SURF-WA fielded a multi-disciplinary mission, October  2003,  to support UNDP Benin as a pilot  country in the elaboration of their Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP). The CPAP is a common integrated programming document for the UN Country Team which elaborates on the Country Programming Document (CPD). Harmonized with the  United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and Strategic Results Framework (SRF), the CPAP is an important component of UN Harmonization and Simplification (see http://www.dgo.org for more information).

SURF-WA policy specialists worked closely with the Benin CO Prgramme Working Group on development of the CPAP and gained valuable experience with this new planning framework that can be applied in support of other COs once the CPAP is generalized. SURF-WA's interdisciplinary support team included:  Mohamed Sall- Sao (Governance), Bolaji Ogunseye (Poverty Reduction), Coumba Mar Gadio (Gender), Caty Sarr (HIV/AIDs), and Pierre Dandjinou (ICTD).

A number of key challenges and lessons emerged from the CPAP formulation process.

• A shared understanding of key words and concepts in the CPAP, such as outputs, outcomes, indicators and activities, is an important precondition for the success of the planning process. This was somewhat of a challenge in Benin because core terms have been translated from English, a process in which nuances of language may be lost.
  
  
• Another challenge was to define the indicators directly from the expected outputs. The planning of the activities was supposed to take place later in the process when the annual work plans (AWP) are defined. The team had to elaborate prospective activities "off the record" to identify relevant indicators.
  
  
• The CPAP must be based on an approved Country Programme Document (CPD). Changes in the CPD and UNDAF need to be monitored as they could have implications for the CPAP.
    
• Finally, the CPAP process proved to be a very effective tool in focusing on the overall vision and delivery mechanisms for country-level interventions. It will provide an effective framework for coordination of UN system activity at the country level maximizing UN development impact.

For additional information please contact:

Mohamed Sall-Sao: Bolaji Ogunseye:

Governance specialist Poverty Specialist

mohamed.sall-sao@undp.org bolaji.ogunseye@undp.org

La rencontre annuelle avec le Comité exécutif du SURF-Board composé de Steve Ursino, RR au Niger, Ahmed Rhazaoui, RR au Sénégal et Joseph Byll-Cataria, RR au Cap Vert à laquelle a participé également Steve Glovinsky (BDP New York) a eu lieu le 28 juin 2003.

La réunion a permis de dégager les orientations stratégiques et le plan de travail du SURF–WA pour la période 2003-2004, d’échanger sur les questions budgétaires, administratives et de personnel. Au terme de cette réunion, conformément au principe de rotation de cette fonction, M. Ursino a transmis son mandat de Président du Comité exécutif du SURF Board à M. Byll-Cataria.

Pour toute information complémentaire et pour recevoir le plan de travail 2003-2004 contactez Sonja Molinari, Coordinatrice adjointe SURF-WA: sonja.molinari@undp.org