Sample Concept Paper

(i) Strengthening the capacity of Small Island Developing Countries to assess progress in the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the further implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action

(ii) Implementing entities and UN Secretariat partners: DESA, UNCTAD, (ECA/ECLAC/CARICOM), UNDP

(iii) Background

The 1994 Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) for the Sustainable Development of SIDS is the blueprint for addressing the vulnerabilities of SIDS. The BPoA outlined a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral programme detailing priority actions to respond to the special challenges faced by SIDS. These commitments were reaffirmed through the 2005 Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation (MSI) of the BPoA. In September 2010, the UN General Assembly reviewed the progress made through implementation of the MSI and achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These high-level reviews highlighted that the achievement of MDGs in SIDS would not be possible without adequately addressing their vulnerabilities and institutional constraints1.

The MSI+5 review in 2010 showed that whilst SIDS in general have attempted to take an integrated approach to recognize the three pillars of sustainable development through their national sustainable development strategies, and through their efforts to mainstream sustainable development principles into sectoral strategies or to reflect them in poverty reduction strategies, countries lack the tools to track progress. Hence the specific institutional and administrative arrangements in place for implementation of such country policies and strategies must be strengthened with appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools and systems for self-monitoring and assessing progress to build resilient economies. In the same vein, SIDS are also faced by the challenges to comply and fulfil international reporting obligations.

During the preparatory process for the MSI+5 review, the synthesis of National Assessment Reports at both the regional and global levels were faced with the challenges of a lack of or the absence of suitable indicators and criteria to comprehensively assess progress in addressing vulnerabilities and resilience of SIDS through national efforts to implement the BPoA and the MSI. Accordingly, the call emerged for renewed and coordinated work to be done on methodologies for effective assessment of vulnerabilities and resilience of SIDS that integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development.2

At Rio+20, one of the key concerns noted by SIDS was the need for mechanisms to enforce and support the monitoring of commitments. Related to this is the importance of adequate collection of data and statistics for making accurate assessments and effective decision- making. Again, the situation faced by SIDS emphasized the need for practical ways of ensuring such data and statistics were available for all SIDS, regardless of their population size, to enhance reporting while reducing related compliance burdens. Relevant references in

1Paragraph 32, “Keeping the promise: united to achieve the Millennium Development Goals””Outcome Document of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals 2 Ibid, Section 8.2, the Rio+20 Outcome Document, “The Future We Want” are: paragraphs 76 (g), 179, 180 and 277. The current project will build on the work DSD/UNDESA started in 1996 on vulnerability assessment, and on the EU-funded project known as “Monitoring & Evaluation of Mauritius Strategy for Implementation” promoting the methodology/tool known as the Country Vulnerability-Resilience Profiling3 (Country VRP). This is in response to a call for by the UN General Assembly in its political declaration as outcome to the MSI+5 review. The project is currently piloting the Country VRP in 6 countries in the Indian Oceans, mostly SIDS, and project duration is up to September 2013 of which lessons learned from this will be applied for this proposal. The methodology of the Country Vulnerability Resilience Profile (VRP) promotes the use of qualitative and quantitative indicators in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of vulnerability and resilience. The Country VRP is a dynamic tool encouraging an integrated approach to the MSI and the three pillars of sustainable development. It will also be linked to the revitalized SIDSnet so that the beneficiary countries will be able to exchange knowledge, experience and explore partnership opportunities with other SIDS and with non-SIDS stakeholders

The current project will benefit selective SIDS from the Atlantic, a category of those countries that has traditionally received relatively weak integrated support from the UN system, and/or the Caribbean region. The project proponent office will be determining the final SIDS in close consultation with the ECA and ECLAC and other key regional and national organizations. The timing of this tranche of the Development Account (2014-2015) is very opportune for such a project as it helps to link the outcome of the Rio+20 including the SDG process to the 2014 SIDS Conference to the 2015 MDG Conference and post-MDG process.

(iv) Relationship to the Strategic Framework for the period 2014-2015, the internationally agreed development goals, the Millennium Development Goals:

DESA subprogrammes 3 (Sustainable development) and 4 (Statistics), in particular towards expected accomplishment 3 (c) on Enhanced capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to formulate and implement strategies, policies, frameworks and mechanisms in support of sustainable development, with a special focus on gender equality and empowerment of women. Within the Rio+20 outcome document, the current project supports paragraphs 178 and 179.

(v) Objective:

To strengthen institutional and technical capacity of selected small island developing states in monitoring progress of implementation of the MSI and developing appropriate and practical responses to reduce vulnerability in the Atlantic and/or Caribbean regions.

(vi) Expected accomplishments

EA1 Increased capacity of key governmental and non-governmental institutions at the national (and sub-regional) levels to collect and analyse data for key indicators measuring progress towards the MSI and sustainable development.

3DSD/UNDESASIDSUnit Technical Report by Nizar Mohamed, “Towards a Vulnerability-Resilience Assessment Profile for SIDS”, May 2010.

2 EA2 Increased capacity to formulate integrated national development plans that mitigate risks and reduce vulnerability in the implementation of the MRI.

