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Swedish assessment praises UNFPA’s transparency, finances

A Swedish assessment of multilateral organizations says UNFPA’s transparency and the routines for audit and procurement are good, and that Executive Director Thoraya Obaid enjoys a great deal of confidence among donors.

It also called UNFPA a relevant and effective partner in MDGs related to gender equality and the promotion of human rights.

According to the assessment, UNFPA plays an important role in “some the MDGs that are the most difficult to achieve”. These include goals on greater gender equality, reduced infant mortality, reduced maternal mortality and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

UNFPA’s internal effectiveness is judged as good since the organization “has succeeded in establishing a solid and robust system of results-based management that builds clearly on its new Strategic Plan for 2008–2011.”

UNFPA’s external effectiveness is judged as relatively good and with a great potential for improvement, especially in light of the 2008-11 Strategic Plan, the reorganization process of UNFPA and the UN reform process. The report says UNFPA has performed well in policy dialogue with national governments and has improved alignment of its work to national strategies.

The assessments of multilateral organizations were conducted jointly by the government of Sweden, the Swedish international development cooperation agency (Sida) and Swedish embassies in developing countries in spring 2008.