STRATEGY & POLICY ADVICE
Support to external action policymaking and policy dialogue in partner countries. Extensive experience in conducting consultations around policy issues as well as research studies, evaluations, and recommendations based on rigorous research and evidence-based analysis. Organising and facilitating consultations with public and private stakeholders including partner Governments, Team Europe members, the private sector, and civil society (including youth, women’s organisations, sectoral organisations, etc.). Support to the coordination of public interventions and formulation of external action policies, as well as sectoral and political dialogue in partner countries.
Support to the formulation of public policy for governments, institutions and international organizations to develop effective, inclusive and sustainable policies. Support to the formulation of EU external policies in the field of Inequality, Digitalisation, the Green Deal etc. Supporting strategic policy development and programming process, in particular programming for EU Delegations and the Team Europe Initiatives.
Examples of ongoing and recent strategy and policy advice projects:
Background note on the post 2020 debate and its implications for OCTs: This project provided evidence-based recommendations to political leaders of the OCTs on aspects of the post‐2020 framework and its potential impacts for the EU‐OCT partnership. In particular, the project identified (a) what these aspects are; (b) how OCTs, Member States and the Commission can work together to integrate them into the overall post‐2020 debate; and (c) the specific time‐points during the consultative process that can provide OCTs with opportunities to influence the post-2020 debate. The project also facilitated discussions on the future of the EDF and on future innovative modalities of funding for the OCT‐EU partnership.
The renewal of the ACP-EU partnership agreement: Issues for the EU in consultation phase 1. This project formulates a Joint European Strategy for development cooperation in support of Ghana’s national development plan. The project is implemented by AETS in partnership with VJW International.
Analysis of internal and external consultations on post Cotonou and support in drafting official documents. This project provided support DEVCO’s task force in preparing and drafting the evaluation, the impact assessment as well as the recommendation on the future of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) after 2020. This project was implemented by AETS in partnership with VJW International.
FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT (PFM)
VJW International works closely with major donors, partner countries and the private sector to provide tailored technical, economic, financial and legal expertise on financing for development and public financial management. Central to this is supporting public donors and partner governments to improve public finance management systems and processes, domestic resources mobilization and macroeconomic stability.
Financing for Development
VJW International provides economic, financial, technical and legal expertise on:
- Finance Products and Structures
- Financiers/Risk Takers
- Markets and financing needs/gaps
- Policy Issues
- Legal, institutional and procedural issues
Public Finance Management
VJW International provides economic, financial, technical and legal expertise on:
- Growth inclusiveness and fighting inequalities
- Reforms and capacity building
- Public expenditure and cash management
- Public procurement
- Tax policy and tax administration
- Public finance management at the national and sub-national level
Examples of ongoing and recent projects in financing for international development:
Study on ‘Mainstreaming the reduction of Inequalities in Development Cooperation:This project aims to support the on-going work of the European Union’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO) on strengthening the EU development cooperation approach to address inequalities in partner countries. This study focuses on income inequalities, their dynamics, causes, consequences, and effective policy responses. VJW International has produced a strategic study which aims to compound and develop the knowledge on addressing inequalities and effectively contribute to making DEVCO strategies, instruments and programmes more responsive to the challenge of reducing inequalities.
This project is implemented in partnership with MKS
Studies to identify areas for EU-India Development Cooperation:This project consists of assisting the Delegation of the European Union to India by providing in-depth studies, viable concept notes and stakeholder workshops. The studies aim to identify:
-where the EU should concentrate the use of its investment/blending facilities to respond to nationally identified development needs in India
-type of investment modalities which fit with the EU’s facilities
-potential partners that have a record of successful
-the potential role that EU can play in mobilizing impact investment, CSR funds, private financing to meet India’s development needs.
-appropriate government counterparts – central and/or state level – for each opportunity, how to ensure that ideas are received, transmitted, and coordinated within the different national entities as relevant through the appropriate channels to ensure success.
This project is implemented in partnership with AECOM.
Study on whether the application of development effectiveness principles determine better results in addressing development challenges and achieving development outcomes:The project aims to determine the relevance of development effectiveness principle, including the use of country systems and the involvement of the private sector, for achieving better results in addressing development challenges and achieving development outcomes (currently defined by SDGs).
