Reporting Processes and Deadlines (For RCs and UNCTs)

Reporting processes and deadlines

Common Country Analysis annual update

What is it?

The CCA annual update is an exercise undertaken by the UNCT to capture changes in the country context within a year. This is meant to be a light exercise except for situations where the country context has dramatically changed requiring an overhaul of the latest CCA.

Why does it matter?

Country contexts are dynamic and evolving. Therefore, an annual CCA update is necessary inform the annual updates of joint work plans. By doing so, CCA updates help keep the UN development system support to programme countries relevant.

Guidelines / Resources

• CCA Annual Update (forthcoming)

• Cooperation Framework

Periodicity / Deadline for submission:

As a rule of thumb, the UNCT updates the CCA at least once a year to capture the key contextual changes –both actual and anticipated -which may have implications for programming in the next year(s). The UNCT will decide on when in the year such an update should take place to: (a) sufficiently capture the key actual and anticipated changes, (b) engage relevant stakeholders, (c) inform joint work plans, and (d) keep transaction costs low. However, when major changes happen in a country, for example when the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, the UNCT should proceed to update their CCA as soon as possible regardless of when the last update happened.

Contacts: Patience Lily Alidri [e-mail]

Joint Workplan development

What is it?

Joint Work Plan is the tool through which the UNCT members each outline in a common space what their contributions will be in support of the Cooperation Framework results. They are developed by Results Groups.

Why it matters?

By detailing planned activities for achieving Cooperation Framework outputs, Joint Work Plans, create clarity and promote transparency as well as reduce gaps and overlaps and maximize synergies in planned support in pursuit of Cooperation Framework results. JWP also help identify opportunities for joint programmes amongst UNCT members.

Guidelines / Resources

• Joint Workplan guidance (forthcoming)

• Cooperation Framework

Periodicity / Deadline for submission:

Joint Work Plans are first prepared after the Cooperation Framework is signed. Thereafter they are updated annually for enhanced relevance to the evolving country context. Ideally they are prepared before the implementation year starts. At the latest, these plans should be ready by the end of 1st quarter of the implementation year.

Contacts: Patience Lily Alidri [e-mail]

UNCT Country Results Report

What is it?

The UNCT Country Result Report is an annual progress report on UNCT results in the implementation of the Cooperation Framework and other plans and priorities, such as the socio-economic response plan. The report utilizes key data sets that are extracted from UN INFO platform.

Why it matters?

Annual reports inform governments and Member States, as well as partners such as donors, civil society, private sector and the public at large, of the difference the UN can make in country, enhancing the visibility and relevance of the system.

Guidelines / Resources

• UNCT Country Results Report

• Cooperation Framework (including on the Joint Annual Performance Review)

Periodicity / Deadline for submission:

31 March, annually

Contacts: Silva Bonacito [e-mail] or Patience Lily Alidri [e-mail]

UN INFO – Cooperation Framework

What is it?

UN INFO is a platform that allows to track who does what, where and with what resources in support of countries’ efforts to achieve the SDGs. UN INFO is pegged to the Cooperation Framework and its joint work plans. It has also been used for the socio-economic response plans to COVID-19.

Why it matters?

UN INFO allows provides a comprehensive, easy to grasp and easy to visualize overview of UN development system activities, spending and results in country to advance the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the SDGs, for multiple uses at country, regional and global levels. Increased visibility and transparency of UNDS results increases accountability, trust and relevance of the UN. UN INFO will also provide the information to shape the annual UNCT country results reports.

Guidelines / Resources

• UN INFO

Periodicity:

The data within UN INFO should be regularly monitored in conjunction with the monitoring schedule of the JWP. One of the simplest methods to ensure the system is kept up to date is to link the process of monitoring the data to the schedule of Results Groups meetings.

Contacts: Jesse Forsythe ([e-mail])

UN INFO – IMS Annual Surveys

What is it?

The UNSDG Information Management System collects quantitative and qualitative information on coordination results achieved in countries on an annual basis, which allows for user-centered easy visualization of progress toward goals, comparison of performance across countries or regions, and distinguishes characteristics of individual country offices. The annual survey includes two components:

1. Programmatic and Coordination Areas Survey: It monitors implementation and results on programme and planning, efficiencies, comms and advocacy, data and innovation, support to the SDGs and progress in the advancement of reform.

2. Normative Survey: It monitors implementation and results on human rights and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as on the gender, youth and disability scorecards.

Why it matters?

Annual reporting informs flagship global reports (such as the SG’s report on QCPR and the UNSDG Chair report onDCO/RC system)to intergovernmental platforms (ECOSOC, General Assembly) on results achieved by the UN development system in country; offers a repository of all relevant information and results in country for easy reporting on UNCT processes and results; serves as RC/UNCT self-assessment and self-reflection for further improvement.aIt also serves as a tool to find relevant data for peer-to-peer exchange between UN country teams.

Guidelines / Resources

•IMS is accessed through UN INFO: https://workspace.uninfo.org/

https://unitednations.sharepoint.com/sites/DCO-WG-UNSDG_CF/Communications/Forms/AllItems.aspx?CT=1634751600014&FolderCTID=0x0120005843D604A838C64EA1768213219507ED&OR=Teams-HL&cid=95fa35ed-4c06-448d-b387-6edad3dfda72&csf=1&e=yu4H5S&id=%2Fsites%2FDCO-WG-UNSDG_CF%2FCommunications%2FIMS&viewid=7ff0d05b-45be-41f8-9384-1086bce968ae&web=1unitednations.sharepoint.com

More resources on IMS on the UNSDG Knowledge Portal

Periodicity/timelines:

• Programmatic and Coordination Areas Survey – Deadline for submission: end of November

• Normative Survey – Deadline for submission: end of December

Contacts: Estefania Samper Carrasco ([e-mail]) or Silva Bonacito ([e-mail])

UN INFO –IMS Monthly Surveys

What is it?

