Commissioning Unit: | DPR Korea |
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Evaluation Plan: | 2011-2019 |
Evaluation Type: | Outcome |
Completion Date: | 11/2013 |
Unit Responsible for providing Management Response: | DPR Korea
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Documents Related to overall Management Response: |
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Key Action Update History
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Partially agree, as SRED Project Team had raised all the issues on inception and previous PSC meetings and the objectives were discussed and fine-tuned according to the circumstances. # of guidelines in place that must be considered for future programming in the field of energy. While some guidelines are directly due to the international political context for UNDP in DPRK, others are based on lessons drawn over time. The issuance of new UNDP guidelines has implications for the strategy and scope of an intervention, as is the case for the SRED programme. UNDP guidelines and principles not mentioned in the UNSF and CP include: (i)a focus away from grid-connected energy technologies (even small grids); (ii) a focus away from direct support to policy development; (iii) a limitation of project funds available for hardware to 20% of the total project sum funded by UNDP; and (iv) a halt on capacity building activities for high-level Government staff, including international study tours. Updates on internal UNDP policy and principles are communicated with the Government of DPRK (NCC).
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.1 To share approved Stocktaking Report with the key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
DRR, PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Stocktaking report was shared with key stakeholders after approval by DRR in December 2013. | |
1.2 To agree on final revised outcomes before end of the project.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
DRR, PM | 2013/12 | Completed | The 6th Joint PSC meeting took place on 12 December 2013. |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Fully agree. These valuable lessons must be considered for future programming in the field of energy. The political context directly affects project implementation and execution. As a result, policy-related activities under SRED were suspended. UNDP?s DPRK specific guidelines can have repercussions on the overall project strategy and limit direct investment in equipment. A negative side-effect is that sometimes expectations are created among rural beneficiaries, which cannot be met. Project activities generally need more time than anticipated. The renewable energy pilots under SRED are affected by external factors (among others: the long, idle winter period) and inadequate local managerial skills. Also, the complexity and implications of technology development and quality assurance are underestimated.
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.1 To share approved Stocktaking Report with the key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
DRR, PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Stocktaking report was shared with key stakeholders after approval by DRR in December 2013 | |
2.2 Further discuss these issues with national and international consultants/partners, on the following PTC and PSC meetings
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/01] |
PM | 2013/12 | Completed | The 6th Joint PSC meeting took place on 12 December 2013. Following action to be taken by DRR and P History |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Fully agree. Project was granted no cost extension until end of June 2014. International procurement in DPRK has become increasingly complex, time-consuming, and costly, putting a large burden on project staff and UNDP procurement officers. The main causes are the need for strict compliance with international sanctions on DPRK, difficult international logistics, the lack of response by international providers of goods and services, and the high prices quoted. PM had suggested no cost extension for one year and final decision of the Senior Management was 6 months.
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3.1 PM to prepare justification on the realistic date of project termination.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
DRR, PM | 2013/11 | Completed | Action taken by PM and UNDP CO | |
3.2 Before receiving of formal approval of the Stocktaking Report UNDP Senior Management has taken decision for no cost extension of SRED project until June 2013.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
DRR, PM | 2013/11 | Completed | Action taken by UNDP Senior Management in consultation with UNDP HQ |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Partially agree. UNDP is constrained by its current mandate from engagement at levels higher than rural/cooperative farm level.These valuable lessons learned must be considered for future programming in the field of energy. National partners and local people have little experience with renewable energy projects and lack the managerial and technical skills to implement them. Up-scaling will not be possible if project implementation is not successfully transferred to a national entity with substantial executing capacity.
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.1 To share approved Stocktaking Report with the key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
DRR, PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Stocktaking report was shared with key stakeholders after approval by DRR in December 2013 | |
4.2 To reflect the point on selection of entry points for future new UNDP rural energy intervention in ToRs of local and international consultants for development new successor programme
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/01] |
DRR, PM | 2015/10 | Completed | Action to be taken by PM and DRR New project formulated reflecting evaluation recommendations History |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Fully agree. These valuable lessons learned must be considered for future programming in any UNDP projects in DPRK. The limited background information and knowledge available to UNDP make it more difficult to validate assumptions and propose an adequate project strategy. The project context can change quickly due to international issues, as canproject mandates and staffing of national counterparts.
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.1 To reflect in the project progress reports more positive perception that many useful lessons are being learnt within a short time period since SRED project implementation started in 2010.
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/01] |
PM | 2014/10 | Completed | Action to be taken by PM Project closed in October 2014 History | |
5.2 To collect more information through conducting development and institutional framework assessment and household survey for new UNDP rural energy initiative development.
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/02] |
PM | 2016/05 | Completed | Action to be taken by PM The new Sustainable Energy Solutions project is undertaking detail energy demand and resource assessment studies in 15 Ris (survey started in May 2016) History |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2014/02/26]
Partially agree, as some tours and such have been found to be useful. These valuable lessons learned must be considered for future programming in any UNDP projects in DPRK.