This project is implemented in partnership with AECOM.
Support to EU Joint Programming and EU Joint Implementation in Kenya and support to the Development Partners group:This project aims to enhance the impact of the European (EU, EU Member States) development cooperation work in Kenya and the work of the Development Partners Group by bringing together resources and capacities and by improving coordination, communication and visibility, and by promoting the cross-cutting objectives of the European Union which include: environment and climate change, rights based approach, persons with disability, indigenous peoples and gender equality. A key component is Facilitating the engagement of the European Development Financing Institutions (DFIs) in European coordination in Kenya and enhancing coherency of development cooperation portfolios across the European development agencies.
This project is implemented in partnership with AECOM.
Support to the 2017-2018 Global Partnership Work Programme in Development Effectiveness:This project aims to improve Development Effectiveness in line with the GPEDC 2017-2018 Programme of Work, to improve understanding of financing for development at country level and to communicate the results to interested stakeholders. Key services provide include: Contributing to the Development Finance Assessment methodology and its evolution, preparing and delivering training on the assessment of development finance, contributing to specific phases of the assessment as part of a broader team lead by the partner government, contributing to selected steps of the process, follow up and learning of best practices.
This project is implemented in partnership with DAI.
Study on the use of partner countries’ system – difficulties encountered and recommendations for the future:his project aims to increase of the use of partner countries’ system in the delivery of development co-operation (in support of activities managed by the public sector). This study aims to provides in-depth analysis on the “Use of Country Systems”, specifically the use of public financial management systems of partner countries’ institutions, including procurement systems, to achieve development outcomes.
This project is implemented in partnership with AECOM.
GOVERNANCE, DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE
VJW provides support to public institutions and international organisations identify relevant solutions to political and economic governance issues including economic and social challenges such as corruption, gender migration, decentralisation, transparency, law and justice, inequality, the peacebuilding and state-building continuum, and the development link as a precondition for lasting peace.
Examples of ongoing and recent inequality, governance and peacebuilding projects:
Mid-Term Evaluation of the “Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Trade” (FLEGT) Programme. This project consisted of a mid-term evaluation of the EU-FAO FLEGT Programme, which aimed at addressing the presence of illegal timber in global markets and stopping it from entering Europe. The project included the identification of specific good practices and lessons to be learned for the formulation of similar forestry governance projects. It also assessed the collaboration of civil society, private sector organisations and government institutions in enforcing forestry legal frameworks.
Final Evaluation of the US-Funded Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) in Mozambique. The evaluation provided a systematic appreciation of the achievements and impact of the MCA-Mozambique, a MCC-funded programme of a value of USD 507 million to facilitate poverty reduction through economic growth.
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT &TRADE
VJW International provides technical assistance in facilitating economic and trade relations between partner countries, tackling barriers to trade and investment, analysing regulatory and legislative frameworks and procurement processes, and promoting international standards towards economic development.
Examples of ongoing and recent aid and development effectiveness projects:
Study on the EU Gateway to Korea and Japan. This study provided an independent, result-focused assessment/evaluation of the past performance of the EU Gateway to Japan and Korea Programmes, designed to contribute to improve the competitiveness of European companies in these key markets.
Mid-Term evaluation of the “Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Trade” (FLEGT) Programme. This project consisted of a mid-term evaluation of the EU-FAO FLEGT Programme, which aimed at addressing the presence of illegal timber in global markets and stopping it from entering the European market.The project included the identification of specific good practices and lessons to be learned for the formulation of similar forestry governance projects.
Support to the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Trade related assistance in Cambodia. This Results-Oriented Monitoring (ROM) assessed the European Commission’s contribution to a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) administered by the World Bank in support of the Trade Development Support Programme (TDSP) in Cambodia. The TDSP was aimed at facilitating the integration of Cambodia in the international economy through enhanced participation in trade.
VJW International provides technical assistance to enhance development effectiveness and improve donor coordination and efficiency, including through Joint Programming of development cooperation aid between development partners. We also promote development ownership and aid and development effectiveness through support in elaborating national development plans, joint analysis and strategies, or communication and visibility strategies.
