UNDEF’s Sixth Round

 UNDEF's latest newsletter is linked below:
http://www.un.org/democracyfund/Docs/UU15.pdf

 

UNDEF Update – No. 15, September 2012　　INSIDE UNDEF

 Secretary-General Approves o
for pen Short list of 72 new projects

 

The UN Secretary-General has approved
a short list of 72 project proposals
for UNDEF’s Sixth Round of Funding,
following recommendations by the United
Nations Democracy Fund Advisory Board.
Competition for this year’s short list was
stiff, with almost 3,000 project proposals
received. UNDEF congratulates all those
short-listed, and thanks all who applied.
Inclusion in the short list is a significant
achievement. But it does not in itself mean
that the project proposal will be approved
for funding. Applicants are now required
to complete the final stage of the selection
process -- negotiating a Project Document
with UNDEF, which is in effect a contract
between the grantor and the grantee. Only
on the satisfactory conclusion of a project
document, and its approval by the United
Nations Controller, will the proposed
project be formally approved for funds
disbursement.
Given the number of applications, it is not
possible for UNDEF to contact unsuccessful
applicants individually. If applicants have
not yet received an email from UNDEF, they
can assume that their proposals are not on
the final short list.
The next window for project proposals
is expected to open in mid-November.
We encourage future applicants to start
preparing now by going to the UNDEF

website and reading project proposal guidelines, lessons
learned for applicants, frequently asked questions and
summaries of existing projects.
The Sixth Round of Funding comes as momentous efforts
for democratization continue to unfold in countries around
the world, while challenges old and new evolve in others.
With 72 countries on the short list, the total number of
projects funded by UNDEF will rise to about 480.

 

The short list is the product of a thorough
process of assessment, quality vetting,
due diligence and lessons learned from
previous Rounds. The proposals were
first vetted by a team of six independent
international assessors, combining some
60 years of programme and project
experience. Each proposal was scored
against 10 set criteria: promotes the
objectives of UNDEF; draws on the
United Nations comparative advantage;
will have a significant impact; will
encourage inclusiveness; will enhance
gender equality; has strong prospects
for successful implementation; has a
strong track record; is technically sound in
conception and presentation; represents
good value for money; has strong
prospects of sustainability beyond the
project duration.
To narrow down the list further, comments
were sought by Experts of the UNDEF
Advisory Board, UN Resident Coordinators,
and the UNDEF Programme Consultative
Group: the Department of Political
Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping
Operations, the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights, the
Peacebuilding Support Office, the UN
Development Programme, the UN Office
on Drugs and Crime and UN Women.