Outcome UKR_O_3

High quality of programmes through knowledge, innovation, result-based management and evaluation

In 2021, the CO continue d striving for high-quality programming through various initiatives. Learning from project evaluations and reviews The CO harnessed many lessons learned and reflected upon recommendations from the various evaluations and reviews commissioned by the office in 2021 (see narrative question 10). During the annual work planning for 2022, a dedicated session was organized summarizing some of the key evaluation findings from the year, which generated a fruitful discussion of how these can be incorporated into planning for next year. Many lessons were also incorporated into the development of new project concept notes and adjustments to existing project initiatives. Learning from evaluations has led to a strengthened planning process and programming cycle and has informed about the learning needs of the programme staff. Improving the understanding of “transformative approaches to gender equality” In 2021, the CO dedicated time to thinking about and expanding upon how the concept of “transformative approaches/results for gender equality” can be understood and applied in UN Women programming in the context of Ukraine. In close collaboration with the UN Women Training Centre, the pilot course “Transformative Approaches to GE” was developed and conducted for both UN Women programme staff and the members of the UNCT GTG. Discussions on transformative approaches to gender equality has contributed to more programme innovations—for example, with an added emphasis to social norms change among several projects. Strengthening RBM related to capacity development The CO also identified a challenge on how to best monitor and evaluate capacity development efforts and report on progress made over time. Several tools and guidelines (attached) were developed by the CO M&E Specialist, reviewed, and piloted by the programme staff. A tailored M&E training was also conducted by the M&E Specialist for staff and programme partners. Strengthened monitoring and measuring of the change in capacities of programme beneficiaries contributed to higher-quality reports from trainings and the availability of better data on the effectiveness of trainings and the changes in trainees’ capacities. Based on the evaluation’s recommendations, six programme managers enrolled in PRINCE2 certified training at the end of 2021 to strengthen their programme management skills. Benefiting from improved knowledge management In 2021, the CO adapted the new guidelines on knowledge management and rolled out a new approach to knowledge products (KP) across projects, to ensure higher-quality and better dissemination and use of KPs. This involved developing more clear concept notes for KPs (attached), with a detailed description on how to ensure high quality through peer reviews and dedicated plans for dissemination/use.

High quality of programmes through knowledge, innovation, result-based management and evaluation

Due to the escalation of war and subsequent humanitarian and security crisis, no external audits were conducted, and only limited participation in evaluations/assessments was possible. The Country Office participated in the regional evaluation on capacity development. The evaluation continues into the first quarter of 2023, and no lessons learned can be extracted yet. The project “Decentralization and Law Enforcement Reforms: Transformative Approaches to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Ukraine” (2018–2022) underwent a light final project assessment, which was concluded in December 2022. The report highlights important lessons learned and recommendations for future programming, including how UN Women can continue working with the National Police of Ukraine on gender-responsive policing and with the media for social norms change. High quality programmes and results-based management was ensured through ongoing monitoring activities and developing progress reports on all project’s progress ad results. Specific humanitarian indicators were also developed, as complementary to the SN indicators, to ensure all results were captured in the evolving humanitarian crisis.