Examples of ongoing and recent aid and development effectiveness projects:
Support to the 2017-18 Global Partnership Work Programme in Development Effectiveness.This assignment aims to contribute to Strategic Objective of the Global Partnership’s Work Programme by implementing activities that aim to: 1) Improve Development Effectiveness in line with the GPEDC 2017-2018 Programme of Work1; 2) Improve understanding of financing for development at country level and; 3) Communicate the results to interested stakeholders. The team of consultants will provide support to selected countries (including Cambodia, Laos PRD, El Salvador, Malawi and Kenya) to assist EU Delegations to advance the implementation of the effectiveness principles and to fulfil the commitments that each of these countries have undertaken as well as to unlock the potential of effectiveness commitments and financing for development to better link them to the SDG monitoring. This project is implemented by DAI in partnership with VJW International.
Technical Assistance for EU Joint Programming in Kenya, Phase II. This technical assistance facilitates the EU and EU MS contribution to Kenya’s development agenda through the implementation of Joint Programming covering the period 2018-2022 and closely aligned to the Government of Kenya Medium-Term Plan 3. The specific objectives of this technical assistance are 1) to undertake an evaluation of the key lessons learnt, progress, achievements and challenges from the first phase of Joint Programming in Kenya and; 2) to assist EU Development Partners involved in Joint Programming in Kenya to prepare a second phase of Joint Programming for the 2018-2022 period. This project is implemented by CARDNO in partnership with VJW International.
Support for the EU’s Implementation of Development Effectiveness Commitments.This project assesses the EU progress on Development Effectiveness Commitments and provides technical assistance in the preparation of the GPEDC HLM2. The assessment draws on a vast range of quantitative and qualitative data, including consultations with EU Member States, EU Officials and Civil Society Organisations, and provides comprehensive evidence on progress made by EU Member States and EU institutions in implementing their commitments since the Busan High Level Forum. This project is implemented by AECOM in partnership with HCL and VJW International.
EU-Ethiopia Cooperation: EU + JP exercise II. This technical assistance project facilitates the implementation of the 2nd phase of the JP process in Ethiopia. The specific objectives are (a) to analyse GTP II and the country situation as a basis for drafting a joint cooperation strategy paper between EU+ and Ethiopia; (b) to map EU+ cooperation with Ethiopia based on major sectors of cooperation for the period 2013 to 2015 as well as 2016- 2020; (c) to draft EU+ joint cooperation strategy with Ethiopia, including sector prioritisation, indicative allocations and Common Result Framework for the period 2016-2020 with a focus on gender; (d) to design an M&E framework for joint monitoring of progress and evaluation of impact; and (e) to draft a roadmap and action plan to implement the JCS. The project is implemented by AECOM.
EU-Ghana Cooperation: EU Joint Programming Phase II. The main objective of this technical assistance is to facilitate the work of the EU Development partners (DPs) involved in Joint Programming in Ghana in preparing Phase II 2017-2020 through the formulation of a joint Strategy including a joint analysis, joint results framework, Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy and a Joint visibility strategy. The project is implemented by AECOM in partnership with VJW International.
Technical Assistance for in-country Aid Effectiveness Support – Joint Programming of Development Cooperation aid. This project aimed to support the joint programming of the EU and EU Member States’ Country Programmable Aid in several countries. The work included: (a) the elaboration of a joint analysis and a joint response with local governments and development partners to reduce aid fragmentation and improve division of labour in view to establishing a single EU programming document per partner country. The project was implemented by HTSPE (now DAI) in its first phase, and by EPRD in its second phase in partnership with VJW International.
Study on the EU implementation of commitments made at the Busan High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness. This project aimed to provide analytical evidence on progress made by EU Member States and EU institutions in implementing the Busan commitments. The research and analysis drawsed on a vast range of quantitative and qualitative data and evidence identified across the Busan commitments. The project was implemented by HTSPE (now DAI) and HCL in partnership with VJW International.
Formulation and Development of an Aid Effectiveness Group Strategic Plan in Kenya. This project aimed to promote aid and development effectiveness in Kenya through the elaboration of the Aid Effectiveness Group (AEG) Strategic Plan and implementation of SMART indicators and a visibility strategy.