The IMS Monthly survey monitors:

1. Progress in common country planning, including the Cooperation Framework cycle and countryprogrammedocuments submission to governing bodies.

2. The UNCT general profile, i.e.who’s who in country (RCs, RCO officers, UNCT representatives).Deadline for submission: any time changes arise.

3. One-off information requests. Deadline for submission: based on needs communicated by DCO.

Why it matters?

The common country planning section of IMS is directly linked to the Cooperation Framework status dashboard. This dashboard is available to all UNSDG members and used extensively by the UNSDG membership, including to identify opportunities to engage and support your UN country teams. This is especially important for entities without presence at the country level.

The data on who’s who in country is automatically reflected on UNCT website, pulled automatically within 24 hours from the submission in IMS. It is also the only source of data DCO uses to reach RCs, RCOs and UNCTs via email with important information.

One-off information requests are an attempt to systematize ad-hoc or other requests that may arise over the course of the year, rather than sending out requests to RCOs and UNCTs from multiple, different channels.

Guidelines / Resources

• IMS; Cooperation Framework status dashboard

Periodicity/timelines:

•Progress in Common Country Programming -Deadline for submission: 15th day of each month.

•UNCT General Profile (RCs, RCO officers, UNCT representatives) – Deadline for submission: any time changes arise.

•One-off information requests – Deadline for submission: based on needs communicated by DCO.

Contacts: Estefania Samper Carrasco ([e-mail]) or Silva Bonacito ([e-mail])

QCPR DESA Surveys

What is it?

The QCPR establishes system wide policy guidance for operational activities for development and serves as mechanism to track and assess the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of the UN development system. It has aquadrennial cycle. The latest QCPR was adopted at the end of 2020

DESA administers surveys on annual and biennial bases to RCs, OMTs and Governments to track implementation of the QCPR and report annually to ECOSC and every four years to the General Assembly.

Why it matters?

The 2020 QCPR will guide the United Nations development system over the next four years (2021-2024). The results of the survey are used in the preparation of the Secretary-General‘s report on Operational Activities for Development for the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. This report informs Member States on progress in the implementation of the QCPR and helps them in providing further directions to the UN development system.

Guidelines / Resources

QCPR website; 2020 SG’s report on QCPR

Periodicity / Deadline for submission:

Annually or biannually, depending on survey, during the last quarter of the calendar year.

Contacts: DESA at [e-mail]

UNSDG Efficiency Report

What is it?

Report consolidating the results in business operations efficiencies and effectiveness over inter-entity, bilateral, and entity categories. It includes efficiency gains (cost avoidance, time savings), and effectiveness improvements (quality improvements).

Why it matters?

It aggregates the results from multiple sources against the target set by the SG of US$ 310 million a year. It provides an overview of the efficiencies and effectiveness by source, entity, country, service line, and service. This data provides insights not available from other sources and enables evidence-based decision making and strategy in business operations at country, regional, and global levels. Activities with consistently high-impact can be identified and scaled globally in the pursuit of further improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.

Guidelines / Resources

• Concept Note

Periodicity / Deadline for submission:

Q1, annually

Contacts: Rodolfo Smidth Buschle [e-mail]

Business Operations Strategy annual update

What is it?

The Business Operations Strategy (BOS) is a results-based framework that focuses on joint business operations with the purpose of eliminating duplication, leveraging the common bargaining power of the UN and maximizing economies of scale. The BOS focuses on common services that are implemented jointly or delivered by one UN entity on behalf of other UN entities.The Secretary-General mandates all United Nations country teams to ensure compliance with an improvedBOS by 2021, in support of a more effective programme delivery on the 2030 Agenda.

Why it matters?

The impact of UN programmes at the country level is directly related to the effectiveness, efficiency and cost of the operations that support them. This new iteration of the Business Operations Strategy (BOS) is a critical instrument to reinforce that link between efficient business operations supporting more effective programmes.The BOS online platform will unlock new ability for OMTs, UNCTs and regional and global management to monitor, analyze and report on impact of the BOS, both from a cost reduction and quality perspective.

Guidelines / Resources

• Business Operations Strategy (BOS) 2.0 Guidance

Periodicity / Deadline for submission:

Annually, in 12-month cycles from the approval of the BOS

Contacts: Zamir Frotan [e-mail]

Country Common Premises Plan annual update

What is it?

The Country Common Premises Plan (CCPP) is a plan consisting of an assessment of the current premises situation and a detailed analysis of projects to be implemented towards achieving higher levels of co-location and efficiency gains.The SG’s vision outlines consolidating 50% of common premises across the 131 UNCTs and multi country Offices by the end of 2021.

Why it matters?

Evidence gathered through extensive data analysis and field-level pilots suggests that efficiency gains are achieved through shared facilities services and contracting, and there are also significant quality benefits to co-location, including programmatic coordination, reputational enhancement and reduced carbon emissions.

Guidelines / Resources

•CCPP (forthcoming)

Periodicity / Deadline for submission:

Annually, in 12-month cycles from the approval of the CCPP

Contacts: Vedna Ramsaha [e-mail]