Overview
The Government of the Maldives and the UN system have signed the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2011-2015 to guide the UN system’s assistance to the country. The UNDAF was formulated through a nationally-owned, consultative, and participatory process involving the government ministries, independent bodies, civil society organization, private sector, the UN system and other international development partners.
Assistance Strategy
The UNDAF was based on the Situation Analysis conducted in 2009 and is aligned with the National Strategic Action Plan 2009-2013. The Strategic Action Plan – Framework for Development 2009-2013 (SAP) has five priorities: (1) establishment of a nationwide transport system; (2) ensuring affordable living costs; (3) provision of affordable housing; (4) providing quality healthcare; and (5) prevention of narcotics and trafficking. The SAP has twenty-six other commitments in three categories: democratic governance, social justice and economic development. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), human rights, and gender equality are principles that cut across the SAP.
The UNDAF has fifteen outcome areas broadly grouped into four clusters: (1) Social Equity, which includes Health, Education, Social Protection, Social Security Floor, and Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention; (2) Economic Development and Environment, which includes Economic Sector, Decent Work, Environment Management and Water and Sanitation, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction; (3) Good Governance, which includes Transparency and Accountability, Access to Justice and Strengthened Rule of Law, Human Rights Promotion, Civil Society Empowerment, and Evidence-based Development Planning and Administration; and (4) Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
The UN system is committed to enhance coherence, effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of its support to the Maldives. The UN team decided that the best way to deliver on its achievements was to use an UNDAF Action Plan, which shows partners exactly what the UN will do and when with its partners. This effort will depend on strengthening results-based management, including monitoring, of the UNDAF Action Plan implementation, and improving aid effectiveness through greater coordination of assistance among development partners. We also hope to see an enhanced involvement of donors in the implementation of the UNDAF Action Plan.
Governance
Resident Coordinator
The overall management of the Maldives One UN Fund will be led and coordinated by the Resident Coordinator. Responsibilities include providing strategic leadership of the One UN Fund on the basis of the UNDAF/UNDAF Action Plan; advocating for and mobilizing resources for the One UN Fund; leading a consultative process on allocations from the One UN Fund, and making the final decision if consensus cannot be reached; and holding the Heads of the Participating UN Organizations accountable for the funds allocated to their respective organization under the One UN Fund.
The Board
The Board is composed of representatives from the Government, the UN and the donor community. It is co-chaired by the Resident Coordinator and the Minister of Finance and Treasury. Membership includes the Representatives of Government Coordinating Bodies, Heads of the Participating UN Organizations and donors that serve on a one year rotational basis. The Board is chiefly responsible for reviewing and approving the Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedures, ensuring alignment of allocations with UNDAF /national priorities, establishing criteria for allocation of unearmarked funds, reviewing and approving proposals from Agencies, ensuringconsultations with key stakeholders, and reviewing periodic reports, audits, lessons learned and reviews.
Administrative Agent (AA)
The Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) serves as the Administrative Agent (AA). The AA’s functions are as follows: conclude Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Participating UN Organizations and Standard Administrative Arrangement (SAA) with donors, administer contributions from donors; disburse such funds to each of the Participating UN Organizations in accordance with instructions from the Board; consolidate statements and reports based on submissions provided to the AA by each Participating UN Organization, as set forth in the TOR, and provide these to donors; and provide final reporting.
Decision Making
Guided by the UNDAF/UNDAF Action Plan, the Annual Work Plans (AWPs) or similar programme documents that show expected outputs, activities, budget and resources for the year will be prepared by Participating UN organizations, in consultation with partners. Based on these indicative workplans, the Theme Groups will submit proposed funding priorities and an updated resources matrix indicating sources of funds and funding gaps to the UNCT. Proposed priorities for funding will be reviewed and compiled by the Office of the Resident Coordinator and the External Resources Management Division – Ministry of Finance and Treasury (ERMD-MOFT), and submitted to the Board.
The Board will review the proposed priorities to ensure that these are aligned with the UNDAF/UNDAF Action Plan or emerging national priorities. The Board will submit an overview of the Resource Gap matrix to the donors in December each year to request funding.
For un-earmarked funds, the Board will use the allocation criteria to finalize and approve the allocations from the funds received. Decisions will be based on a consultative process and will be documented jointly by the Office of the Resident Coordinator and the ERMD-MOFT.
Allocation for un-earmarked funds will be based on the following criteria: in accordance with the UNDAF/UNDAF Action Plan; strategic priorities; implementation capacity of the relevant partner/s; comparative advantages of the lead participating UN organization in supporting the implementation of the activities; priorities which would otherwise not be funded; and, realistic outcome budget. Additional criteria for subsequent allocation will include: previous track record of the implementing partner and the UN organization on delivering results, absorptive capacity, and timely, accurate, and meaningful reporting.
The requests for funding should preferably not be below US$ 100,000 in order to encourage programmatic approaches and ensure operational efficiency.
