Common Country Programming

Harmonized common country programming processes have been established to assist the UN Country Teams work more effectively.  The tools for the process include the Common Country Assessment (CCA) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

The Common Country Assessment (CCA) is a country-based process for analysing the national development situation and identifying key issues as a basis for advocacy and preparation for the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).  The objective of the CCA to achieve deeper knowledge of key development challenges, based on a common analysis and understanding of the development situation of a country and a people-centered approach.

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) is a dynamic process through which all United Nations Agencies, in collaboration with Government and other partners join together to achieve the goals chosen for a common programme framework and build on and sustain this process to strengthen the quality of support that the United Nations family can collectively provide.

The overarching goal of the UNDAF 2003-2007 is to achieve a Balanced and equitable development of Maldives through reduction of disparities, and it focused on three strategic areas for a common UN response:

• Support to governance and social mobilisation
• Support to quality social services
• Support to management of development

The main objectives include strengthening a system of democratic governance that respects the rights of all Maldivians, focusing on interventions that include reducing disparities in providing education and health services, and providing services to support the Government’s development management strategy for policy formulation initiatives not currently addressed by other partners. Because of the small yet scattered population of the Maldives, one of the major challenges has been to ensure that the benefits of growth and development are equitably shared throughout the country.

Joint Programming

Different UN agencies are planning and designing programmes together to move forward together on a number of fronts, including human rights, gender equality and protection of the environment, among others, to enhance the developmental impact and increase programme effectiveness. 

What is UNDAF?

UNDAF is a dynamic process through which all United Nations Agencies, in collaboration with Government and other partners: (a) join together to achieve the goals chosen for a common programme framework and (b) build and sustain this process to strengthen the quality of support that the United Nations family can collectively provide. Eliminating duplication of effort, this is more cost-effective and provides greater impact on behalf of the people of Maldives.

How did UNDAF begin?

In 1997, the Secretary-General spelled out his ideas to strengthen the United Nations globally. Foremost among these at the country level was the idea of preparing an UNDAF. In each member country, harmonisation is expected to occur in order to move forward together on a number of fronts, including human rights, gender equality and protection of the environment, among others.

What is the goal of UNDAF in Maldives?

Because of Maldives’ small size, insularity and extremely scattered population, one of the major challenges has been to ensure that the benefits of growth and development are equitably shared. Significant differences in opportunities and resources exist between Male’ and the atolls. The overarching goal to which United Nations activities will contribute is: Balanced and equitable development of Maldives through reduction of disparities.

What does this mean?

The UNDAF for 2003-2007 focuses on three strategic areas for a common UN response:

• Support to governance and social mobilisation
• Support to quality social services
• Support to management of development

The main objectives include strengthening a system of democratic governance that respects the rights of all Maldivians, focusing on interventions that include reducing disparities in providing education and health services and providing services to support the Government’s development management strategy for policy formulation initiatives not currently addressed by other partners.

The following complementary and collaborative strategies will be pursued in the interest of furthering concerted efforts toward national priorities:

• Increased partnerships with Government, NGOs, civil societies and other stakeholders
• Increased commitment toward joint programming
• Increased commitment to decentralised decision-making community empowerment.

Download UNDAF Final Report