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Mission and Role
Development Policies
European Consensus on Development
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10th EDF
I-Center
Development policy proposals Programming methodology for EU external assistance.
Programming methodology for EU external assistance.
Tasks
The task of the iQSG is to ensure that the main EC
external cooperation programming documents are coherent and of consistently
high quality.
To this end, the iQSG:
- Harmonises programming guidelines
- Provides support and guidance in the preparation
of strategic documents
- Assesses and makes recommendations on draft strategic documents
1. Harmonises programming guidelines
- Geographical programming guidelines
The yardstick for the iQSG work is the
Common Framework for Strategy Papers.
This document 
, agreed with Member states in 2000,
outlined a standard format for EC programming documents and laid down
the minimum requirements that a programming document must meet. It
was also intended as an instrument for improving coordination and
complementarity between Community and bilateral assistance.
At the General Affairs and External Relations Council of April 2006
[ GAERC Conclusions ], the Common Framework has been reviewed to reflect the political
development in the recent years and also to provide a better framework
for enhanced donor coordination and harmonisation. Thus, the new format is a tool for joint multi-annual programming between the EC, the Member
States and the other interested donors and is an essential pillar
of the EU contribution to the aid effectiveness agenda.
- Thematic programming guidelines
The yardstick for
the iQSG work is the Common Framework and Procedure for Strategy Papers
for the Thematic Programmes.
The Common Framework and Procedure for the Programming of Thematic
and Horizontal Budget Lines was approved on 10 December 2003.This
document defined a wide range of horizontal and thematic budget lines
of importance for external action that played an important role in
serving cross-cutting issues.In the context of the next Financial
Perspectives 2007-2013, the new DCI (Development Cooperation Instrument)
and the ENPI (European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument),
the Commission proposed a simplified structure of the delivery of
the Community's external assistance, geared
towards facilitating coherence and consistency, and achieving more
from the available resources. Thus, on 25 January 2006, it approved
seven new thematic programmes, as set out in the Communication
on Thematic Programmes of August 2005.
On this basis, the iQSG has revised and approved in April 2006 a new
Common
Framework and Procedure for Strategy Papers for the Thematic Programmes
for the programming exercise 2007-2010.
2. Provides support and guidance in the preparation of strategic documents
The iQSG provides help, support and guidance in the
preparation of strategic documents. According to it′s mandate
(art. 1.2), an important fonction of the group is the: "identification
et diffusion des bonnes pratiques, l′objectif du iQSG étant
de promouvoir une culture de recherche de qualité tout au long
du cycle, plutôt qu'un contrôle ex-post".
The iQSG fulfils this task in two ways:
- by making sure that a comprenhensive range of programming tools and best practices are available to the programming services;
- by organising seminars with a view to stimulate debates on programming issues and disseminate information
3. Assesses and makes recommendations on draft strategic documents
The iQSG assesses the consistency and quality of
the programming documents on the basis of the common framework for strategies
paper. This assessment is done before the Inter-Service Consultation.
(See Drafting Process − Quality
Control).
The general rule is that all strategies from all countries/regions/thematic
programmes will be subject to a discussion by the iQSG members. In the
case of an oral assessment, the geographical/thematic service responsible
for the document will be asked to be present in the meeting.
If there is a time constraint, some selected geographical documents
can be submitted for a written assessment by two iQSG members. If certain
criteria are met, then a written assessment should be avoided:
- the EU has a considerable presence as donor (critical mass) in the country;
- the size of the EC programme is importante relative to the size of the economy of the partner country, or in relation to the programmes financed by other donors;
- the country is of particular importance to the EC.
Both in the case of an oral and a written assessment, the iQSG provides suggestions on how to improve the programming document. The main recommendations raised will be summarised in a follow-up sheet (fiche contradictoire). The service concerned is invited to complete this follow-up sheet and indicate whether the "iQSG recommendations" have been taken into accoung of if not, why not. This document should be annexed to the programming document so that it is visible through the subsequent steps that follow in the adoption process.
Which documents are assessed?
- Geographical programming documents
- Draft Country Regional Strategy Papers (CSP/RSP) and National/Regional
Indicative Programmes (NIP/RIP) for all countries receiving external
assistance (ACP, ALA, MED, CARDS and TACIS regions). Up until
now, the iQSG has assessed and made recomendations on the "first
generation" of CSP/RSP and NIP/RIP for partner countries,
covering the planning period 2001/2-2006/7 on the basis of the
Common Framework of 2000.
Since 2005, the iQSG has started the evaluation of the programming documents of the "second generation" (2007-2013). For this exercise, the 2006 revised Common Framework has been used.
The ALA and MEDA regions are already well advanced in their multi-annual programming exercise, thus, it is not possible to incorporate new guidance before their mid-term review process in 2010. The ACP countries, for which the programming exercise started beginning of 2006, the new Common Framework is being followed and Joint Multi-annual Programming will but in place where possible.
- Besides the CSP/RSP and NIP/RIP, the iQSG is in charge of evaluating
the programming documents containing or building on conclusions
from the process of review of these strategies, the so-called
Mid-Term Review exercise. It assesses all new CSPs and NIPs for
RELEX countries, as well as the Mid-Term Review Conclusions (MTRC)
for ACP countries. The assessment procedure is similar to the
one applying to CSP.
Up to now it has assessed and made recommendations to the mid-term review exercise on the "first generation" of CSP/RSP, in 2004.
- Draft Country Regional Strategy Papers (CSP/RSP) and National/Regional
Indicative Programmes (NIP/RIP) for all countries receiving external
assistance (ACP, ALA, MED, CARDS and TACIS regions). Up until
now, the iQSG has assessed and made recomendations on the "first
generation" of CSP/RSP and NIP/RIP for partner countries,
covering the planning period 2001/2-2006/7 on the basis of the
Common Framework of 2000.
- Thematic programming documents
In addition to the geographical instruments, there are a wide range of thematic programmes that are of importance to the EU aid pgrogrammes. The iQSG also assesses these thematic programming documents.
Up to now, the iQSG has assessed documents of various budgetary items on the basis of the Commom Framework for Horizontal and Thematic Budget Lines of 2003. The new revised Thematic Common Framework will be followed progressively for the programming exercise 2007-2010.
