IMPLEMENTING UNCT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR GENDER EQUALITY

AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN (GENDER SCORECARDS)

DESK REVIEW 2012-2014

Prepared by the UNDG Task Team on Gender Equality

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Why Gender Scorecards by UNCTs?

Member States call on the UN development system to strengthen its work on gender equality and the empowerment of women through the use of the UNCT Performance Indicators for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women - “the Scorecard” - as a planning and reporting tool for assessing the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming by UNCTs

(A/RES/67/226 para 83)

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What is the Gender Scorecard?

An accountability framework to help UNCTs assess the effectiveness of their work on gender mainstreaming

Focuses on UNCT performance, rather than the performance of any one UN organization

Developed around eight performance areas and related indicators

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The Gender Scorecard or the UN-SWAP?

The Gender Scorecard focuses on UNCT institutional arrangements and processes. Implemented and followed up by UNCTs

The UN-SWAP focuses on individual entity institutional arrangements and processes. Implemented and followed up primarily by entity HQs

Complementarities and differences across performance areas and indicators

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Why the desk review?

Analyze trends in UNCTs’ performance on gender since the 2008-2011 review

Assess UNCTs progress across performance areas/indicators

Identify good practices in the use of Gender Scorecards by UNCTs, and linkages with their strategic planning at the country level

Recommend ways to increase take up, strategic use and follow up by UNCTs

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Document review of 19 scorecard reports

Stakeholders interviews (e.g. Resident Coordinator Offices, UN Women regional and country offices, UNDG TT on Gender)

Review and comparison with other accountability tools

Methodology of the desk review

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What does the review tell us?

Improvement from previous review in the majority of the Scorecard areas: programming, decision-making, partnerships, quality control, accountability

Limited/no progress related to UNCT capacities, budgeting and monitoring and evaluation

Considerable good practices in the UN system

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What does the review tell us?

Overall take up by UNCTs could be improved

Linkage with UNDAF process varies- 10 out of the 56 UNCTs that rolled out the UNDAF

between 2012-2014 completed the Scorecard

- 9 UNCTs that completed the scorecard were not UNDAF roll-out

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UNCTs performance on GEEW

Scorecard Area Avg. Rating

2008-2011

Avg. Rating

2012-2014Planning 3.3 3.3

Programming 3.67 3.92

Partnerships 2.95 3.15

UNCT capacities 3 2.9

Decision-making 3.4 3.7

Budgeting 2.5 2.6

Monitoring and Evaluation

2.8 2.8

Quality Control and Accountability

2.7 3.2

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Identifying Strengths of UNCTs…

Almost all new UNDAFs where Scorecards have been completed feature at least one outcome result on gender equality

One third to one half of UNDAF outputs clearly articulate tangible changes for rights holders and duty bearers

Gender mainstreaming in programme approaches and aid effectiveness processes improved

UNCT meetings discuss gender equality issues more often

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…and areas of improvement by UNCTs

Capacity assessment and development declined between the two review periods

Gender based analysis needs further strengthening

Limited improvements in gender related budgeting

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Regional Analysis

UNCTs in the Asia Pacific region rated highest or amongst highest in 16 out of 22 Scorecard indicators, and all of the 8 Scorecard areas

For other regions, similar performance in the areas of programming, partnerships, capacities, budgeting, but greater variation in decision-making and particularly monitoring and evaluation

Take up in some regions is very low

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Delivering as One countries performing better on gender equality?

Of the 8 DaO pilots, 5 countries - Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Vietnam – completed the Scorecard

DaO UNCTs have performed better than non-DaOs in five Scorecard areas – planning, programming, partnerships, UNCT capacities and budgeting

Evidence suggests that the DaO process has overall supported greater gender mainstreaming within UNCTs

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Performance of DaO UNCTs

 

Scorecard area

Rating by area for

five DaO UNCTs

Rating by area for non- DaO UNCTs

1. Planning 3.4 3.28

2. Programming 3.97 3.77

3. Partnerships 3.27 3.01

4. UNCT capacities 3.21 2.93

5. Decision-making 3.2 3.65

6. Budgeting 2.8 2.58

7. Monitoring and evaluation

2.8 2.82

8. Quality control and accountability

2.4 3.12

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Strengthening process and methodology

Ensuring a more participatory approach and strengthened ownership and buy-in by UNCTs

Clarifying benefits for UNCTs given the non- mandatory nature of the gender scorecard 

Following up to scorecard findings (e.g. UNCTs management responses)

Linking the scorecard strategically to broader planning and programming by UNCTs (e.g. UNDAF)

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Key Recommendations 1) Institutional Arrangements

Reconfirm the commitment of UNDG Gender Equality Task Team for promoting greater uptake of the Scorecard

Feature the Scorecard as a standing item in the work plan of the UNDG Gender Equality Task Team

Promote greater participation of other UNDG entities in Scorecard implementation

Clarify the roles and responsibilities of UN staff at all levels

Liaise with other UNDG Working Groups on new assessment tools for UNCTs to ensure consistency

Liaise with relevant UNDG WGs to ensure that UNDG programming guidance to UNCTs draws on the Scorecard tool

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Key Recommendations 2) Updating and upgrading the

Scorecard tool

Update the Scorecard performance areas and indicators to ensure relevance and applicability by UNCTs

Review the Scorecard methodology to make the process more participatory

Explore complementarities and opportunities for aligning the Scorecard with other existing mechanisms

Develop a standard template – and related guidance - for Scorecard recommendations and management response

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Key Recommendations 3) Communication and Knowledge

Management

Make the current Scorecard review report available to the UNDG and UNCTs, upload all Scorecard reports implemented on the UNDG website and update the Scorecard User’s guide available to UNCTs

Prepare a new communication package for RC/HCs reaffirming expectations of UNCTs to complete the Scorecard exercise

Ensure experience sharing for relevant UN staff around UNCTs performance assessment on gender equality

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Visit the UNDG Gender Page to access the global review and other

key resources

Thank You

For questions and support: coordination.division@unwomen.org