Europe & CIS

UNDP aims to deepen the PSIA review processes by involving its strong network of civil society organizations and think-tanks as well as its own country office presence. 

Situation analysis:

Poverty and Social Impact Assessments (PSIAs) are important analytical processes that review anticipated impacts of specific policy reforms on poverty reduction and social progress. Although PSIAs, as a concept, have been welcomed, there have been objections to issues of ownership and process.  Thus far, PSIAs have predominately fallen under the domain of the World Bank, the IMF, and a handful of larger bi-laterals. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) traditionally have not played a major role. To address this gap, UNDP has strongly encouraged national ownership of development processes.  In doing so, it has strived to facilitate and support the efforts of local CSOs to engage in the preparation, execution, and monitoring of poverty reduction strategies.

Proposed programme:

UNDP aims to deepen the PSIA review processes by involving its strong network of civil society organizations and think-tanks as well as its own country office presence.  Proposed activities include: i) intensive, independent review of CSO engagement in the PSIA process to date in five or six countries that would include literature reviews as well as field visits.  Suggested countries where UNDP has strong relations with independent, analytically oriented CSOs could include: Albania (water sector reform), Armenia (water sector reform), and Ukraine (energy reform); ii) targeted training and capacity development activities of CSOs, using existing groups such as UNDP’s Economic Policy Institute Network in Eastern Europe and the CIS, related to PSIA sensitization and engagement; iii) facilitation of CSO engagement in future PSIA processes at the country level and promoting inter-agency cooperation iv) deployment of UNDP’s CSO contacts to provide intensive sectoral reviews related to the PSIA. 

Anticipated results:

The project will lead to a better understanding of the role CSOs play currently in the PSIA process. CSOs will gain an increased understanding of the role they can play. Greater inter-agency cooperation will be also fostered.

Current status:

The project is currently under development.  Initial steps have been taken.  For example, UNDP recently commissioned the Overseas Development Institute, a leading research NGO, to prepare a draft study on civic engagement in the PSIA to-date.  This publication – with several case-studies – will be completed in summer of 2007.