Objectives
Scope
Activities
Guiding principles
Eligibility Criteria
Multi-Donor Trust Fund
Program
Implementation

Oversight
National Programs
Special Projects
Ongoing DDR Activities
Financial Management and
Procurement
Supervision & Monitoring

Regional Strategy

Program Management and Implementation

Oversight

The Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Program (MDRP) is governed, managed and coordinated by the following groups:

Advisory Committee (AC)
An MDRP Advisory Committee was established to ensure that the MDRP is well linked to the overall peace process and to facilitate the participation of key stakeholders in the program's planning and implementation. The AC is composed of national governments, all interested donor representatives, key UN partners, representatives of regional bodies, and the international financial institutions. It meets every six months to: (i) review progress under the MDRP; (ii) review the work program for the upcoming period; and (iii) discuss the eligibility of new proposed national programs for MDRP support.

Trust Fund Committee (TFC)
Associated to the Advisory Committee, a Trust Fund Committee was established to oversee the utilization of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) resources.
All donors contributing to the MDTF are members of the TFC. The committee meets in conjunction with the Advisory Committee to: (i) review the utilization of MDTF resources to date; (ii) assess the need to redistribute resources between national programs; and (iii) raise additional resources as required. Other members of the Advisory Committee are invited to Trust Fund Committee meetings as observers.

Technical Coordination group (TCG)
A Technical Coordination Group was established to oversee the technical aspects of the national program. The TCG is composed of senior technical and management staff from participating countries of the region. It meets on a regular semi-annual basis to review the implementation status of the strategy and regional program, share information on progress on DDR activities, exchange lessons learned, and explore opportunities for technical cooperation. It also meets on an ad-hoc basis for capacity building purposes.

Focal points
Interested partners have identified technical focal points who are responsible for ensuring on-going links and lines of communications. They inform partners about their respective agency's activities in the region and participate in joint supervision missions. Focal points help prepare reports to the Advisory Committee and will carry out a mid-term review and a final evaluation mission.

Lead Agency
To facilitate coordination between partners and the implementation of MDRP supported programs, an agency or other partner with an established presence on the ground serves as MDRP lead agency. On behalf of the partnership, the lead agency serves as the main interlocutor for the host government on matters related to MDRP management and implementation. With the support and guidance of partners and the MDRP Secretariat, the lead agency assists government in the preparation and implementation of a national D&R program within the MDRP framework. The lead agency ensures that the partnership maintains a coherent approach through regular coordination and exchange of information between partners that are represented in the country concerned.

MDRP Secretariat
The MDRP is managed by a small Secretariat based at the World Bank headquarters in Washington with two representatives based, respectively, in Kinshasa (DRC) and Kigali (Rwanda). The MDRP Secretariat is composed of a program manager, a trust fund coordinator, four demobilization and reintegration specialists, a communications officer, an operations analyst, a program analyst and a language program assistant. The Secretariat oversees the implementation of the MDRP, administers the trust fund and helps to ensure oversight of program resources. It reports to the Advisory and Trust Fund Committees and to World Bank management.


Identification of National Programs

One of the central aims of the MDRP is to provide support and technical assistance to the formulation and implementation of national Demobilization and Reintegration Programs (DRPs), when appropriate.

Any country in the Greater Great Lakes Region can request technical and financial assistance to prepare a national DRP. Once a request is received, focal points of interested donor and UN partners undertake an identification mission to assess the country's needs and eligibility in principle for MDRP assistance.

The findings of the joint identification mission are discussed by the Advisory Committee (AC), which makes a recommendation concerning the country's eligibility for MDRP assistance. The assessment of whether eligibility criteria have been met and whether operations can be launched in the country is made by key program partners at the country level. Subsequently, the Trust Fund Committee (TFC) considers the possibility of investing Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) resources should there be reasonable assurance that the eligibility criteria will be met by the time the program has been prepared.

Individual national programs are then prepared and supervised by national authorities and stakeholders supported by interested donor and agency partners. In parallel, the World Bank may prepare a loan/credit to co-finance a national program in accordance with the Transitional Support Strategy or Country Assistance Strategy for the respective country.

Identification of Special Projects

UN Agencies, NGOs and Government authorities can submit project proposals for smaller projects while a national program is being developed. Proposal concepts are submitted to the regional MDRP representative who then responds with comments on the proposal and the timeliness of such a project in the context of other DDR activities and the MDRP. A full proposal can then be submitted for review by a Local Ad-hoc Committee (LAC), which assesses the technical and financial aspects of the proposal.

For more information, see the Special Projects section of the Country Activities page.

Relationship with Ongoing DDR Activities

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and other partners are already engaged in a number of Demobilization and Reintegration (D&R) activities in the region that complement the MDRP. In case a country requests additional assistance through the MDRP, or if a special project is proposed, a two-step approach is followed:

  • partner focal points undertake an identification mission to review the situation regarding D&R in the country; and
  • the ongoing activities are adapted to the national or local D&R framework and adapted as appropriate.

Financial Management, Procurement and Auditing

Financial management and procurement arrangements for the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) and for World Bank funded activities follow standard World Bank procedures and provide for adequate flexibility and responsiveness to ensure rapid implementation. These arrangements are based on reviews and assessments of the particular needs, capacities and risks of each national program or special project, and are indicated in the relevant project document and loan/credit or grant agreement. Procedures are harmonized to the extent possible to allow for the consolidation of financial information across activities. Procedures are adjusted over time as needed.

In cases where UN agencies are implementing entities for MDTF grants, World Bank procurement procedures, which are comparable to those of UN agencies, are applied. Specific procedures and prior review thresholds are adapted to the special nature of the project area and executing agency.

The World Bank executes regional activities and program management and applies its financial management and procurement guidelines. The MDTF is audited annually according to established World Bank procedures. National programs and special projects are subject to annual, or more frequent, audits depending on the risks and need for timely information.

Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation

Ongoing supervision is undertaken by the MDRP representatives posted in the region. In addition, focal points undertake an annual joint supervision mission in preparation for the autumn Advisory and Trust Fund Committee meetings. Supervision activities monitor MDRP progress and measure success on the basis of a set of indicators (see table below) related to progress on the implementation of national programs and special projects, the participation of the international community in the MDRP, the MDRP's impact on the stabilization of the Region, and the performance of the World Bank in administering the Trust Fund.

Given the innovative nature of the MDRP, joint reviews also focus on knowledge sharing and key strategic issues linking the MDRP to the wider peace process. To ensure independence and broad ownership of the results, the reviews are conducted jointly by donors and UN partners, representatives of regional bodies, and national program representatives. Through the involvement of regional stakeholders, monitoring and evaluation is also valuable in contributing to confidence building for those who have not yet decided to join the D&R process.

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For any questions regarding MDRP activities please email: [email protected]
 
Photo Credits: First picture on left Guy Tillim. Others by UN/DPI