One UN Fund for Malawi

Overview

The One UN initiative in Malawi was initiated in early 2006. It was in part based on the General Assembly’s: ‘Triennial comprehensive policy review (TCPR) of operational activities for development of the United Nations system’, A/RES/59/ 250 of 17 December 2004. This resolution ‘stresses that the purpose of reform is to make the United Nations development system more efficient and effective’ and ‘requests the funds and programmes and specialized agencies’ to implement ‘joint offices’. Prior to the release of the Secretary General’s Report of the High Level Panel on System Wide Coherence, the UN in Malawi was already addressing ways to strengthen the effectiveness and coherence of the UN at the country level, as reflected in the ‘UN in Malawi Position Paper,’ 2006. The One UN Initiative in Malawi comprises three of four elements: One Programme, One Budgetary Framework including One Fund and One Leader.

Following a study commissioned by the Overseas Development Institute, the UN in Malawi is ready to move forward with the introduction of a Single Budgetary Framework. The Single Budgetary Framework is the total estimated amount of resources (both regular and other) needed to implement the UNDAF 2008-2011 (hereinafter referred to as the One Programme), The One Fund for Malawi is a new common fund mechanism to mobilize and allocate additional resources at the country level in a simplified, coherent manner consistent with the overall purpose of the One UN Initiative. This arrangement in Malawi is subscribed to by all members of the UN Country team (hereafter referred to as the participating UN Organisations). Other UN Organisations may wish to join this funding arrangement in the future. The One UN Fund for Malawi’s Terms of Reference provides a more detailed description of the Fund.

The One UN Initiative in Malawi is being implemented in a collaborative manner under the strong leadership of the Government of Malawi. Notably, the Office of the President and Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Economic Planning and Development.

The Malawi One Fund is administered by the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in accordance with its financial regulations and rules.