports to the Steering Committee for onward submission to the donor(s).