Can we see the forest through the trees?

1. Can we see the forest through the trees? Ad Melkert, Associate Administrator, UNDP Regional Bureaux Cluster Meetings 2008 21.04.08

2. I. The Global Context: • Economic growth (south>north/ MICs) • Partnerships (south-south) • Economic imbalances: Extractive industry; pollution • The Bottom billion: Conflict; Natural disaster; land-locked • Democracy and stability: elections and power-sharing • Global Security • New donors/ private foundations • UN reputation (perceptions/ realities on the ground) • Message: the UN needs to keep pace to remain relevant; UNDP will be held accountable for demonstrating results

3. II. The UNDP trees: • MDGs + Capacity development • UN/UNDP • “Leap” Internal Management • Synergy Security Communication

4. UNDP Tree 1: UN support for • Scaling-up MDGsand Capacity • Development: • Support in design + implementation of national- MDG-based programmes + integration of government services • LICs/LDCs: scaling-up • MICs: focusing • Addressing capacity constraints: • Delivery capacity (HR, procurement, financial mgt) • Strategic Planning (and resource mobilization) • Specific Sector Strategies • Millennium Campaign partnership • Message : MDGs should be more than ‘business as usual’, connecting the local with the mainstream policies and institutions

5. UNDP Tree 2: UN/UNDP • ‘One UN pilots’ • national ownership; UN alignment w/national priorities; agency (resident + non-resident) participation; transaction costs; •  questions: strategic nature; sustainability of resources • UNDAF: apply pilot lessons to UNDAF roll-out countries • RDT role: coherence support and performance management • RC/RR/CD: guidance + working relationship > do’s and don’t’s / firewall • Message : the UN ‘infrastructure’ is in place; reduce the talk, increase the action and impact……”make it happen”

6. UNDP Tree 3: UNDP’s “Leap” • Where UNDP has to climb higher to meet urgent demand: • ‘MDG + local delivery • Early recovery + system coordination • Democracy and delivery (HDR?) • Climate Change and energy • Message: concentrate rather than spread resources; more leadership in less areas

7. UNDP Tree 4: UNDP Synergy • UNV • Advocacy • Integration • Mobilization • UNCDF • Local development • Inclusive Finance • LDC emphasis/ learning • UNIFEM • Gender as a key to the MDGs • Expertise/ Network • Resources • Message: leverage the added-value

8. UNDP Tree 5: Internal Management • Internal performance management  Standards for planning, monitoring and reporting  Clear and up to date policies, procedures and indicators • Strengthen oversight + accountability •  Improving management/ staff behaviour (ethics office/ training) • Risk management (esp. procurement) • People management, recruitment and career • Oversight of Regional Bureaux + role of RSCs • Tailored operational modalities (Crisis/ MIC/ NCC etc.) • Message: simplify and tailor ways of working: higher quality and clearer standards

9. UNDP Tree 6: Security • Threat is more than defining a “high risk” location • Location/ UN House + host government interaction • requires HQ guidance/ decisions • Address host responsibility (Brahimi) • Review DO requirements and support • Decide and resource quickly • Message:Do not accept inferior measures; (together • with HQ) engage host governments

10. UNDP Tree 7: Communication • Externally: • Tell the UNDP story • Spread the message • Be alert and savvy • Internally: • Strategic direction • Human touch • Feedback culture and mechanisms • Message: Provide feedback on the effectiveness of our internal • communication; raise awareness for external communication

11. UNDP Gender Equality Strategy Objective: To deepen UNDP’s work on gender, complement the SP and provide guidance for: Operationalising gender equality as the “integrating dimension” of the SP Developing institutional arrangements to support this integration Reporting gender equality results Broad-based consultative process guided by the Gender Equality Task Force. Approved by GSIC and received positively by Executive Board. Across ALL SP FOCUS AREAS, UNDP will support the development of national and regional capacities on gender equality and women’s empowerment Strengthened accountability mechanisms, enhanced knowledge management and increased communication and advocacy on gender equality Message: Encourage the RR/RC and CD to take responsibility to lead the COs in implementing the GES

12. The UNDP forest of the future: UNDP 2015 • Advocate for democracy + participation/ stability • Expert support to public delivery systems • Supporter equality & Connector: • anti-discrimination practice poverty-energy-climate Leader in crisis/disaster surge for recovery

13. The UNDP forest of the future: UNDP 2015 contd. • Coordination: agenda for action post-MDG • Technical manager of system-wide funds • Greater diversity • / flexibility UN-system KM leader • in country/ regional presence Staff demographic balance + gender parity in mgt

14. UNDP: 2015 The centre of coordinated policy, knowledge and operational capacity on behalf of the UN system Can we see the forest through the trees? Ad Melkert, Associate Administrator, UNDP Regional Bureaux Cluster Meetings 2008