A Guide to the UNEP 2010-11 Draft Programme of Work

UNEP/LAC-IGWG(IS).XVII/Ref.2
Page1

A Guide to the UNEP 2010-11 Draft Programme of Work

UNEP/LAC-IGWG(IS).XVII/Ref.2
Page1

Introduction

The world faces unprecedented environmental change. Mounting scientific evidence shows that the natural environment is under significant pressure, putting prospects for sustainable development under serious threat.

As the entity charged with the principal responsibility for the environment within the United Nations system, UNEP has drafted a Medium-Term Strategy for 2010-2013 to address the challenges and opportunities of environmental change.
The Medium-Term Strategy defines a vision for UNEP, drawn directly from the 1997 UNEP Governing Council-approved Nairobi Declaration, to be ‘the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, that promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and that serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

The Medium-Term Strategy provides UNEP with clearly defined objectives, priorities, impact measures and a robust review mechanism. It responds to calls for stronger system-wide coherence in the UN system, for fully implementing results-based management and for accelerating implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building.

The Medium-Term Strategy 2010-2013 guides the UNEP draft PoW 2010-11, currently under review by the UNEP Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR). At the request of the CPR, this document provides a concise guide to understanding the 2010-11 draft PoW and the processes that led to its formulation.

The Medium-Term Strategy and its relation to the UNEP
draft Programme of Work

Questions and Answers on the 2010-2011 Draft
Programme of Work (Pow)

• What is the mandate for the 2010-2011 draft Pow?

• How does the draft PoW relate to the Medium Term Strategy 2010-2013?

• What is included in the draft PoW?

• What are the implications of the draft PoW for UNEP’s Divisions

• What is the scientific base for the draft PoW

• What provision has been made for communications and outreach?

• How will the draft PoW ensure gender mainstreaming?

• How does the draft PoW address the Bali Strategic Plan?

• How will locations be selected for UNEP’s work in 2010-2011?

• How will the Programme be delivered?

• How does the draft PoW ensure complementarity with the Global Environment Facility (GEF)?

• How does the draft PoW support the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)?

• How does the draft PoW address partnerships?

• How is the draft PoW results-based?

• How will the draft PoW be monitored and evaluated?

• Will UNEP’scontribution to the results be identifiable?

Q: What is the Mandate for the 2010-2011 Draft Programme of Work?

The Governing Council in its decision 24/9 requested the preparation of a Medium-Term Strategy for 2010-2013.

At the 10th Special Session in Monaco, February 2008, the UNEP Governing Council authorized the Executive Director to use the Medium-Term Strategy in formulating the Strategic Framework and subsequently, the draft PoW 2010-2011, and as a means to encourage coordination amongst UNEP Divisions.

The Strategic Framework 2010-2011 was reviewed by the UN Committee on Programme and Coordination in June 2008 and approved with minor alterations. This Framework sets the foundation upon which the PoW for 2010-2011 has been formulated.

The Governing Council decision on the Medium- Term Strategy is central to the Executive Director’s efforts to reform UNEP and generate greater confidence in the organization; to make UNEP more focused and results-based, thereby attracting further investment; and to deliver on the Bali Strategic Plan.

Q: How does the draft Programme of Work relate to the Medium Term Strategy 2010-2013?

Following the UNEP Governing Council authorization to the Executive Director to use the Medium-Term Strategy in formulating the draft PoW 2010-2011, the Secretariat has engaged in an extensive UNEP-wide process to prepare a draft PoW 2010-2011.

The draft PoW focuses on six subprogrammes that align with the cross-cutting thematic priorities [1]defined in the Medium-Term Strategy:

•Climate change

•Disasters and conflict

•Ecosystems management

•Environmental governance

•Harmful substances and hazardous waste

•Resource efficiency – sustainable consumption and production

Within these priorities, UNEP will primarily focus on the areas of its comparative advantage. These areas have been outlined in the draft PoW. The major thrust and elements of UNEP’s existing Programme of Work, as guided by relevant legislative decisions of the Governing Council and the General Assembly, remain in the draft PoW, but with a new emphasis on results-based management. The PoW 2010-2011 builds on the objectives, impact indicators and expected accomplishments contained in the Medium-Term Strategy and Strategic Framework.

The draft PoW covers all of UNEP’s work for the biennium, whether funded through the Environment Fund or extra-budgetary sources, and leverages extra resources and delivery capacity through partners.

Q: What is included in the draft Programme of Work?

The draft PoW shows what UNEP proposes to do in 2010-2011 at the conceptual level. It shows what outputs UNEP will deliver by the end of 2011. These outputs constitute UNEP’s products and services to be used by UNEP to achieve the objectives and expected accomplishments contained in UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy and Strategic Framework. UNEP will deliver these outputs by working through partners in areas that are conceived as its comparative advantage. UNEP’s comparative advantage and its tentative list of partners have been spelled out in the draft PoW. The draft PoW also shows the estimated budgetary needs to accomplish this work.

