1. Management Group on Statistical Cooperation - MGSC
Donor Coordination Process
National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT)
Luxembourg, March 2014
Valbona Petoshati

2. Coordination of the Government Dialogue and External Aid
Attention given from GoA to the process of donor co-ordination, aiming to increase effectiveness of external assistance in supporting the national / sector priorities as well as achieving country’s objectives toward the European integration.
Established co-ordination mechanisms.
DSDC (Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination)
DTS (Donor Technical Secretariat)
Sector working groups - Strengthen Policy and Donor Coordination at Sector Level

3. DONOR COORDINATION STRUCTURE
GOVERNMENT-DONOR ROUNDTABLES
DONORS
GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENT OF STRATEGY AND DONOR COORDINATION - DSDC
DONOR TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT - DTS
JOINT DTS – DSDC MEETINGS
SECTOR WORKING GROUPS (SWGs) – COORDINATION TOOLS AT SECTOR LEVEL

4. SECTOR WORKING GROUPS (SWG) in statistics
Since 2004, the Sector Working Groups (SWGs) have been a tool for coordination of external assistance at sector level. Over 30 SWGs were established by the GoA
Following EC request to implement a Fast-Tracking Initiative of the Division of Labour in partner countries, there were nominated European lead donors for relevant sectors.
SIDA is the leading donor in statistics sector.
SWG is composed by the donors contributing to statistics EU, SIDA, ONE UN agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNIFEM), SDC, IMF, WB, USAID and other donors as per their interest to participate in the specific meeting. DSDC and other Line Ministries.
Coordination, not an easy task! Different expectations, different requirements!

5. SECTOR WORKING GROUPS (SWG) in statistics
represent an important forum for exchanging information on the pace of policies and projects, discussing sector priorities for financing and increasing external assistance effectiveness at the sector level.
is intended to serve primarily as coordinating and supporting mechanism, concentrated on information exchange of on-going projects, funding priorities, and monitoring the implementation of projects.
is not intended to substitute or to duplicate the functions of national institutions and/or donor agencies.
is accountable to INSTAT as the host national institution
is co-chaired by INSTAT (the sector’s leading institution) and SIDA (the donor focal points).

6. Coordination and Implementation of the assistance within INSTAT
Technical Departments
Project Implementation Units
DEPARTMENT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, PROJECT COORDINATION AND PUBLICATION
PROJECT COORDINATION SECTOR/IPA funds
EUROPEAN INTEGRATION SECTOR

7. Project implementation/monitoring/reporting
Dialogue between INSTAT and Donors
bilateral and multilateral cooperation
SIMULTANEOUSLY push and pull approach
Projects are implemented by:
INSTAT
A dedicated unit established for the project management (contracted)/at least one project coordinator.
The technical sectors of INSTAT responsible for the relevant activity
Jointly by INSTAT and the Donor (different project components)

8. Project implementation/monitoring/reporting
Project Steering committees – monitoring and reporting structures
composed by the related project stakeholders or beneficiaries)
Mainly monitoring and reporting structures
Providing information on progress, the pace of the implementation
Presenting possible problems/issues encountered
Demonstrate the existing capacities to handle the requirements
Sharing future plans
Ensuring synergies among co-supporting projects elements/components, by different donors

9. Donor coordination survey: Issues encountered
Fragmented existing information on the foreign assistance that INSTAT received during the years;
Different requirements and procedures from different donors related to implementation and reporting procedure; particularly in joint contribution from several donors.
Lack of the overall overview on projects with beneficiary institutions other than INSTAT. Aware only for the components covered by INSTAT;
Extra efforts required in collecting and consolidate the information on the running projects within INSTAT;
Difficulties in finding information on previous cooperation with donors because of lack of a consolidated records on the donors activity within the institution;

10. Lessons learned
From the exercise of the donor coordination survey and from the process itself:
Need for establishing a systematic system for projects identification and monitoring
Keep track of the history of the assistance received and relations with different donors;
Identify the contribution of each donor in term of money and domains
Give proper visibility and acknowledge of each donors contribution
Intensify relations with those historically invested in the development of the institution and beyond that.
Be aware of the areas less covered by the assistance and identify blank areas

11. Lessons learned
Define clear information and communication channels within INSTAT structure, about the existing and potential cooperation with different donors;
For a better coordination and synergy between the national institutions, donors should share the overall information on the projects with multi-beneficiary stakeholders.
Keep track of issues or problems encountered so to be addressed for future attention by the Institution

12. Thank you for your attention!