Assistance Strategy

Through the Joint Vision, the UN family in Sierra Leone has agreed to combine its efforts behind one overall priority of furthering the consolidation of peace in the country and four programmatic priorities: the economic integration of rural areas, the economic and social integration of the youth, an equitable access to health services and an accessible and credible public service. The overall priority and four programmatic priorities were chosen in order to maximize the UN family’s contribution to the Government of Sierra Leone’s Agenda for Change (Second Poverty Reduction Strategy, PRSP II, 2008-2012) within the UN’s respective organizational mandates, specialization and expertise. Recognizing that the UN is a part of a wider international group of development partners, it selected these priorities in view of building its joint programmes on the comparative advantages that the UN family possesses in Sierra Leone.

The objectives of the Sierra Leone MDTF include:

• Enhancing the UN’s capability to partner with the Government and development partners to support national development plans and priorities, including the PRS;
• Supporting the Joint Vision through obtaining greater programme cohesion, harmonization and effectiveness;
• Providing for a coherent and streamlined platform for the mobilization of additional donor resources (from resident and non-resident donors), fund allocation and reporting of the programmatic priorities of the Joint Vision;
• Funding and implementation are undertaken with special attention to transparency and accountability as well as to prompt delivery and efficient utilization of resources.

Governance

The Development Partners Committee (DEPAC)
The Development Partners Committee (DEPAC) constitutes the highest governing body of the Sierra Leone MDTF, and is co-chaired by the Minister of Finance, the World Bank Representative and the UN Executive Representative of the Secretary General / Resident Coordinator. All programmes and projects, irrespective of whether they are partly or fully funded by the Sierra Leone MDTF, are approved by the DEPAC. They fall under the same monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements as those governed by the Joint Vision (see Annex III of the Joint Vision).

United Nations Country Team
Based on the information provided by the Administrative Agent (UNDP’s MDTF Office) and the UN-SPU, the UN Country Team regularly reviews the status of the Sierra Leone MDTF and its contribution towards the implementation of the Joint Vision. In particular, the UNCT ensures that a balanced approach is taken in raising and allocating funding to the various programmes and projects under the Joint Vision. For non-earmarked contributions, the UNCT makes proposals to the DEPAC for their allocation to programmes and projects.

Executive Representative of the Secretary General/Resident Coordinator
The overall oversight of the Sierra Leone MDTF is led and coordinated by the Executive Representative of the Secretary General (ERSG)/Resident Coordinator (RC), in consensus with the Minister of Finance and the Representative of the World Bank, in their capacities as co-chairs of the DEPAC. In line with the overall objective of Sierra Leone MDTF, the ERSG/RC will be responsible for the strategic leadership of the Sierra Leone MDTF on the basis of the Joint Vision. The ERSG/RC will also advocate and mobilize resources for the Sierra Leone MDTF in collaboration with Participating UN Organizations and lead a consultative process on allocations from the Sierra Leone MDTF.

The Administrative Agent
The UNDP MPTF Office has been appointed the Administrative Agent of the Sierra Leone MDTF. Its responsibilities include the receipt, administration and management of contributions from Donors; disbursement of such funds to the Participating UN Organizations in accordance with the approved programmatic documents; and provision of consolidated narrative and financial reports, in accordance with the MOU, on the Sierra Leone MDTF to donors, based on reports of the Participating UN Organizations.

Decision-Making Process

The Sierra Leone MDTF has an internal management and external decision-making arrangements.

Internal oversight: Based on the information provided by the Administrative Agent (UNDP’s MDTF Office) and the UN-SPU, the UN Country Team will regularly review the status of the Sierra Leone MDTF and its contribution towards the implementation of the Joint Vision. In particular, the UNCT will ensure that a balanced approach is taken in raising and allocating funding to the various programmes and projects under the Joint Vision. For non-earmarked contributions, the UNCT will make proposals to the DEPAC for their allocation to programmes and projects.

DEPAC: All other programmes and projects irrespective of whether they are partly or fully funded by the Sierra Leone MDTF shall be approved by the DEPAC. They fall under the same monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements as those governed by the Joint Vision (see Annex III of the Joint Vision). 

21 Joint Visions Programmes

The Joint Vision of the United Nations for Sierra Leone consists of 21 Programmes:

• 1. Democratic Elections and Political Dialogue
• 2. Access to Justice and Human Rights
• 3. Finance for Development
• 4. National Agricultural Response Programme
• 5. Rural Industrial Growth and Renewable Energy
• 6. HIV/AIDS and Malaria Programme
• 7. Reproductive and Child Health and Nutrition Programme
• 8. School Feeding Programme
• 9. Child Protection
• 10. Reparation to War Victims
• 11. Public Sector Reform
• 12. Data Collection, Assessments and Planning
• 13. Mitigating External Threats to Security
• 14. Security Sector Reforms
• 15. Support to Democratic Institutions
• 16. Local Governance and Decentralisation
• 17. Promoting Gender Equality and Women's Rights
• 18. Rural Community Empowerment
• 19. Youth Development and Employment
• 20. National Health Systems
• 21. Environmental Cooperation for Peacebuilding