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Annex 6.
Key recommendations and management response
Evaluation recommendation 1. UNDP pioneered a discourse on social cohesion in Armenia. Given specific mandate of UNDP, the momentum
should be build by continuous efforts to promote SC understanding and mainstreaming.
Management response: Accepted
Key action(s)
1.1 To mainstream SC in UNDP programming
Time frame
2012-14
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking*
Comments
Status
CO, DG Portfolio
Evaluation recommendation 2. When publishing the SC Survey Report, UNDP could consider publishing a brief Executive Summary as well, which
could be couple of pages long and would include some recommendations. This brief document could be used to easily communicate SC understanding
to lager group of stakeholders.
Management response: Accepted
Key action(s)
Time frame
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
2.1 Executive summary is prepared and included in
the final report
Evaluation recommendation 3. Existing networks are to be broadly utilized to promote further discussion on social cohesion. The ideas and
approaches of SC should be broadly spread and discussed with other development agencies, international organization and CSOs. This would help to
build common understanding on related issues and consolidate resources (both human and material) for further joint efforts. UNDP can approach this
audience both on individual bases and in the form of group events. Early discussions could be held on very specific selected issues. A specific issue
can be determined to pilot this effort and build success. Specific discussion with targeted stakeholders on various levels on issues related to SC might
be another asset in building stakeholder understanding.
Management response: Accepted
Key action(s)
Time frame
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
3.1 This is in process including through social
media tools (Facebook)
Evaluation recommendation 4. Working with and involving Media in the SC discourse could be considered as priority to spread understanding of SC
and promote relevant concepts. At this point the media involvement could be made more informal (lunch discussions, media training, talk-shows, etc.).
Online media should be considered as another priority channel to promote the concepts. Involving social media, bloggers, local leaders to expand the
discourse and to make people talk about this could be another strategy adopted. Another idea for developing practices of using the survey data by
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media sources, a contest could be launched for Media to cover SC related issues. A broad public discussion could be built on this initiative.
Management response: Accepted with reservation; in absence of a dedicated media project this recommendation can be implemented in the frame of
the CO communication strategy
Key action(s)
Time frame
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
3.1 To develop a work plan on promoting the SC
2013
CO, DG Portfolio
concept through the media
Evaluation recommendation 5. UNDP can work to develop synergy among various ministries. Though, this effort should be carefully designed to
ensure that diverse mandates, priorities and interests are carefully considered.
Management response: Accepted with reservations: to that end UNDP should work at the level of strategic policy documents, ,e.g., National
Sustainable Development Programme or post 2015 agenda
Evaluation recommendation 6. Mainstreaming the SC approaches and prism into UNDP other projects might be another advocacy strategy selected.
Specific set of indicators to measure SC mainstreaming in the UNDP project can be developed and promoted.
Management response: Accepted
Key action(s)
3.1 The SC approaches and prism are
mainstreamed into UNDP DG Portfolio projects
starting from end of 2011.
3.2
3.3
Time frame
End 2011 and beyond
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
DG Portfolio
Evaluation recommendation 7. UNDP already started planning efforts for promoting the usage of the existing SC database and creating analytical
evidence-base for policy implications, UNDP can dedicate some resources or build partnership to provide funding for small research project. These
small researches projects can be promoted via the Youth/Research Centers or Academic Institutions. The small research projects would focus on
finding answers to “what to do and how to develop the aspects identified in the survey”. Based on the small researches elaborated above, a broader
discussion could be facilitated, youth or other thematic conferences could be organized.
Management response: Accepted
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Key action(s)
3.1 The follow up researches and discussions are
planned in the framework of the Youth Studies
Center to be established through the “Support to
Establishment of the Youth Studies Center” Project
implemented by UNDP with DGTTF funding.
Time frame
Jan-Dec, 2013
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
DG Portfolio
Evaluation recommendation 8. To make SC discussion a part of broad political discourse, UNDP should consider launching an initiative to work
with Political Parties. More specifically this idea could be tailored to upcoming LSG and Presidential elections.
