- Evaluation Plan:
- 2017-2021, Belize
- Evaluation Type:
- Final Project
- Planned End Date:
- 12/2019
- Completion Date:
- 07/2019
- Status:
- Completed
- Management Response:
- Yes
- Evaluation Budget(US $):
- 10,000
Final Evaluation Belize’s Public Awareness and Preparedness Campaign on the Question of Referring Guatemala’s Claim to the International Court of Justice
| Document | Type | Language | Size | Status | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 BZ-TORS FINAL EVALUATION REFERENDUM April 16.pdf |
tor | English | 264.42 KB | Posted | 372 |
| Final Evaluation - Referendum on Border Dispute.pdf |
report | English | 284.86 KB | Posted | 439 |
| Title | Final Evaluation Belize’s Public Awareness and Preparedness Campaign on the Question of Referring Guatemala’s Claim to the International Court of Justice | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Project Number: | 00109852 | ||||||||
| Evaluation Plan: | 2017-2021, Belize | ||||||||
| Evaluation Type: | Final Project | ||||||||
| Status: | Completed | ||||||||
| Completion Date: | 07/2019 | ||||||||
| Planned End Date: | 12/2019 | ||||||||
| Management Response: | Yes | ||||||||
| UNDP Signature Solution: |
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| Corporate Outcome and Output (UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021) |
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| SDG Goal |
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| SDG Target |
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| Evaluation Budget(US $): | 10,000 | ||||||||
| Source of Funding: | Project | ||||||||
| Evaluation Expenditure(US $): | 18,038 | ||||||||
| Joint Programme: | No | ||||||||
| Joint Evaluation: | No | ||||||||
| Evaluation Team members: |
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| GEF Evaluation: | No | ||||||||
| Key Stakeholders: | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elections & Boundaries Department, Belize Network of NGOs | ||||||||
| Countries: | BELIZE |
| Lessons | |
|---|---|
| Findings |
| Recommendations | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Donors should consider the effects of not recognizing any retroactive charges in such a time-bound context. |
| 2 | UNDP should discuss with donors the possibility of follow-on activities to promote continued youth understanding of and engagement with the ICJ process. |
| 3 | More broadly, the “Democracy and Governance Youth Leaders Project” (US$15,000) developed by CARICOM Youth Ambassador Kylah Ciego in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services, could be considered for funding. |
| 4 | Other general follow-on activities could also be useful to ensure the population is aware of progress towards an ICJ decision, which may take some time. |
| 5 | UNDP Belize may wish to seek South-South Cooperation Funding to bring a representative of the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Community Development to Belize to learn first-hand about the work of Belize’s Department of Youth Services. |
| 6 | UNDP Belize and donors should support the Elections and Boundaries Department to become fully engaged in UNIORE (www.uniore.org), the Inter-American Union of Electoral Bodies.UNIORE comprises 31 electoral bodies from Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and North America and actively promotes the sharing of experiences and information among its members.It was surprising to learn that EBD was unaware of UNIORE and its activities. |
| 7 | Recommend to the Commonwealth Secretariat that Ms. Josephine Tamai, Belize’s Chief Elections Officer, be included in the Commonwealth’s Election Observation Mission for Bougainville’s upcoming (est. November 2019) political status referendum. |
| 8 | UNDP Belize and donors should take note of the recommendation in the Commonwealth Observer Mission’s Interim statement calling on Belizean stakeholders “to conduct a post-referendum review to further strengthen Belize’s governance institutions” and support such a review to the extent possible. |
| 9 | UN’s Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) and UNDP should discuss mechanisms through which existing staff (e.g., from HQ or regional offices) could be deployed more quickly and for the time necessary to support rapid initiation of electoral projects with hard deadlines (i.e., those supporting specific electoral events).Alternatively, a reasonable number of rostered experts could be retained on “As-and-When Needed” contracts to facilitate rapid deployment as needed. |
| 10 | Ensure that all relevant DPA/EAD policy guidance (e.g., “Promoting Women's Electoral andPolitical Participation through UN Electoral Assistance”, “Promoting the Electoral Rights of PWD through UN Electoral Assistance”, etc.) is shared with those responsible for developing project documents and implementing project activities. A single up-to-date list of those documents with a brief introductory text on the nature of the documents and instructions on how to access or request them would likely be useful. |
| 11 | Clarify that those subject to the decisions of the Project Board should not also sit on the Project Board but should, as appropriate, advise the Project Board. |
1. Recommendation:
Donors should consider the effects of not recognizing any retroactive charges in such a time-bound context.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/07/24] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
Accepted on principle, as this is a decision of the Donor. To be taken into account for future initiatives of this nature
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| negotiate with Donors, and include in Cost Sharing Agreements the need for retro-active charges where possible
[Added: 2020/04/17] |
Governance Unit, UNDP Senior Management | 2019/12 | Completed |
2. Recommendation:
UNDP should discuss with donors the possibility of follow-on activities to promote continued youth understanding of and engagement with the ICJ process.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/07/24] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
Accepted, but this is subject to donor willingness to engage in such activities.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discuss with donors on the possibility of engaging Youths for the ICJ process.
[Added: 2020/04/17] [Last Updated: 2020/07/27] |
Governance Unit, UNDP Senior Management | 2021/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: ICJ process for this portion of the project no applicable with Belize having submitted its claim to the ICJ] History |
3. Recommendation:
More broadly, the “Democracy and Governance Youth Leaders Project” (US$15,000) developed by CARICOM Youth Ambassador Kylah Ciego in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services, could be considered for funding.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/07/24] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
Accepted but subject to the availability of resources.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A review of the Democratic and Governance Youth Leaders Project was completed, but due to other priorities, funding could not be provided, especially with new COVID 19 initiatives taking precedence.
