Capturing the Views of the Beneficiaries Proposal: UNDAF Design Innovation Facility 2015-2016 UNCT The Gambia

Coverage of the Presentation The main issues that the innovation aimed to address How did we planned to address the issues – Strategy Objectives of Consultation What were the factors of success Implementation of the Strategy Outcome of Consultation What were the lessons learnt and recommendations

The main issues that the innovation aimed to address The midterm review of the UNDAF identified some key short comings: Lack of ownership and leadership of the UNDAF and its implementation by the government. The inadequacy of “solutions” for the problems identified. Social inclusion/exclusion of sections of the community in the development process. We could relate these shortcomings to the data and the analysis (CCA) that informed the basis for the formulation of the UNDAF. Whereas the UNDAF relied on the CCA for its priority setting and strategies, the government medium term programme (PAGE) used results from a different situational analysis; As a result, alignment and anticipated synergies of the programmes (agency CPAPs, UNDAF and PAGE) are not fully realized. Social inclusion is understood as a process by which efforts are made to ensure equal opportunities for all, regardless of their background, so that they can achieve their full potential in life. It is a multi-dimensional process aimed at creating conditions which enable full and active participation of every member of the society in all aspects of life, including civic, social, economic, and political activities, as well as participation in decision-making processes

How did we planned to address the issues - Strategy Harmonization of UN and government data collection and analysis processes. This way, both will be drawing from the same data source to identify priorities (for alignment, ownership and leadership) Formulation of the government development programme jointly with the UN and other development partners. Direct engagement of communities on possible ways of addressing the issues affecting them. This consultation should be undertaken with the cooperation and active leadership of the Government. This helps in completeness of definition of problems and solution; also helps ownership and sustainability

Objectives of Consultation To collect critical information to complement secondary data on social inclusion/exclusion in the development process. To enhance the alignment and inclusion of regional/district level disparities into the NDP. To ensure that stakeholders at the regional/district levels take part in the NDP formulation process To promote greater cohesion between the central government priorities and needs at decentralised regional levels. To serve as platforms for sensitization and awareness building on the PAGE successor plan

What were the factors of success (assumptions) Cooperation of the partners – Government, UN Agencies, Other Development Partners Availability of good quality data Capacity/Ability to Translate Information collected from communities into programmes

Implementation of the Strategy Synchronize parts of the NDP&UNDAF roadmaps Undertake a joint situational Analysis and consult communities as part of this process. Local consultant design the tools and trained Teams made up government staff collect the data and prepared initial reports Initial reports compiled to form final report   .1 Experiences about PAGE and UNDAF Implementation; PAGE (2012-2015) 2.1.1Questions Do you know about the PAGE? 2.1.2THE UNDAF (2012-2016) 2.1.2 Questions Are you aware of any support from UN agencies in your district/ area in the last four to five years ?  2.2. Development concerns/ priorities and how these can be sustainably addressed Introduction OVERALL DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES What critical development challenges exist in your community? (livelihood, employment, healthcare, transport, energy etc.) How widespread have are these development challenges? (large section, small section or target groups) Who are the most disadvantaged and excluded group? (elderly, women, people with disability, children) Among the challenges identified which ones would you like to be addressed by the next development plan/UNDAF? HEALTH Do you have any health facility in your district? EDUCATION What are the recent developments in education in your community for the last four years? AGRICULTURE What agricultural interventions helped to increase production? (crops and livestock) NUTRITIONAND FOOD SECURITY Do you have adequate food throughout the year (production, purchase) NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT What challenges do your community face in: - environmental management; ENERGY AND ROADS INFRASTRUCTURE What are the major infrastructural achievements in the last four years (roads, electricity) GENDER What interventions (Government/UN), in the last four years, have enhanced the participation of women in development projects? VULNERABLE GROUPS Who are the most disadvantaged individuals and excluded groups in your community? (men-headed or women headed households, persons with disability, poor households etc) YOUTH What interventions, in the last four years, have helped improve the life and conditions of the youth? GOVERNANCE Questions What measures do you think can facilitate active and meaningful participation of the people in the national development processes? NGOs Are there NGOs operating in your community? 3 FACTORS THAT DETERMINE SOCIAL INCLUSION/EXCLUSION IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS (According to the UNDESA definition social inclusion is understood as a process by which efforts are made to ensure equal opportunities for all, regardless of their background, so that they can achieve their full potential in life. It is a multi-dimensional process aimed at creating conditions which enable full and active participation of every member of the society in all aspects of life, including civic, social, economic, and political activities, as well as participation in decision-making processes). Who are the most disadvantaged and excluded groups? What do you consider to be the causes of their condition? How does this condition impact on their lives? (socially, economically, legally etc) What measures can we take at community level to promote social inclusion?

Outcomes of Consultation Regional development Profiles Views from the Districts the need to be involved in priority identification. The need to tailor development intervention to suit the needs of the recipient. The drivers of exclusion and how to address them. Youth emigration The need to strengthen accountabilities etc. Common data source generated for planning

What were the lessons learnt and recommendations Involvement engenders ownership and promotes accountability and sustainability. The lack of disaggregated data for the district, means that all the districts in a particular region end up with the same profiles. Interview teams generated summaries of their consultations with chances that original information is sometimes lost in the process. Timing of the consultations was not ideal in some locations. Limited time also meant limited triangulation. Prescription of representation might have undermined representativeness. Use of government staff as data collectors/interviewers is a threat to objectivity.