The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) Objectives, Activities and Project Funding

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The United NationsDemocracy Fund
(UNDEF)Objectives, Activities andProject
Funding
Jan 2009
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BASIC FACTS

• UNDEF is a General Trust Fund of the UN under
  the authority of the SG
• UNDEF aims to strengthen the voice of civil
  society and assist the participation of all
  groups in democratic processes
• 1st funding round (2006) 122 funded projects in
  110 countries and territories, 96 grants to NGOs
  and 29 to UN entities
• 2nd funding round (2007) 83 funded projects 70
  countries, no grants to UN entities, 3 to
  intergovernmental organizations, 2 to
  associations of electoral officials and 78 to
  NGOs
• 3rd funding round (2008) 2143 project proposals
  from 138 countries

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Analysis of the Third Round Applications
Statistical Breakdown
Demand for Funds
Number of Proposed Projects
Third round
Second round
First round
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Analysis of the Third Round Applications (contd)
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Second Round Funding by Region

• Africa 8,125,000
• Asia and Pacific 5,325,000
• Arab States 3,150,000
• Europe 2,970,000
• Latin America and
• the Caribbean 2,950,000
• Global 1,375,000
• Total 23,895,000

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Second RoundFunds Allocated to Projects by Region
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Second Round Projects by Key Activities
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Governance Structure
UNDEF Screens Assesses Initial Proposals
PROGRAMME CONSULTATIVE GROUP Provides
expertise quality control
ADVISORY BOARD Reviews and Recommends
Shortlist
Project selection process
UN Office for Partnerships provides management
support
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Advisory Board

• 6 Member States committed to democracy selected
  by the SG to reflect geographical balance

• 7 largest Member State Contributors to UNDEF

Australia France Germany India Japan
Qatar USA
Botswana Lebanon Mongolia Panama
Slovenia Trinidad Tobago

• SGs Representatives
• Prof. Michael Doyle, Professor of Law Columbia
  University (Chair)
• - Dr. Sanam Anderlini, MIT Center for
  International Studies
• Mr. Amir Dossal, Executive Director, UN Office
  of Partnerships (ex-officio)
• - Dr. Ashraf Ghani, Chairman of the Institute for
  State Effectiveness

• NGOs
• Femmes Africa Solidarité
• The Asia Society

• Chair of the Programme Consultative Group (PCG)
• Mr. Craig Mokhiber, OHCHR

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Programme Consultative Group (PCG)
?Providing technical and specialist
advice?Providing quality control and
monitoring?Close relations with Peace Building
Support Office and Electoral Assistance Division
Executive Head UNDEF (ex-officio)
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Friends of UNDEF Additional Oversight Group

• Oversight group established for major donors not
  on the Advisory Board
• Also includes former members of the Advisory
  Board
• And international organizations
• Inter-Parliamentary Union International IDEA
• Friends receive same documents that go to the
  Board
• Significant contribution allows membership of
  Friends group

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What Type of Projects will UNDEF Fund?

• Action-oriented CSO projects bringing tangible
  improvements in democracy and human rights on the
  ground
• Projects with measurable outcomes
• Enhancing CSO relationships with institutional
  bodies
• Focus on gender equality, the grassroots, and
  inclusion of vulnerable groups

Eligible Activities 6 priority areas

• Democratic dialogue and support for
  constitutional processes
• Civil society empowerment, including the
  empowerment of women
• Civic education and voter registration
• Citizens access to information
• Participation rights and rule of law in support
  of civil society
• Transparency and integrity

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Who Can Apply?

• National and International NGOs and CSOs
  PRIMARILY
• Independent Constitutional Bodies
• Global regional inter-governmental bodies,
  organizations associations
• UN Bodies, ONLY if circumstances require

Technical Eligibility Criteria

• Global/Regional vs. Country Window (approx.
  25/75)
• US50,000 US500,000
• 24 months duration
• Preference to countries emerging from conflict,
  new and restored democracies, Least Developed
  Countries, Low Income Countries and Middle Income
  Countries

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Proposals Assessment Criteria

• The project promotes the objectives of UNDEF
• The project draws on the UN comparative advantage
• The project will have a significant impact
• The project will encourage inclusiveness
• The project will enhance gender equality
• The project has strong prospects for successful
  implementation
• The applicant organization enjoys a strong track
  record
• The project is technically sound in conception
  and presentation
• The project has good value for money
• The project has strong prospects of
  sustainability beyond the project duration

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Major Contributions to UNDEF (Dec 2008)
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Key Project Obligations and Features

• Country Projects option to have a well-regarded
  institution to act as Executing Agent
• Executing Agency Fee 5
• No overhead for Implementing Agency (incl. ohead
  costs)
• 10 of project allocation, but capped at
  US25,000, for monitoring and evaluation
• Commitment to general Branding and Visibility
  Rules

• Strong democracy and rights-based orientation
• Incorporates UN values in democracy promotion
• Stresses the importance of partners outside of
  the UN system
• Transparency of process
• Brings political and technical actors within
  UN involved in democratic development together

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UNDEF Staff

• Roland Rich - Executive Head
• Annika Savill - Senior Adviser and Secretary to
  the Advisory Board
• Christina Colon - Senior Programme Officer
• Anne-Sophie Le Beux - Junior Programme Officer
• Asmita Barua - Programme Assistant
• Emileo Borromeo - Programme Assistant
• Tina Werner - Intern

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Tentative timetable for Third Round of Funding
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Tentative timetable for Third Round of Funding
(contd)
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Q A

• For further information, please visit our
  website
• http//www.un.org/democracyfund/