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Evaluation of the UNHCR Joint Organisation Strategy 2007-2009 with Canada, Denmark and UK

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The Joint Organisation Strategy (JOS) is a collaborative framework between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Canada, Denmark, and the United Kingdom (UK) that aimed at increasing the efficiency of their working relationship and strengthening UNHCR's capacity for operational delivery. The strategy was conceived in 2006 and put in place in mid 2007. The JOS was aligned with UNHCR's Global Strategic Objectives developed in 2006 and was guided by the priorities of the Executive Committee and its Standing Committee.

The JOS works at two levels: the strategic level which focuses on the overall relationship between the four partners, and the operational level which is concerned with the development and implementation of Annual Action Plans and annual reporting. The three JOS donors have been consistently among the strongest individual supporters of UNHCR. They contributed approximately 10% of the overall funding to UNHCR during the period 2007-08, and the proportion of unrestricted (un-earmarked) contributions from the three donors is relatively high compared to most other donors (29% in 2007 and 24% in 2008).

As the JOS was a new approach, the four partners committed to undertake an evaluation of the JOS in 2009 at the end of the first trial period. The two overall objectives of the evaluation are to: determine the extent to which the JOS has delivered the objectives and desired impact outlined in the strategy, and review the harmonised approach and share lessons-learned about the strengths and weaknesses of the approach. The evaluation focuses on two levels: the strategic and organisational level, and the operational level. It is intended that the key findings of the evaluation will inform the planning of the next JOS.

This evaluation assesses the relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness of the JOS based on key issues identified in the Terms of Reference (ToR) and refined in an Evaluation Matrix, compares the JOS with other relevant organisational frameworks, and identifies lessons learned. As the decision has been taken to develop a follow-on collective agreement, the evaluation's conclusions and recommendations have been framed as a starting point