[Added: 2020/04/17] |
Governance Unit | 2020/02 | Completed |
4. Recommendation:
Other general follow-on activities could also be useful to ensure the population is aware of progress towards an ICJ decision, which may take some time.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/07/24] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
Accepted. UNDP will engage with Implementing Partner (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) as the lead entity for the ICJ process, however, the Implementing Partner will decide on engagement as funding is limited.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNDP will engage with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explorer areas for more communication activities on the ICJ activities.
[Added: 2020/04/17] [Last Updated: 2021/04/19] |
Governance Unit | 2021/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: A new government was elected to office on November 4th 2020. However, ICJ related activities are not a top priority at this time. Therefore it is not envisaged that UNDP will engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UNDP Belize stands available to support the government if and when they deem this matter a priority. ] History |
5. Recommendation:
UNDP Belize may wish to seek South-South Cooperation Funding to bring a representative of the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Community Development to Belize to learn first-hand about the work of Belize’s Department of Youth Services.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/07/24] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
Accepted in Principle, however this is an initiative the Implementing Partner (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) would need to consider and approve.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engage with the UNDP South South Exchange team on the possible arrangement of learning exchange between Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Community Development Papua New Guinea and Belize's Department of Youth Services.
[Added: 2020/04/17] [Last Updated: 2020/11/16] |
Governance Unit, UNDP Senior Management. | 2020/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: Change in government and reconfiguration of government ministries] History |
6. Recommendation:
UNDP Belize and donors should support the Elections and Boundaries Department to become fully engaged in UNIORE (www.uniore.org), the Inter-American Union of Electoral Bodies.UNIORE comprises 31 electoral bodies from Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and North America and actively promotes the sharing of experiences and information among its members.It was surprising to learn that EBD was unaware of UNIORE and its activities.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/07/24] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
Accepted, UNDP will engage DPA and IP for linkages to UNIORE
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| liaise with DPA in ensuring that Elections and Boundaries Department is engaged with UNIORE in order to support the Department and to share experiences and lesson learnt with other counterparts in the region
[Added: 2020/04/17] [Last Updated: 2021/02/02] |
Governance Unit | 2020/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: No longer applicable as there is a new Government in place.] History |
7. Recommendation:
Recommend to the Commonwealth Secretariat that Ms. Josephine Tamai, Belize’s Chief Elections Officer, be included in the Commonwealth’s Election Observation Mission for Bougainville’s upcoming (est. November 2019) political status referendum.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/07/24] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
The Boungainville referendum has been completed. Nonetheless the recommendation in accepted in Principle and subject to available funding as the decision to elect a person participate as an observer to an electoral process is outside the scope of UNDP.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engage with DPA, Commonwealth Secretariat and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explore possibility on exploring options to engage of having the Chief Elections Officer participate as an Observer in Elections to understand and experience a different environment.
[Added: 2020/04/17] [Last Updated: 2020/07/27] |
Governance Unit, UNDP Senior Management | 2021/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: Given the current COVID19 Environment and upcoming General Elections, it is unlikely that the Chief Elections Officer will participate as an Observer in election outside of Belize.] History |
8. Recommendation:
UNDP Belize and donors should take note of the recommendation in the Commonwealth Observer Mission’s Interim statement calling on Belizean stakeholders “to conduct a post-referendum review to further strengthen Belize’s governance institutions” and support such a review to the extent possible.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/07/24] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
Accepted on principle as this is subject to donor willingness to engage in such a review and provide funding.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engage with Partners and donors to review the Commonwealth Observer Mission report with an aim to develop a programme with Government on possible strengthening of Belize's governance institution.
[Added: 2020/04/17] [Last Updated: 2021/04/19] |
Governance Unit, UNDP Senior Management | 2021/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: While UNDP Belize has not received a copy of the Commonwealth Observer Mission report, it remains fully committed and continues to strengthen governance institutions through other projects. ] History |
9. Recommendation:
UN’s Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) and UNDP should discuss mechanisms through which existing staff (e.g., from HQ or regional offices) could be deployed more quickly and for the time necessary to support rapid initiation of electoral projects with hard deadlines (i.e., those supporting specific electoral events).Alternatively, a reasonable number of rostered experts could be retained on “As-and-When Needed” contracts to facilitate rapid deployment as needed.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/07/24] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
Accepted. For future related initiatives, UNDP can explore with DPA/EAD on roster usage.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work with DPA/EAD in advance in while working on the project document to have TOR advanced along with reviewing roster experts to assist.
[Added: 2020/04/17] |
Governance Unit, UNDP Senior Management | 2019/12 | Completed |
10. Recommendation:
Ensure that all relevant DPA/EAD policy guidance (e.g., “Promoting Women's Electoral andPolitical Participation through UN Electoral Assistance”, “Promoting the Electoral Rights of PWD through UN Electoral Assistance”, etc.) is shared with those responsible for developing project documents and implementing project activities. A single up-to-date list of those documents with a brief introductory text on the nature of the documents and instructions on how to access or request them would likely be useful.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/04/16] [Last Updated: 2020/04/17]
Accepted and will be taken into account for future related initiatives.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share all required documentation for project design with counterparts and partners for effective development of project activities.
[Added: 2020/04/17] |
Governance Unit, UNDP Senior Management | 2019/12 | Completed |
11. Recommendation:
Clarify that those subject to the decisions of the Project Board should not also sit on the Project Board but should, as appropriate, advise the Project Board.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/04/17]
Accepted. This is part of the project design and development
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Review and ensure that all future projects have clearly defined Governance and Management Arrangements and adhered to as provided for in the Project Document
[Added: 2020/04/17] |
Governance Unit | 2019/12 | Completed |