Title: The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) Objectives, Activities and Project Funding
1The United NationsDemocracy Fund
(UNDEF)Objectives, Activities andProject
Funding
Jan 2009
2BASIC 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
3Analysis of the Third Round Applications
Statistical Breakdown
Demand for Funds
Number of Proposed Projects
Third round
Second round
First round
4Analysis of the Third Round Applications (contd)
5Second 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
6Second RoundFunds Allocated to Projects by Region
7Second Round Projects by Key Activities
8Governance 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
9Advisory 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
10Programme 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)
11Friends 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
12What 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
13Who 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
14Proposals 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
15Major Contributions to UNDEF (Dec 2008)
16Key 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
17UNDEF 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
18Tentative timetable for Third Round of Funding
19Tentative timetable for Third Round of Funding
(contd)
20Q A
- For further information, please visit our
website -
- http//www.un.org/democracyfund/