Our Projects
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING
Advisor UN System Coherence at FAO
2011: Alison King was contracted by the FAO UN Relations and Rome-based Collaboration Branch to provide policy and strategic advice on UN system coherence matters.
From September to December 2011, Alison King was based at FAO Headquarters in Rome. As UN System Coherence Advisor, she provided policy and strategic guidance on developments related to UN reforms and UN system-wide coherence. This, in view of strengthening FAO’s voice in global inter-agency and inter-governmental processes, such as preparations for the 2012 UN General Assembly Quadrennial Policy Review. Contact: Alison King
Development of FAO Strategy on Collaboration within the UN System
2010: FAO has contracted Alison King to elaborate a corporate strategy on collaboration within the UN system.
In 2010, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) asked Alison King to draft a strategy to achieve a more proactive and coherent corporate approach to UN system partnerships and UN reforms. In close collaboration with the Office of Corporate Communications and External Relations in Rome, Alison is developing a strategy determined by a vision of strong partnerships that enhance FAO’s capacity to assist its member states achieve their national goals and to help accelerate progress towards the MDGs. An Agenda for Action will facilitate the implementation of the Strategy.
Technical Assistance for Delivering as One United Nations (DaO)
2010: Alison King continued to provide technical assistance to SDC’s involvement in DaO
In 2010, Alison King continued to provide support to the Swiss Cooperation Office in Albania in monitoring and engaging in the Delivering as One process. In particular, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation requested Alison to review and document experiences with Swiss involvement in DaO to learn for future institutional engagement with the UN system at country level. This experience documentation fed into Swiss statements at the Hanoi High-level Tripartite Conference on DaO in June. Later on, it served as key input into an SDC internal workshop in Maputo on how to improve cooperation with multilateral organizations. Contact: Alison King
Formulation of UN Global Compact Strategy
2010: Urs Zollinger facilitated an internal review of the 2008-2010 UN Global Compact Strategy and the formulation of a follow-up Strategy.
Urs Zollinger was asked by the Global Compact Office in New York to support the review of its three-year strategy (2008-2010), which he had helped develop back in 2007. In close collaboration with the Global Compact team in New York, Urs facilitated the review process and the formulation of the next three-year strategy (2011-2013). He provided methodological guidance on results-oriented approaches and ensured external quality control. The new Strategy was well received by donor governments. Contact: Urs Zollinger
Millennium Development Goals Progress Report of Switzerland
2010: Mandated by the Swiss Foreign Ministry, King Zollinger contributed to concept and drafting of the Swiss Federal Council 2010 MDG Progress Report.
This second progress report was prepared in preparation for the UN General Assembly Summit on the Millennium Development Goals that took place in New York in September 2010. Intended for the Swiss public at large, Swiss parliamentarians and members of the press, it uses specific examples to show how Switzerland, working with national and international partners, has contributed to the MDGs and what difference the country’s efforts are making. Contact: Urs Zollinger
Managing Financial Contributions to Multilateral Organizations
2010: Urs Zollinger assisted the Swiss Government in rolling out a results-oriented planning and monitoring instrument.
In 2008/2009, Urs Zollinger developed an instrument for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to manage its financial contributions to core (regular) budgets of multilateral organizations in a results-oriented manner. In 2010, Urs supported the development of training materials, such as case studies and Q&A, and participated as resource person in workshops to introduce the new management instrument. SDC staff members are now using the tool to manage financial contributions to all major multilateral partner organizations. Contact: Urs Zollinger
Delivering as One United Nations
2009: The UN Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO) contracted Alison King to develop a standardized Delivering as One process Monitoring & Evaluation framework.
The primary intent of the standardized Delivering as One (DaO) process M&E framework is to guide the eight DaO pilot countries in developing their own country-specific M&E frameworks. The standardised log frame serves as a menu from which to prioritise based on a prior analysis of UN agencies’ common needs and capacities. Summarising the key elements of DaO, it serves to i) communicate the reform process and how the UN will deliver its contribution in future; and ii) allow the UN country team to track progress and adjust the focus of its reform activities. A follow-up assignment includes further elaboration of outcome indicators for measuring increased efficiency and effectiveness through common services and harmonised business practices. Contact: Alison King
SDC Annual Work Planning
2009: Urs Zollinger facilitated the 2009 mid-term review and 2010 work planning of the SDC Global Institutions Division.
