UNHCR IN IRAQ OUTLINE OF MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003166 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NSC SAMANTHA POWER DEPT FOR USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL IZ SUBJECT: UNHCR IN IRAQ OUTLINE OF MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Assistance Refugee Coordinator met with UNHCR Deputy Representative Shoko Shimozawa and Senior Program Officer Naomi Kawahara on December 6 to discuss Post's monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan for the agency in Iraq. In December and January UNHCR will provide Post with a presentation of its 2009 performance and outline its work plan for 2010. The agency will provide similar quarterly reporting to Post thereafter, in addition to normal monthly updates. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) RefCoord approached UNHCR to discuss M&E of the agency's operations. RefCoord noted that we would like to gain a better understanding of the agency's progress on its work plans in its various sectors (such as shelter, protection, and non-food item distribution),financial pipeline, and budget execution. The M&E plan would also involve qualitative analysis drawn from site visits and interviews with beneficiaries and other stakeholders such as government officials and non-governmental organization (NGO) implementing partners. RefCoord stated that Post wants to collaborate on this plan -- and does not wish to impose overly burdensome requirements on the agency -- but does desire regular reporting on UNHCR's main sectors. ¶3. (U) Shimozawa responded that UNHCR would be happy to work with RefCoord to obtain the necessary information. She noted that in some sectors, such as shelter, the agency tracks progress according to implementing partner, i.e., the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who typically engage across a range of sectors, making a sectoral breakdown more difficult. Beginning in 2010, however, Iraq's operations would be executed through the new "Focus" software system, which links a results-based management framework to its operational plan, budget, and staffing. Thus, in 2010, the agency will be able to analyze its operations in a variety of ways, including by sector, more easily, she said. RefCoord responded that Post would be like to begin monitoring by sector and other ways (such as by geographical location) in 2010, and that an analysis by implementing partner -- when sector analysis was not possible -- would be acceptable. Shimozawa and RefCoord agreed that the agency would brief Post of both its 2009 results and 2010 plans in late December and January, 2010. ¶4. (SBU) Shimozawa noted, however, that 2010 planning would be revised throughout the year because UNHCR will receive its funding in tranches. The briefing in January would include an overview of the first tranche of $75 million, $55 million of which would be allocated to operations, in January. (Note: The other $20 million would fund overhead, staff and administration. End note.) She noted this funding would likely have to last the agency until July because other allocations were not expected until then. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The approach discussed with UNHCR should reinforce Post's M&E of UNHCR. We plan to undertake a similar approach with the International Organization for Migration, and also to develop a travel plan that will include specific M&E for a range of projects on a regular basis. We appreciate ongoing cooperation from PRM/ANE and PRM/PRP as we enhance and refine our M&E efforts. End Comment. HILL