Management response: Accepted with reservation in view of the overall sensitivity of electoral processes; UNDP’s view is that promotion of the
concept of SC can be most efficient in-between the elections.
Key action(s)
Time frame
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
3.1 Revisit this recommendation after the
Spring 2013-2014
DG Portfolio
presidential elections scheduled for February 2013
Evaluation recommendation 9. UNDP could consider using the SC project outcomes and recommendations produced to develop new products and
projects incorporated into the community development and building participatory processes at various levels. A community development initiative
could be launched (in partnership with UNDP Socio-Economic Portfolio). Pilot communities can be selected to test SC development approaches, some
pilot projects can be developed and implemented within broad partnership among SCO and Government entities. The connection should be made
obvious on how community budget development is connected to improving SC situation in the community. When the correlation of sense of belonging
and community budget is made obvious, this kind of pilot project could become a great success.
Management response: Accepted
Key action(s)
3.1 The results were already used in “Live
Armenia”, “Women in Local Democracy” and
“Support to Establishment of the Youth Studies
Center” projects. Also, the “Community
Development” Project of the Socio-Economic
Governance Portfolio as well as the “Live
Armenia” Project of DG Portfolio are both
connected with community issues, community
budget development and joint implementation of
community projects.
Time frame
2011-2013
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
DG Portfolio in partnership
with the Socio-Economic
Portfolio
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Evaluation recommendation 10. While a legislative package to promote participation is being developed by the MTA, that is a right momentum to
continue providing support to MTA, and to develop a tailored mechanism to measure SC on community level based on the reporting and data
generated on LSG level by MTA regional centers (marzpetarans). A small project could be launched to develop this mechanism for MTA. The
recommendations elaborated in the SC Survey Report could be tailored to support MTA: some specific recommendations could be developed on what
should be changed (a step-by-step guidance for MTA). UNDP DG portfolio could initiate developing smart indicators for its projects to measure
influence on Social Cohesion whenever it is possible.
Management response: Accepted
Key action(s)
3.1 The CO will discuss with the BRC a possibility
to develop for the MTA a user-friendly indicator on
SC disaggregated by regions
Time frame
2013
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
DG Portfolio, MTA, BRC
Evaluation recommendation 11. Given the importance of tracking changes in the SC field, UNDP could allocate or develop through partnership
some resources for another survey to be conducted in 3 years down the road.
Management response: Accepted
Key action(s)
3.1 At this stage the CO has tentatively planned to
conduct another survey in 2014 to reflect the
findings in post 2015 national development agenda
Time frame
2014
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
CO, DG Portfolio
Evaluation recommendation 12. UNDP should continue practicing elaboration on expectation when developing and communicating a TOR. This
will generate advance understanding among potential or selected implementers on specifics of UNDP vision and expectations. Some feedback was
received that TORs could have been more specific.
Management response: Not accepted, since to prepare the ToR of this first -ever research on SC in Armenia the DG Portfolio conducted a
comprehensive research/ desk review of similar initiatives and also held a round of extensive consultations with the counterparts from UN agencies,
government and civil society
Evaluation recommendation 13. Practicing Advisory Board for such research projects proved to be an efficient practice. Although, DG might want
to reconsider approaches of forming AB to ensure best possible incorporation of external expertise. Likewise, international experts could have been
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brought on board from the very beginning of similar innovative projects.
Management response: Accepted
Key action(s)
Time frame
Responsible unit(s)
Tracking
Comments
Status
3.1 The Advisory Board approach will be applied
n/a
DG Portfolio
in other projects as deemed necessary
Evaluation recommendation 14. UNDP should continue promoting and deepen State – SCO partnership on different levels of project
implementation. That would greatly contribute to development of social cohesion practices.
Management response: Agreed with the proposed approach which is at heart of UNDP mandate and UNDP continuously promotes active
collaboration and dialogue between the CSO and the State in all projects
* Status of implementation is tracked electronically in the Evaluation Resource Centre database (ERC).
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