Consultant: Review of UNDP’s Direct Budget Support Pilot Initiative
The UN General Assembly Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review (TCPR) resolution of 2004 asked the UN system to “support national capacities for the management of various aid modalities, including system-wide approaches and budget support” (A/RES/59/250). The 2007 TCPR (A/RES/62/208, paragraph 103) takes this resolution one step further, and explicitly “encourages that the United Nations development system be invited to participate, ex officio, in current and new aid modalities and coordination mechanisms at the request of the programme country, and invites the United Nations development system to enhance its participation in this regard”.
While acknowledging that direct budget support is not the core business of UNDP, UNDP recognizes it as a development finance instrument that promotes national ownership, transparency and harmonization in aid allocations, and alignment with national plan and budget priorities.
In 2008, UNDP presented the report ‘UNDP engagement in direct budget support and pooled funds’ (DP/2008/36) as well as a follow up report ‘The role of UNDP in the changing aid environment at the country level’ (DP/2008/53). The Executive Board endorsed both reports, confirming that the primary role of UNDP in direct budget support is to support the development of national capacities to pursue national objectives. UNDP engagement thus supports governments improve the effectiveness of the results pursued through these modalities, and does not end with engagement in the modalities themselves.
As per Executive Board decision 2008/29, guidelines and procedures were developed, drawing on inputs from the Bureau of Management, Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (then called the Partnerships Bureau), Bureau of Development Policy and the Operations Support Group of the Executive Office. They were vetted by the Evaluation Office, Legal Support Office, and Office of Audit and Investigations. The guidelines and procedures explain the policy and options available under the pilot, in strict adherence to the Board decision. Specifically, UNDP does not engage in general budget support. Rather, the rationale for UNDP engagement in sector budget support and pooled funds is to respond to growing country demands for capacity development and for expanded inclusion of UNDP in efforts towards harmonization and alignment. UNDP only engages in pooled funding in areas or sectors in which it is already present through a separate project (see DP/2008/36). To date, one country office has availed of the option to pool resources – Burkina Faso.
A review of the pilot initiative on Direct Budget Support is due for the session of the Executive Board in January 2013.
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Duties and Responsibilities | |
Key Result: Timely submission of a written report on UNDP’s pilot initiative on Direct Budget Support.
Impact of Results:
The consultant will contribute to informing the Executive Board on how UNDP can participate in the full spectrum of aid modalities in a way that strengthens country ownership and capacities, and ensures increased rationality and cost-effectiveness in the management of development assistance.
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Competencies | |
Corporate competencies:
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Relationship Management:
Managing for Results:
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Education:
Experience:
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UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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Consultant: Review of UNDP’s Direct Budget Support Pilot Initiative
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