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.1 To share approved Stocktaking Report with the key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Stocktaking report was shared with key stakeholders after approval by DRR in December 2013. | |
6.2 To discuss these issues during consultation meetings with NCC and other key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/01] |
DRR | 2015/10 | Completed | Action to be taken by PM and DRR New project formulated reflecting evaluation recommendation History |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Partially agree. These valuable lessons learned must be considered for future programming in any UNDP projects in DPRK. On-going work as done under SRED provides valuable information and knowledge for UNDP about the organization of life in rural DPRK, as well as the mechanisms (such as barter and local markets) to cope with scarcity of food and materials. This information is useful for future programming and to support a differentiated approach with respect to gender and vulnerable groups.
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7.1 To share approved Stocktaking Report with the key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
DRR, PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Stocktaking report was shared with key stakeholders after approval by DRR in December 2013 | |
7.2 To collect more information through conducting development and institutional framework assessment and household survey for new UNDP rural energy initiative development.
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/02] |
DRR, PM | 2016/05 | Completed | Action to be taken by PM and DRR The new Sustainable Energy Solutions project is undertaking detail energy demand and resource assessment studies in 15 Ris (survey started in May 2016) History | |
7.3 To discuss these issues during consultation meetings with NCC and other key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/02] |
DRR, PM | 2016/05 | Completed | Action to be taken by PM and DRR Discussion made and the new Sustainable Energy Solutions project is undertaking detail energy demand and resource assessment studies in 15 Ris (survey started in May 2016) History |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Partially agree. These valuable lessons learned must be considered for future programming in any UNDP projects in DPRK. Due to tight time frame, it is very challenging to collect information based on M&E for developing good lessons learned and good practice information.
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8.1 To share approved Stocktaking Report with the key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Stocktaking report was shared with key stakeholders after approval by DRR in December 2013. | |
8.2 Continue M&E as it is planned until end of project by June 2014.
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/01] |
PM | 2014/10 | Completed | Action to be taken by PM Actions taken, until project closed History |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Fully agree. These valuable lessons learned must be considered for future programming in any UNDP projects in DPRK. Output 6 was discussed on PSC meetings and changed to ?New Successor Sustainable Rural Energy Development Programme formulated and designed?
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
9.1 To share approved Stocktaking Report with the key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Stocktaking report was shared with key stakeholders after approval by DRR in December 2013 | |
9.2 To discuss these issues during consultation meetings with NCC and other key stakeholders.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
DRR, PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Action taken by PM and DRR. | |
9.3 To highlighted changes of Output 6 on PSC meeting and discuss it with concerned parties.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
DRR, PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Action taken by PM and DRR. |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Partially agree. These valuable lessons learned must be considered for future programming in any UNDP projects in DPRK. With respect to institution building, it is clear that efficient institutions are the key to supplying capital inputs (including energy solutions) to rural communities. As indicated before, these institutions are not sufficiently well identified, described and understood. Voids exist in the national institutional framework, in a sense that required functions are not adequately recognized and covered. Barriers in this aspect are systemic and beyond the scope and mandate of UNDP?s work in DPRK.
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10.1 To collect more information through conducting development and institutional framework assessment and household survey for new UNDP rural energy initiative development.
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/02] |
PM | 2016/05 | Completed | Action to be taken by PM The new Sustainable Energy Solutions project is undertaking detail energy demand and resource assessment studies in 15 Ris (survey started in May 2016) History |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Partially agree, as initially main goal of SRED project was to demonstrate modern renewable energy technologies. In absence of market mechanisms it is difficult to expect to find any incentive/stimulus to reduce product costs and optimize transport logistics, and to supply the product in large volumes. The situation partially can change for better if it would be possible to transfer the project results for up scaling to a national entity with substantial executing capacity.
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11.1 To share the Stocktaking Report with concerned partners.
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/01] |
PM | 2014/10 | Completed | Action to be taken by PM. History |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
On 4th PSC meeting (5 September 2012) it was commented on Output i.e. #4 ?Policies and Mechanisms Put in Place to Remove Barriers to Identification and Implementation of Energy Demonstration Projects?. It is noticed that policy, regulatory or institutional change is important to address structural and systemic barriers to energy access but project has not been able to do much in this area due to the political context. It was recommended small steps could be taken in this regard i.e. survey of policies and regulations and gap analysis as a starting point. In the ensuing discussion, it was agreed that within the DPRK context, it would be better to use the term ?national guideline? and a deeper understanding is required before any inroads. PSC meeting concluded to revisit and address the above issues through a series of discussion after reviewing the detailed workplan submitted by PM by the end of September
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12.1 To share the Stocktaking Report with concerned partners.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Action taken by PM | |
12.2 To collect more information through conducting development and institutional framework assessment and household survey for new UNDP rural energy initiative development
[Added: 2014/02/26] [Last Updated: 2016/06/02] |
DRR, PM | 2016/05 | Completed | The new Sustainable Energy Solutions project is undertaking detail energy demand and resource assessment studies in 15 Ris (survey started in May 2016) History |
Management Response: [Added: 2014/02/26]
Disagree as this is already part of project Output 5. Compilation and dissemination of lessons learned and "Good Practices". Due to tight time frame and limitations on available data and applicable methodologies, it is very challenging to collect information based on M&E for developing good lessons learned and good practice information
Key Actions:
Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
13.1 To share the Stocktaking Report with concerned partners.
[Added: 2014/02/26] |
PM | 2013/12 | Completed | Project has received no cost extension until June 2014. Although current developments might prevent a possibility to finish project by this time |