Chapter 6.
CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, LESSONS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSE This section presents the key conclusions, recommendations and lessons from the evaluation.
6.1 Overarching formative conclusions Based on the findings presented in the previous chapters, the evaluation draws the following conclusions: Conclusion 1327 – Institutionalizing LNOB: Some key pre-conditions for the good integration of LNOB are met by UNDP, with particular attention devoted to the promotion of equality and equity. Focus on non-discrimination is more limited. There were several periods of heightened momentum that UNDP leveraged for the integration of LNOB: the initial conceptualization stage in 2017/2018, the COVID-19 response effort (with its socio-economic impact assessments detecting ‘new poor’ and left-behind populations) and the move towards anchoring LNOB in the 2022-2025 SP as a ‘change direction’. There is some level of common understanding of LNOB (more limited at CO level), a cadre of motivated staff, and informal support mechanisms are in place. Despite these enablers, the organization has yet to sufficiently institutionalize LNOB, including through the allocation of adequate resources and the creation of lasting accountability structures and capacities. A coordinated operational approach including dedicated staff, knowledge-sharing mechanisms, regular tone-setting messaging from senior managers, adequate resources, incentives and accountability frameworks is still lacking. This is preventing more effective integration of LNOB and achievement of more visible results. The LNOB field has been driven by well-intended and motivated staff rather than dedicated experts; programmatic ‘how to’ guidance is insufficient and staff lament capacity gaps due to lack of training. Financing for LNOB and RFBF has suffered the well-known challenges associated with projectized funding approaches, government co-funding requirements and shifting donor priorities. The evaluation observed the absence of LNOB considerations in existing planning and budgeting tools. For example, funding agreements and budgets did not include line items for LNOB. In sometimes inhospitable environments where government legislation may be at odds with internationally-agreed human rights conventions, and where government may be the primary donors, mixed messages from UNDP leadership at HQ, regional and country levels had a detrimental effect; UNDP has not always been able or effective in advocating against discrimination.
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Linked to Findings 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18; Lesson 3.
6. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, LESSONS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSE
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