Gender-related aspects have been flagged in the PoW as areas where UNEP will undertake gender-sensitive approaches in the activities UNEP will use to achieve the outputs.

The PoW also shows the data it will collect over that biennium to measure its success towards the indicators of success spelled out in the PoW, the latter of which were agreed by the UN Committee of Programme and Coordination when it reviewed UNEP’s Strategic Framework in June 2008.

UNEP’s work that will be carried out under its partnership in the Global Environment Facility are provided in the draft PoW to show how UNEP is strengthening its efforts to bring complementarity with its GEF work programme. The latter are subject to GEF eligibility criteria and subject to approval by the GEF Council.

The draft PoW does not show implementation details, which UNEP will develop as it designs the activities to implement the PoW. As UNEP’s PoW is results-based, it shows the results which it plans to achieve. An information document provides additional information on UNEP’s management arrangements for programme delivery. This document highlights how UNEP will deliver its programme at the regional level and work across divisions, select countries where it will focus its work in the biennium, monitor the implementation of the PoW and ensure management accountability.

Q: What are the Implications of the Draft Programme of Work for UNEP’s Divisions[2]?

There are no proposed changes to the divisional structure of UNEP. The draft PoW has been developed to advance collaboration across the Divisions to achieve the stated outputs.

The draft PoW will be implemented through the six UNEP Divisions and the network of six regional offices. For each output, responsibility for implementation will be shared across relevant divisions. Accountability will be clearly defined as spelled out in the Information document on Management arrangements for the implementation of theProgramme of Work 2010-2011.

At subprogramme level, overall coordination is the responsibility of a lead Division. The Division of Technology, Industry and Economics is leading subprogramme 1 (Climate change), subprogramme 5 (Harmful substances and hazardous waste) andsubprogramme 6 (Resource efficiency – sustainable consumption and production).

The Division of Environmental Policy Implementation is leading subprogrammes 2 (Disasters and conflict) and 3 (Ecosystems management). The Division of EnvironmentalLaw and Conventions is leading subprogramme 4 (Environmental governance). These lead Divisions coordinate the contribution of all divisions work into each subprogramme based on the Divisions’ comparative strengths and expertise.

The Division of Regional Coordination is responsible for coordinated implementation at the regional and country levels across all subprogrammes, while other UNEP Divisions provide the core technical support and advice for implementation.

Q: What is the Scientific base for the Draft Programme of Work?

The Division of Early Warning and Assessment is responsible for the provision of a sound science base across all subprogrammes and provides the Chief Scientist function.

Scientifically credible environmental monitoring and assessments will continue to provide the foundation upon which UNEP will deliver on the cross-cutting thematic priorities. Such science elements are embedded in each subprogramme to help UNEP ensure that its entire programme benefits from the work of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment.

Science will therefore underpin UNEP’s priority setting and its work in all six subprogrammes through the work of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment to inspire and promote environmentally sound decision-making, action and innovation by Governments, United Nations partner agencies, the private sector and civil society.

Q: What Provision has been made for Communications and Outreach?

The Division of Communications and Public Information is responsible for outreach and the production of publications for all subprogrammes.

Communications and Outreach elements are integrated throughout the draft PoW, and are included in each subprogramme.

The products and services of this Division will largely be based upon and reflect the results of the subprogrammes.

Q: How will the Draft Programme of Work Ensure Gender Mainstreaming?

Following UNEP Governing Council Decision 23/11underlining the need to improve gender mainstreaming in environmental policies and programmes of UNEP, UNEP will continue to integrate gender equality and equity into all its policies, programmes and projects.

Special attention will be given to the role of women in environmental policy making, environmental management and early warning and disaster management.

All projects and publications are scrutinized for gender considerations in UNEP’s internal appraisal committees. Gender sensitivity will also be incorporated as an integral element of the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

The UNEP commitment to mainstream gender equality and equity in its programmes will be extended to its work with partners and other agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations System.

Q: How does the Draft Programme of Work Address The Bali Strategic Plan?

Capacity-building and technology support are an integral part of the draft PoW and run through all subprogrammes. The draft PoW reflects all the cross-cutting priorities and all but one (Taxonomy) of the thematic priorities in the Bali Strategic Plan.

The delivery of the Bali Strategic Plan at the national and regional levels will be coordinated through UNEP regional offices.

UNEP will continue to strengthen the role of the national environmental authorities in development and economic planning processes and will facilitate the integration of environmental considerations in national sectoral policies, planning processes and development programmes. For example, under Ecosystem Management, six countries will receive assistance in developing and testing tools and methodologies for valuing ecosystem services and incorporating them into national practices for accounting, planning and management systems.

