Outcome LAC_O_1

Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance

In 2024, ACRO demonstrated its commitment to organizational accountability and trustworthy practices through robust financial management and strengthened institutional frameworks across the LAC region. The ACRO principled performance saw comprehensive financial stewardship, achieving an 74% overall delivery rate with a 89% utilization rate by December 1st, 2024 across the region. Across funding streams, core funding reached 78% delivery with 90% utilization, progressing toward 100% target delivery, while non-core funding advanced to 72% delivery with 88% utilization, approaching the corporate requirement of 85%. A transformative shift in institutional performance continues to emerge through strengthened accountability mechanisms. The office addressed all its internal audit recommendations, and supported Mexico and Colombia in preparation to their internal audits. The financial performance was supported by systematic monthly financial monitoring and compliance reviews examining project delivery across funding streams, advance tracking, travel expense management, project closure, oversight of procurement actions and post facto's, as well as any outstanding actions on partner management. To address operational and programme implementation challenges, PSMU developed acceleration plans for larger CO's and projects, providing direct support and organizing dedicated learning sessions to strengthen PM capacity. The office's commitment to comprehensive accountability was demonstrated through exemplary compliance ratings: overall compliance reached 95.9%, with information security at 100% (only RO), Occupational Health and Safety at 96.6%, and full compliance in both Business Continuity Planning/Crisis Management arrangements and Security and Safety protocols for RO. The integration of Enterprise Risk Management principles into daily operations, strengthened organizational risk management frameworks. The ACRO team continues to show significant institutional performance improvement in its organizational accountability, achieving a 86% timely donor reporting rate or the RO and overall 85% compliance across the region. This reflects strengthened internal systems and partner coordination mechanisms, which were further enhanced following a thorough review mid-year by Operations, PSMU and Partnership Unit. The office's ability to maintain this high standard while managing complex cross-regional initiatives underscores its growing institutional maturity in transparent resource management and results documentation. Operational efficiency improved markedly through the increased use of Long-Term Agreements covering essential services including travel, events management, translation etc. The office completed more than 26 formal procurement processes using LTA's in 2024. These achievements, led and coordinated by the Operations Unit demonstrate UN Women's capability to manage resources with integrity while advancing its programmatic ambitions and meeting fiduciary obligations in service of LAC communities.

Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance

In 2025, ACRO strengthened organizational accountability and principled performance by sustaining high standards of financial stewardship, risk management, compliance and security within a constrained corporate resource environment. Despite significant core resource reductions, ACRO safeguarded programme delivery and operational stability across Country Offices (COs) by coordinating regional adjustments, ensuring timely reallocations, and maintaining expected delivery rates. ACRO demonstrated strong financial performance, with core resources projected to reach the corporate delivery target. While non-core delivery is estimated at approximately 80%, below the corporate benchmark, ACRO implemented a higher volume of non-core funds at the regional level than in previous years, reflecting enhanced absorptive capacity and programme scale under complex operating conditions. Specifically, non-core fund implementation at the regional level increased by 3.4%, reflecting a rise from $40.5M in 2024 to $41.9M in 2025. Risk governance and assurance systems remained robust. All COs maintained active risk registers, completed fraud risk assessments, and closely monitored mitigation measures for medium and high risks. Established oversight mechanisms (including desk reviews and management missions) enabled early identification and timely escalation of emerging issues, allowing corrective actions to be taken before they affected programme delivery or stakeholder confidence. These proactive risk management practices helped ensure continuity of implementation, strengthened compliance, and supported sustained donor confidence. Audit follow-up further demonstrates the effectiveness of these governance arrangements: nearly all internal audit recommendations were implemented, with one recommendation in Colombia currently in progress and no external audit recommendations pending. Compliance and security standards were fully upheld. With the support of the Security Advisor, ACRO ensured adherence to security protocols, achieving a 100% compliance rate in BCCMA testing across all countries. Additional regional support strengthened operational learning and knowledge management through the systematic collection and dissemination of lessons learned, FAQs and guidance materials to COs. Reporting and accountability mechanisms were reinforced, with 86% of reporting commitments submitted within established deadlines. Donor engagement was strengthened through systematic feedback mechanisms embedded in regional donor reporting, with positive feedback underscoring the effectiveness, transparency and credibility of ACRO’s delivery. Collectively, these results demonstrate ACRO’s capacity to manage resources transparently, mitigate operational and fiduciary risks, uphold compliance, and deliver results with integrity—reinforcing an accountable, adaptive and resilient organization capable of sustaining programme delivery amid fiscal constraints and evolving regional challenges.

Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance

In 2023 the RO has been working on troubleshooting Quantum issues during the roll out, investing in raising capacities across the region both in policy and with Quantum. Maintaining high delivery rates, ensuring timely and quality donor reporting and ensuring compliance with ERM and Security have remained an issue that the RO has been working regularly with OMs and PMs across the region.