Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development - FEMCIDI

Presentation outline A.FEMCIDI instruments B.FEMCIDI political actors C.Role of the Secretariat

Technical Cooperation at the OAS Since its establishment, the OAS has regarded the elimination of extreme poverty as a fundamental component for the promotion and strengthening of representative democracy in the Hemisphere, as well as a common and shared responsibility of all its Member States. Among the most important instruments created for this purpose is the Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI).

FEMCIDI OVERVIEW Established in 1997 to translate the priorities identified in the member states into concrete national and multinational development activities and for the purpose of attending the most urgent needs of the Member States of the OAS, especially those with smaller and more vulnerable economies. Since its onset, has financed the implementation of more than project for a total surpassing US $100 millions. FEMCIDI Projects aim particularly at building human capacity and strengthening governmental institutions, and can act as a seed fund for launching greater and farther reaching development programs.

A.Basic instruments governing the Fund Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development FEMCIDI Statutes Criteria for the Presentation, Selection and Evaluation of Partnership for Development Activities Financed by FEMCIDI

Strategic Plan - AREAS OF FOCUS Eight priority areas of action: Social development and creation of productive employment Education Economic diversification and integration, trade liberalization, and market access Scientific development and exchange and transfer of technology Strengthening of democratic institutions Sustainable development of tourism Sustainable development and environment Culture Sub-priorities within each area determined on the basis of Summits and Ministerial Mandates. Strategic Plan updated every 4 years. Strategic Plan still in force. It was extended as discussions continue on FEMCIDI reform. Projects submitted to FEMCIDI must fit within one or more of these areas. Any project that does not comply with this prerequisite is automatically rejected.

Statutes - Financing FEMCIDI is financed by the voluntary contributions made by the Member States on an annual basis to promote multinational and national projects in the eight priority areas of the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Integral Development. Each member state decides the distribution of its contribution among the eight priority areas. A country must contribute to be able to benefit from the Fund.

Statutes – Yearly Programming Calendar Programming ProcessDEADLINE a.Pledge of ContributionJuly 31 b. Contribution PaymentOctober 31 at the latest c. Project Concept PresentationJuly 31 d. Preliminary Programming ProposalAugust 31 e. Design of Final ProjectsBetween September 1 and December 15 f. Presentation of Final ProjectsDecember 15 g. Preparation of Programming ProposalJanuary 15 of following year h. CENPES MeetingFebruary 15 at the latest i. Approval of Programming by Management BoardMarch 1 at the latest j. Signing of AgreementsMarch-April k. Project Execution period April 1 – March 31 of following year

BASIC CRITERIA 5 new national or multinational projects per country per year, in addition to continuation projects Maximum project duration: 4 years Maximum amount: $500,000/year Complete Proposals Counterpart funding No financing for: Contracts for OAS personnel of public sector employees Construction Studies or research Purchase of consumable goods or equipment

B. FEMCIDI Political Structure CIDI IACD Management Board CEPCIDI Executive Secretariat for Integral Development - SEDI

FUNCTIONS of CIDI/CEPCIDI Preparation of the Strategic Plan and Inter- American Programs Ensuring coherence between the cooperation priorities of the member states and the projects Establishing criteria for the selection, execution and evaluation of projects

FUNCTIONS of CIDI/CEPCIDI (cont) Approval of CENPES composition Approval of changes to FEMCIDI Statutes Approval of Criteria Approval of Strategic Plan Approval ad referendum of General Assembly

FUNCTIONS OF THE IACD MANAGEMENT BOARD Supervising, analyzing and evaluating the execution of FEMCIDI projects Providing SEDI with operational orientation on project monitoring and evaluation Approving FEMCIDI Programming Changes to Article 17 (calendar) of FEMCIDI Statutes Establishing guidelines for acquiring additional funds

Secretariat Role Project Concept Review Concept Selection Final Proposal Development CENPESApprovalMonitoring Evaluation Project Preparation and Monitoring TrainingContinuous support to political organs

Phase 1 - PROJECT EX-ANTE REVIEW Project Concepts submitted to SEDI for funding consideration. July 31 SEDI reviews on average 150 Project Concepts for compliance with applicable FEMCIDI criteria and sectoral mandates of the current Strategic Plan. SEDI further calls on its Technical Units to review the projects and provide feedback on the concepts when necessary.

Phase 1 - PROJECT SELECTION Other factors are also considered when doing the selection, such as targeting FEMCIDI resources at the most pressing needs of the Member States, especially the relatively less developed countries and those with the smaller economies. The proposal also includes concepts totaling at least 150% of the amount pledged by the countries to each priority area and seeks to maintains a geographic and thematic balance in as much as possible. Selection of project concepts and drafting of Preliminary FEMCIDI Programming Proposal The document is issued by August 31.

Phase 1 - Development of full proposal Between September 1 and December 15, provide support to institutions for developping their full project proposals Review of Logical Frameworks, budgets and Monitoring Plans among others, to ensure consistency of objectives, outcomes and activities. SEDI provides support in design to about 60 to 80 new projects each year. Additionally, SEDI reviews Progress Reports and Work Plans for continuation projects.

Phase 2 - CENPES EVALUATION CENPES = experts in the eight priority areas Candidates presented by the countries SEDI prepares a proposal of composition for each Committee Composition approved by CIDI Full proposals are presented to the sectoral CENPES for evaluation. The CENPES review the projects, assign points to each one and provide recommendations on their technical viability, their sustainability and the funding each should receive. The CENPES meeting takes place no later than February 15. SEDI ensures logistical and technical support for preparation and implementation of meetings.

Phase 3 - FINAL PROGRAMMING SEDI drafts the Final Programming Proposal, based on the recommendations of the CENPES. The Final Programming Proposal is then submitted to the IACD Management Board for analysis and final approval no later than March 1. On average, a programming has included between 80 and 100 approved projects.

Phase 3 - PROJECT EXECUTION SEDI drafts and forwards the Execution Agreements / Memoranda of Understanding (along with Annexes, Formats for reports, CENPES recommendations etc…) to the Executing Institutions of the approved projects. Documents are delivered in March and projects can begin by April 1

Phase 4 - MONITORING of PROJECT EXECUTION Execution takes place between April 1 and March 31 of the following year SEDI reviews and provides support to institutions in drafting their Execution Plan No funds are released until the Execution Plan is in compliance with CENPES instructions, have a clear and justified budget and a detailed Results Monitoring Plan. For the most part, funds are managed through the OAS country offices who provide vital support to SEDI in overseeing the project implementation.

Phase 4 - MONITORING of PROJECT EXECUTION (cont) SEDI provides ongoing support to projects in resolving difficulties and monitors their implementation and progress by: Ensuring compliance with FEMCIDI regulations Evaluating and approving follow-up reports to release new funds Keeping constant communication with executing agencies, OAS Offices and National Liaison Offices.

Phase 4 - Ex-post evaluations As mandated by the countries (Project Evaluation Fund), SEDI hires external experts to evaluate a sampling of FEMCIDI projects once they are completed. Evaluations provide relevant insight on best practices and common obstacles to the successful implementation and sustainability of cooperation projects.

Summary of FEMCIDI Programming CYCLE Phase 1- Selection of concepts and Development of final proposals Phase 2 - Analysis and Recommendations from external experts Phase 4 - Monitoring and ex-post Evaluation Phase 3 - Approval and Execution

Training Through the Project Preparation Fund, SEDI facilitates: The implementation of Project Design Workshops for the benefit of the countries Specific project design support through missions and the hiring of experts