Accountability & Transparency: The NEPAD-Spanish Fund for African Women Empowerment - Approved projects under the second call of proposals

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The recently published list of projects selected for funding under the auspices of Second Call for Proposals of the NEPAD-Spanish Fund for African Women Empowerment has generated a number of petitions from applicants whose projects have not been selected.

For record purposes, it is essential to reassure all stakeholders including applicants of the Second Call that the NEPAD Agency in collaboration with the competent Spanish Authorities took due and appropriate measures to ensure a fair, credible, open, accountable and transparent process for the selection of projects.

It is in this regard that the NEPAD Agency wishes to highlight the following clarifications on the grant-making and selection processes of the Fund:

Governance of the Fund and Approval Process

1. The Fund is governed through a Stering Committee (the VI Nepad-Spanish Fund Steering Committe) which is fully empowered to adopt decisions on the selection of priority countries, collaborating entities and approval of projects. 

2. Accordingly, for the Second Call of Proposals, the VI Nepad-Spanish Fund Steering Committe meeting convened in Madrid on 28 Februay 2012, with all relevant parties represented. These included the NEPAD Agency, ECOWAS, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The VI Nepad-Spanish Fund Steering Committe meeting duly considered and approved projects based on the recommendations of the Technical Meeting.

3. Thus, all elements pertaining to the appraisal process including short-listed projects were carefully and exhaustively examined before the final approval decision.

Methodology applied for the Second Calls of Proposals

4. On the basis of the shortfalls of the First Call of Proposals and the strong recommendation of the Nepad Agency Steering Committee, the Nepad Agency decided to undertake a rigorous and meticulous exercise with quality assurance guaranteed exercise.

5. In order to reach the largest audience, the Second Call of the Fund was widely disseminated and publicized to all stakeholders through national, regional partners’ networks. The resultant effect is an increase in African countries that have benefitted from the Fund, including public institutions.

6. Capitalizing on lessons learned from the First Call, the NEPAD Agency in consultation with the funding partner, took extraordinary justifiable steps to ensure that the Second Call was premised on the transparent selection of priority countries for funding informed by the following:

• Adoption of gender responsive indicators through: (i) the Report on the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa; (ii) the ratification of CEDAW; and (iii) the implementation of the Protocol to the ACHPR on Women’s Rights (Maputo Protocol);
• Use of development indicators such as: (i) UNDP Human Development [index (HDI) < 0.500 from 2005-2008]; and (ii) World Bank classification of Low Income Countries;
• Consideration of AECID list of priority countries; and
• Implementation of agreed criteria, namely: (i) Competitive scores received during technical and financial evaluation; (ii) Pre-defined allocated share of funds per priority sectors (60% for women economic empowerment; 20% for strengthening civil societey organisations; 20% for strengthening institutional entities); and (iii) Equitable balance between sub-sectors and priojects with priority to regional projetcs and government institutions.

Project appraisal process

7. The NEPAD Agency received 656 applications from all parts of Africa, and put in place definitive measures to guarantee accountable outcomes, including the:

• Setup of the NEPAD-Spanish Fund mail system as database for collation of project applications to facilitate accurate assessment of the first screening of applications and evaluate conformity with the guidelines; and
• Recruitment of an independent facilitator (Deloitte & Touche) in order to ensure accountability and transparency of appraisal process and compliance with global standards;

8. Overall, a 3-stage appraisal process was implemented as follows: (i) first screening; (ii) technical and financial evaluation; and (iii) final appraisal with systematic reconciliation meetings between the independent facilitator and NEPAD Agency for cross-checking.

Outcomes of Selection Process

9. The VI Nepad-Spanish Fund Steering Committe approvals amounted to 8.2 million Euros. Out of the 33 projects recommended for funding, the Steering Committee approved 31 projects to be implemented in 30 African countries.

10. A breakdown of the VI Nepad-Spanish Fund Steering Committe approvals shows that funding will be allocated for 21 projects that are to be implemented in 17 countries for a total amount of 4.8 million Euros. Among the 21 approved projects, it is to be noted that: (i) 9 projects are to be implemented in English speaking countries (1.8 million Euros); (ii) 9 projects are to be realized in French speaking countries (2 million Euros); and (iii) 3 project are proposed to Lusophone countries (1 million Euros).

11. In addition, the VI Nepad-Spanish Fund Steering Committe has approved the projects of 5 governmental institutions which received funding for an amount of 1.1 million Euros.

12. Finally, 6 regional organisations have been selected during this second call. Among these organisation 3 are hosted in Francophone countries while 2 are in Anglophone countries and 1 in Lusophone countries. The allocation approved for the regional organisations amounts 2.3 million Euros.

13. It is important to differentiate host country and country of implementation. As a matter of fact, some projects have been hosted in a country and implemented in another. For instance, the VI Nepad-Spanish Fund Steering Committe approved 500,000 Euros for two projects hosted in South Africa. However, the first project is to be implemented in Namibia for an amount of 350,000 Euros, while the second is proposed for implementation in the host country (South Africa) for an amount of 150,000 Euros. The host country is not necessarily the main beneficiary of the funds allocated. Projects are hosted in some countries only to facilitate implementation processes. 

Conclusion

14. Following the African Union and AECID best practices and complying with accountability, transparency and due process principles, the NEPAD Agency strictly operated an open procedure for the final selection of projects under the NEPAD-Spanish Fund for 2012-2014. Moreover, the transparency of the process is ascertained by the methodological competence of a highly reputable global independent consulting private outfit.

15. The approval decision of the VI Nepad-Spanish Fund Steering Committe was consensual and coherent with the indicated priorities and the raison d’etre of the Fund.

16. The integrity of all key actors in the Second Call process in particular and of the Fund in general is indisputable.

We therefore, re-state our strong commitment to continue to work towards strengthening the collaboration with stakeholders and development partners towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa.

Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki

Chief Executive Officer

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