In 2009, the Division responsible for global institutions within the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asked King Zollinger to facilitate the assessment of activities and results achieved in 2009 and to support planning for 2010. As in earlier years, Urs Zollinger provided methodological guidance to the process and facilitated a mid-term review and a planning workshop.
Facilitating a Work Planning Process
2008: Urs Zollinger facilitated the 2008 annual review and 2009 work planning of the SDC Global Institutions Division.
The Division responsible for global institutions within the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asked King Zollinger to facilitate the assessment of activities and results achieved in 2008 and to support planning the implementation for 2009. Urs Zollinger provided methodological guidance to the process and facilitated a mid-term review and a planning workshop. Contact: Urs Zollinger
Designing a Logical Framework Matrix (Logframe)
2008: Urs Zollinger facilitated the development of a logframe matrix for the Government of Switzerland Strategy for the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.
The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked King Zollinger to facilitate the development of a logframe matrix for implementing the Government’s four-year Strategy for the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Urs Zollinger was responsible for introducing the methodology and for facilitating a workshop with participants from different parts of the Federal administration. Contact: Urs Zollinger
Demonstrating Local-level Solidarity with Developing Countries
2008: At the request of the Swiss Government, King Zollinger elaborated a series of good examples of local-level international solidarity.
In 2006/2007, King Zollinger explored the potential for closer involvement of Swiss cantons and towns in the efforts of the Government to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. In 2008, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) asked us to elaborate a series of practical “good examples” illustrating how Swiss municipalities are successfully demonstrating solidarity with developing countries. Examples of international solidarity include social integration of migrants, responsible investment practices of public pension funds, sustainable energy, North-South cooperation on biodiversity, climate neutral mobility, investing 0.7% of communal budgets in support of the MDGs, and sustainable procurement of wood and paper-based products. For more information about the examples, visit the ARE website at www.are.admin.ch. Contact: Alison King
Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Host Countries
2008: King Zollinger supported the efforts of UNICEF Switzerland to reinforce the inter-governmental debate on the problem of FGM in host countries.
In 2008, the Swiss Committee for UNICEF asked King Zollinger to undertake rapid research into multilateral initiatives to tackle FGM in developed nations hosting migrants and refugees from countries that practice FGM. In particular, we identified those multilateral bodies that have deliberated the question of FGM in host countries. We also proposed potential tracks for reinforcing the inter-governmental debate within the United Nations as part of a larger coordinated strategy to protect girls from FGM. Contact: Alison King
Making the case for Multilateral Development Cooperation
2008: In collaboration with UNICEF Switzerland, King Zollinger developed arguments in support of a strong Swiss engagement in international development policy and cooperation.
In 2008, a number of Swiss parliamentarians questioned the level of Swiss Official Development Assistance (ODA) and in particular the percentage of multilateral contributions. In support of a strong Swiss engagement in international development policy and cooperation, King Zollinger, in collaboration with the Swiss Committee for UNICEF, put forward a number of political, legal and moral arguments for increasing Swiss ODA and securing the multilateral share. The discussion paper was presented to members of Parliament during the run-up to a parliamentary debate during the second half of 2008. Subsequently, while Parliament decided to increase ODA to 0.5% of BDP by 2015, the multilateral share was reduced. Contact: Urs Zollinger
Managing Financial Contributions to Multilateral Organisations
2008: Urs Zollinger developed a methodology for SDC to manage – in a results-oriented manner – non-earmarked financial contributions to the regular budgets of multilateral organisations.
Managing for development results also applies to non-earmarked financial contributions made by donor governments to multilateral organisations. From a results-oriented point of view, this type of contribution poses a specific challenge, as it is difficult to attribute development results to the individual contributions. In 2008, Urs Zollinger developed a tool for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to manage non-earmarked financial contributions to core (regular) budgets of multilateral organisations in a results-oriented way. This will help improve the strategic management of Switzerland’s multilateral cooperation as well as enhance Switzerland’s accountability for its multilateral financing. Contact: Urs Zollinger