January 2013

Action Plan Skills Building:Action Plan Skills Building:Module 4Module 4

Implementing and Evaluating Implementing and Evaluating the Action Planthe Action Plan

2Action Plan Skills Building Workshop

Module 3: Planning the Details

Module 4: Implementing and

Evaluating

Module 1: Getting Started

Module 2: Defining Purpose and

Scope

3Learning Objectives

Strengthen skills to:Market the action planSecure resourcesTake the necessary steps to ensure successful implementation

Outline 4

Obtaining high-level commitmentImplementing activities and monitoring and evaluation

Obtaining high-level commitment 5

Commitment & approval at national high-level:general and/or specificneeds to be obtained at various stages of the action plan development processmay take the form of written agreements, ministerial directives, legislative amendments, etc.

Can be followed by external high level commitment

6Assessing Potential Bottlenecks to Commitment

Obstacles or bottlenecks could include:Competing priorities that might threaten support for the APa lack of awareness about the topic or issuecontradictory or duplicative mandates (or lack of a mandate) related to the AP

Raising Awareness of Benefits of Taking Action

7

Communicate AP intentions to those who have decision making power

AP itself can provide good overview of the benefits

Link to other national priorities (e.g. national development plan)

Tailor to specific audiences, e.g. one-page summary specifically for busy decision makers

Example: Ministerial Briefing Notes 8

TITLE DATE ISSUE • xxxc xxxx xx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx xx xxxxxx xx xx

xxx xx xx xx x xxx xx xxx.

BACKGROUND • xxxc xxxx xx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx xx xxxxxx xx xx

xxx xx xx xx x xxx xx xxx.

STATUS • xxxc xxxx xx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx xx xxxxxx xx xx

xxx xx xx xx x xxx xx xxx. xxxc xxxx xx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx xx xxxxxx xx xx xxx xx xx xx x xxx xx xxx.

RECOMMENDATION • xxxc xxxx xx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx xx xxxxxx xx xx

xxx xx xx xx x xxx xx xxx. • xxxc xxxx xx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx xx xxxxxx xx xx

xxx xx xx xx x xxx xx xxx.

ACTION OR DECISION RECOMMENDED • xxxc xxxx xx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx xx xxxxxx xx • xx xxx xx xx xx x xxx xx xxx. Name, title, and telephone number, signature

Briefing notes should include:

a succinct statement of the case or issue

essential background information, current status

recommendations made or directions sought, if any

9Securing Adequate Human and Financial Resources

Resources are essential for implementation

“In-kind” and national resources are essential contributors

AP’s value will be evaluated against other competing national requirements

Relate AP to other essential or high priority national activities such as sustainable development

Stress that the benefits outweigh the costs

10Implementing Planned Activities

Having gained approval and support for the action plan, initiate implementation, e.g.:

Select project team leader & team membersInitial team meeting to agree processAre sub-groups necessary? e.g. for stockpile disposal, reduction of emissions, etc.Prepare “inception” or “start-up” document to summarise goal, objectives and major activities, as well as list of participants

Monitoring the implementation phase helps to ensure that the AP is on schedule

Has each milestone been met according to schedule?Have certain activities been more challenging than expected and did this affect the quality?Are there times where the estimated costs have exceeded expectations?

11Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and Evaluation (cont.)

Evaluate from time to time attainment of objectives (goal)if indicators met, safe to say objectives being achievedif indicators demonstrate certain objectives not met, assess what went wrong, revise action plan

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Monitoring and Evaluation: Three Important Steps

1. Measure Progress

• against milestones, the planned schedule, budget, etc

• evaluate effectiveness based on indicators

2. Analyse the situation

• to determine cause of any positive or negative deviations

3. Determine necessary action, modifications...adjust AP if necessary

13

Provides “history” and “feedback” for future action

Purpose and scope of the AP

Progress or evaluation (using milestones, indicators, etc.)

Deviations from the initial AP (quality, time, cost, etc.)?

Are/were the expenditures according to plan?

Lessons learnt for further actions?

Conclusions (including any reports/publications)

14AP Progress Reports and Final Report

AP Skills Building Guidelines 15

Mod 1. Getting Started: Preparatory Tasks and Considerations

Mod 2. Defining Action Plan Purpose and Scope

• Establishing the Problem Statement & Goal• Conducting a Situation and Gap Analysis• Setting Objectives and Indicators

Mod 3. Planning the Details: Activities, Timelines, Resources, and More…

Mod 4. Implementing and Evaluating the Action Plan

• Obtaining Commitment• Implementing Activities and Monitoring and Evaluation

Thank youThank youChemicals and Waste Management

ProgrammeUnited Nations Institute for Training

and Research (UNITAR)Palais des Nations1211 Geneva 10

Tel: +41 22 917 1234Fax: +41 22 917 8047Email: cwm@unitar.org