Fund Dates

• Start Date: 1 January 2011
• End Date: 30 November 2018

Reports

• Final Narrative and Financial Progress Report
• 2020 Annual Financial Report
• 2020 Sources and Uses of Funds

Key Documents

• One UN Fund Terms of Reference (ToR)
• One UN Fund Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
• One UN Fund Standard Administrative Arrangement (SAA)

Overview

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016-2020 was signed by Government of Maldives and the United Nations in Maldives in August 2015. As per this framework Government and UN Maldives agreed to work together on four strategic priority areas to deliver development results in the country over the next 5 years. This framework has been jointly formulated by the Government, UN agencies, Civil Society and partners with extensive consultation and collaboration.

Assistance Strategy

The UNDAF 2016-2020 is thematically aligned to national priorities as articulated in government manifestos and strategies of line ministries and state entities. The 3 key manifestos of the government focus on 1) youth, 2) sports, 3) development [called Yageen], with the latter focusing on programs targeting health, fisheries, decentralization, women’s rights, national security, agriculture, transport and tourism.

The four outcome areas identified in UNDAF 2016-2020 framework are Youth and Children, Gender, Governance and Environment and Climate Change. These priorities address the situation of Maldives’ people and address, among others, effective education for a modern society, universal health and strengthened social protection; enhanced livelihoods, ensuring women’s meaningful participation in public and economic life; and environmental sustainability.

11 UN agencies, both resident and non-resident, will be working with partners in the implementation of the framework. The UNDAF will guide the UN’s development activities in Maldives over the next five years, in line with the priorities set by the Government of Maldives and reflected in public policy documents such as the Government’s political manifesto as well as in other national sector plans, policies and strategies. In particular, the UNDAF is focused on benefitting the most vulnerable populations in the country, particularly women and children.

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; 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, 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 Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and submitted to the Board.

The Board will review the proposed priorities to ensure that these are aligned with the UNDAF 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 Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

Allocation for un-earmarked funds will be based on the following criteria: in accordance with the UNDAF; 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.