EA3 Strengthened South-South cooperation for knowledge sharing and enhanced knowledge management platform using SIDSnet and other networks to support the implementation of the MSI and other commitments to sustainable development.

(vii) Indicators of achievement

IA1.1 Increased use and analysis of SIDS-specific sustainable development indicators for reporting, analysis and planning purposes in targeted SIDS

IA2.1 Increased application of the Country VRP methodology for tracking progress towards the MSI and sustainable development planning by targeted countries

IA3.1 Increased and diversified use of SIDSnet (measured in number of hits, posts, active discussion fora, etc)4

(viii) Main activities

A1.1. Conducting 6 training workshops to introduce and implement VRP monitoring and evaluation framework and indicators. (2 in each of the target countries)

A1.2. Providing technical advisory services to help national and regional capacity in the use of the VRP framework and indicators.

A1.3. Organizing inter-regional technical advisory group (TAG) and sub-regional expert groups (REG) meetings to leverage the experience gained in the monitoring and evaluation pilot project in the Indian Ocean for the benefit of selective Atlantic AIMS and/or Caribbean countries. The TAG and REG will promote collective learning, exchange of experiences and South-South among SIDS networking in the area of monitoring and evaluation of the MSI and sustainable development.

A.2.1 Further developing the core set of country vulnerability and resilience indicators and composite indices to allow for the formulation of country specific questions (i.e. guideposts). By leaving room for country-specific tailoring of the indicators, the VRP will become more useful and attractive to SIDS, which will encourage more widespread adoption.

A.2.2 Organize study tours and technical exchanges among SIDS officials implementing and monitoring the BPOA and MSI at national level.

A2.3 Conduct national workshops to assist the beneficiary countries in the further use of analysis of the assessment generated by the VRP for policy formulation and developing programmes for practical responses to vulnerability

4 Technology use in SIDS faces obstacles in terms of connectivity and costs, but SIDSnet is being developed with these constraints in mind (i.e. running on free platform with minimal connectivity requirements)

3 A3.1. Providing training workshops and advisory services to enhance national and sub- regional capacities in support of the expansion and use of SIDSnet as an effective platform for monitoring and evaluation of the MSI.

A.3.2. Populating SIDSnet with core set of indicators generated by the Country VRP by SIDS, and moderate communities of practices in the three pillars of sustainable development for SIDS as they relate to the countries self-assessments.

(ix)Detailed Description for each budget line

General temporary assistance ($30,000)

Temporary assistance to support the organization of workshops and study tours (6 work month at $5,000).

Consultants ($105,000)

International consultants International consultants for preparing of training manuals, holding workshops, user guidelines, etc. A1.1; A1.2 (3 Work Months [WM]) x ($10,000 per month) + ($35,000 for consultant(s) travel) = $65,000

National / Regional consultants National consultants for preparing national studies for workshops, in support of activities A1.1, A1.2 (2WM) x ($3,000 per month) x (6 countries) = $36,000 + ($4,000 for regional consultant(s) travel) = $40,000

Contractual services ($20,000)

Translation/interpretation Interpretation services needed for training workshops and advisory services; translation of training materials, translation of web information, etc. (A1.1- 3.1 = $20,000)

Travel of staff ($128,000)

DESA Staff Organising and coordinating the workshops, and regional expert group meeting, in support of activities A1.1, A1.2, A2.1, A2.2, A2.2, A2.3, and A2.4. ($10,000 per person) x 8 = $80,000

Regional Commissions’ staff/ other UN staff Participating as resource persons in workshops and working group meetings, in support of activities A1.1,A2.1, A2.2 . ($8,000 per person) x 6 = $48,000

Seminars, Workshops and Study Tours ($316,000)

4 National Workshops

6 national workshops, in support of A1.1 ($400 per participant) x (20 participants) x (6 workshops) = $48,000

3 national training workshops in support of A.2.3 and A3.1 ($400 per participant) x (20 participants) x (3 workshops) = $24,000

Sub-regional Training 2 trainings in 2 sub-regions, in support of activities A2.3 ($3,500 per participant) x (16 participants) = $112,000

1 sub-regional training workshops in support of A3.1.($3,500 per participant) x (8 participants) = $28,000

Inter-regional study tours ($36,000) Facilitate exchange of expertise and experiences between monitoring and evaluation experts from high capacity SIDS in Indian Ocean and elsewhere and practitioners in SIDS where the monitoring and evaluation infrastructure is less well developed. In support of A.2.1 and A2.2 ($12,000 per study tour x 3 = $36,000

TAG and REG workshop meetings ($50,000) Meetings in which experts from Indian Ocean pilot project can present lessons learned and best practices regarding monitoring and evaluation and the development of appropriate indicators. Interpretation and translation services will be necessary. In support of A.2.1 and A2.2. ($25,000 per meeting) x 2 = $50,000

Miscellaneous workshop costs including for venue and meeting services ($18,000)

Operating expenses ($6,000)

Communications In support of all activities. $2,000

Supplies In support of all activities. $2,000

Other miscellaneous operating costs including for services provided by UNDP country offices. $2,000