Multilateral Aid Review summary - United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

The overarching goal of UNIFEM has been supporting the implementation at the national level of international commitments to advance gender equality. It has been merged into a new body (UN Women), which began operations in January 2011.

	comment
Contribution to UK development objectives	Weak
	_	UNIFEM’s function was critical and it contributed to key HMG objectives.  But constrained resources, weaknesses in the UN’s leadership on gender issues, and UNIFEM’s lack of reach with other UN agencies limited its impact.
	_	Struggled to consistently demonstrate delivery. There were weaknesses in its country capacity and it had a weak results culture. Drive for better results limited by poorly defined objectives.
	_	UNIFEM had not put in place guidelines or policy frameworks for staff working in fragile states.
	+	Partnerships and analysis were used well to advance policies and programmes that impact on gender equality.
	+	UNIFEM made significant efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
Organisational strengths	Weak
	_	Little evidence of management attention to value-for-money or cost control, apart from a recent review of cost recovery rates.
	+	UNIFEM was strong on partnerships and had a good reputation in this respect.
	_	UNIFEM had a weak results culture and weak accountability mechanisms on gender.
	_	Despite a clear system to allocate aid, weak administration and planning mechanisms meant that allocations were not predictable.
	_	There was insufficient evidence that it responded to evaluations by reallocating aid, or that risks were managed at corporate level.
	_	It had an information disclosure policy covering access to information, procurement, and internal audit but this was not readily available.
	_	There was little evidence that UNIFEM actively promoted transparency in delivery partners.
	_	The UNIFEM Board did not provide robust mechanisms for redress or consultation with partners.
Capacity for positive change	Very likely
	+	The trajectory and potential of reform is very strong under UN Women.