UNEP will build strategic alliances with partners from within the United Nations family and increasingly from civil society and the private sector to extend its reach and catalyze action at national and regional level. For example, under Environmental Governance, UNEP will work with 20 UN Country Teams to build their capacity to integrate environmental sustainability in UN Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) and other national planning processes by providing environmental information and data.

UNEP will promote and facilitate South-South cooperation as one of the key mechanisms for implementing the Bali Strategic Plan.

Q: How will locations be selected for UNEP’s Work in 2010-2011?

Programme outputs are based on scientific guidance and the expression of countries’ interests that conform to countries’ established policy and budgetary priorities. UNEP has also apply the selection criteria that are spelled out in the Information document on Management Arrangements for the Implementation of the Programme of Work 2010-2011 to help ensure that its work results in a significant and sustainable impact.

Special attention will be given to the needs of African countries, least developed countries and Small Island Developing States.

Q: How will the Programme be Delivered?

UNEP will work to further integrate environmental issues into development priorities by participating in United Nations common country programming and implementation processes as appropriate, working with and through the resident coordinator system, United Nations country teams and relevant inter-agency groups.

UNEP will strengthen capacity and resources in its Regional Offices. UNEP will pursue closer cooperation between UNEP regional offices, country offices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other centres.

UNEP will also seek to strengthen its involvement in the United Nations Development Group and to strengthen the environmental sustainability component of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework process.

Q: How does the draft Programme of Work Ensure Complementarity with The Global Environment Facility (GEF)?

As an implementing agency of the GEF, UNEP will continue to provide assistance to eligible countries to develop and implement projects in the six focal areas of the Facility.

The draft PoW lists in detail areas of complementarity between the UNEP and GEF programmes and tries to show how the two streams of UNEP's activities will make contributions to the outputs and expected accomplishments, even though the focal areas of the GEF do not perfectly coincide with the thematic priorities of UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy.

The UNEP Division of GEF Coordination will embark on joint programming with other UNEP Divisions to complement the UNEP draft PoW.

UNEP will continue to provide scientific and technical advice to the GEF on its policies and programmes and will continue servicing the GEF Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel.

Q: How does the Draft Programme of Work Support the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAS)?

The draft PoW has been designed to support the needs of the MEAs and the work programme of their Secretariats, as decided by the respective Conferences of the Parties. UNEP will also support Parties to the MEAs to achieve more effective implementation.

UNEP will partner with the governing bodies and secretariats of other intergovernmental processes to enhance mutually supportive regimes between the environment and other related fields.

Q: How does the Programme of Work Address Partnerships?

UNEP will work with a full range of stakeholders and partners, including civil society, private sector and bilateral aid agencies, building on their respective resources, expertise and comparative advantages.

For example, under Resource Efficiency, UNEP will work public and private sector decision makers in eight rapidly industrializing and natural resource-dependent countries to develop and demonstrate the business case for resource efficiency based on cost savings, competitiveness gains and new market opportunities in the building and construction, energy and water and waste management sectors. The tentative list of partners is provided in the description on each subprogramme in the draft PoW.

Q: How is the Draft Programme of Work Results-Based?

All the outputs of the draft PoW are defined in a more results-oriented manner (as opposed to lower level products such as publications or activities such as workshops and meetings). These outputs are developed with the aim of achieving the expected accomplishments. UNEP will measure its achievement to the expected accomplishments to arrive at indicators of achievement, using data sources and means of measurement that will review UNEP’s contribution to the indicators of achievement.

UNEP is engaged in an organization-wide roll-out of results-based management training for its professional staff. The approach is designed to strengthen results-based management and increase management accountability for programme delivery and resource utilization.

UNEP will track and adjust, as necessary, progress in implementing the draft PoW against the indicators through a monitoring and evaluation plan.

On approval of the draft PoW, each output will be implemented through a project(s) where budgets will be allocated against individual activities developed to achieve each output, the role of precise partners shown, gender considerations integrated into the activities, the geographic focus outlined and the precise engagement of stakeholders elaborated.

Q: How will the Programme be Monitored and Evaluated?

UNEP will develop a costed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, which is based on the monitoring and evaluation approach embodied in the information documents circulated by UNEP. Every output will be delivered according to a project document. Each project will have a budgeted monitoring and evaluation plan. A project steering committee will monitor implementation according to the plan.
At the subprogramme level, the indicators of achievement will be monitored by the lead Division, supported by the Quality Assurance Section.

UNEP will evaluate its Programme both at the output/project level, and at the expected accomplishment and programme level, evaluating all subprogrammes over the four-year duration of the Medium-Term Strategy.