The new guidance for UN Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF) is here. Despite the positive change in presentation, this appears more of an evolutionary update rather than an SDG revolution.
Positive Changes
- The central role of Leave No One Behind provides an overall vision for the entire UN
- Inclusion of a strong theory of change
- The Common Country Analysis is now a minimum requirement
- The UNDG RBM handbook is included as a pillar
- UNDAF data should, where possible, be publicly accessible (in line with IATI)
What Falls Short
The updated guidance falls short on innovation. Although there is some reference to real-time data collection, there is no strong push to ingrain innovation into the DNA of the UN — no concrete push for adaptive programming, positive deviance, or minimum viable products.
Overall: the resulting new UNDAFs will not look radically different from what we know today.