Guiding questions for the country programme preparation process.

The guiding questions should be applied for each Thematic Programme

Relevance:

Why does this thematic area most effectively address the relevant strategic objectives of the Country Policy Paper and national partners’ policies and strategies?

What is the intervention logic/theory of change for the Thematic Programme?

How have lessons learnt from past and present cooperation within the theme been used?

Effectiveness and Efficiency:

Why does the thematic objective operationalize the strategic objective of the Country policy paper in the best way? How do thematic programmes address key human rights issues? What are the results to expect?

Which options for selecting development engagements have been considered?

Why did the selected development engagements qualify best given the development priorities of the partner, and of Denmark? Have trade-offs between policy priorities been part of considerations?

How do the chosen options contribute to the national economic and social development, and specifically in relation to poverty reduction strategies and fulfilment of human rights obligations? How are HRBA principles applied?

What changes to economic and social development outcomes in the country will be produced? Which positive or negative externalities may be entailed by development engagements, directly or indirectly? (poverty and social impact analysis)

How does the thematic programme contribute to the relevant strategic objective? Are thematic programme outcomes all captured by the country results framework? If not, how are they measured and documented?

How has the political economy analysis informed the thematic programme design? Who are the drivers of change at the operational strategy and engagement level? Do they have the necessary mandate and capacity to deliver? Who are the duty-bearers and rights-holders? What role do civil society organisations play? What about the business community?

What have been the considerations on modality choices for development engagements, and by what criteria have partners been selected? Have joint implementation modalities been considered? What are key activities supported or implemented by other donors or partners that may positively, or negatively, impact development engagements?

What are the human resources requirements for the partners implementing the development engagements? And for the Danish Mission? What type of capacity development or technical assistance has been considered under development engagements, and based on which analysis?

How will the country programme deliver and manage the support in a way that ensures accountability for aid?

Sustainability/Impact:

How will development engagements be sustained, and by whom, after completion of the Danish support?

How has budgeting based on outputs been applied in the development engagements? What considerations have been made in terms of value for money in the engagements and partner choices?

What are the key risks and assumptions for implementation of development engagements? Are risk responses for major risks included in the thematic programme, and under each development engagement?

What are the expected impacts of the thematic programmes?

What are the expected impacts of the country programme?