Cablegate: Unhcr in Iraq Outline of Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

VZCZCXRO1303
PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3166 3431113
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091113Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5668
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0375
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

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

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