The donors and
UNHCR agree
to a framework
that matches
the duration
of the UNHCR
biennium and
which would
involve biennial
reporting.

The general
framework
might be
more than one
biennium in
length, but its
planning and
reporting cycle
would coincide
with UNHCR’s
biennium.

A set of largely
program-based
priorities are
agreed to over a
two year span.

Strengths
Two year targets
may allow for more
progress to occur
and may better
reflect actual
delivery realities.

Possible to
have biennial
measurable targets
that are specific to the framework.

Limitation
Time consuming
and transactional.

Major causality
/ attribution
issues if specific
performance
measurement is
involved.

A set of largely
managerial and
process targets
agreed to by all
parties, related
to the quality
of UNHCR
management.

May include some
mutually agreed
upon program
areas of particular
interest.

Strengths
Reduced costs.

Emphasis on longterm
managerial
improvements that
can be measured.

Limitations
Somewhat nontraditional.

Strengths
A clear affirmation
of the Paris
Declaration
regarding
harmonisation.

Enables donors to
better concentrate
their efforts to
support UNHCR.

Supports and
affirms UNHCR’s
internal reforms.

Limitations
UNHCR’s data
systems have to be
accurate.

Some donors,
for domestic
reasons, may need
to emphasise
programmatic
issues.

Strengths
If managerial
priorities are
selected,
donors have an
opportunity to be
more specific but
not to exceed the
intent of UNHCR’s
own goals.

Limitations
Involves more
transaction costs
in negotiations( a
weakness of JOS).

The possibility
exists that donors
might exceed the
ability of UNHCR
to perform if they
rearticulate goals
in too precise a
fashion.

Does not affirm
donor commitment
to harmonisation
and acceptance
of UNHCR’s own goals.

UNHCR reports
to donors against
pre-set targets
(either type)

Strengths
Highly accurate
if using UNHCR
standard reports.

More cost
effective on a
biennial basis.

Limitations
Potential overlap
with donor
framework
and planning
systems, if the
decision is made
to continue
with donor
rearticulations
of UNHCR’s own
goals.

Is highly
traditional and
contractual/
compliance
driven.

Donors take
UNHCR standard
reports and
analyse them
against the
priorities.

Strengths
Reduces
possibility of
overlap with
stand alone
reporting.

Promotes
greater donor
harmonisation.

Limitations
Is dependent on
the quality of
standard UNHCR
reports.

UNHCR does
not formally
provide
feedback to
the donor
partners.

Strengths
Reduction
in work for
UNHCR.

Limitations
Not a
partnership
approach.

UNHCR
feedback to
the donor
partners on a
pre-determined
set of factors
over a longerterm
horizon
– probably at
the end of the
biennium.

Strengths
Promotes
partnership.

Gives feedback
to donors on
harmonisation
and adherence
to Principles
of Good
Donorship.

Limitations
Time
consuming.