Developing a Programme Strategy
Stage Three: Consultation
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What are the main components of the consultation phase?
Initial consultation will take place during the analysis and field work stage. The steering group is responsible for developing a consultation process
The consultation process itself will normally include all the groups listed below in Who should be targeted in the external consultation process? Also See Annex 4: Questions to be Considered Concerning NZAID Engagement with Civil Society
NZAID has agreed to a consultation process for programme strategies with New Zealand Development NGOs. The process and timeframes are outlined in the Strategic Policy Framework for Relationships between NZAID and New Zealand NGOs.
What is a reference group?
In some cases it will be appropriate to establish a reference group to discuss ideas with. This can be used as a vehicle for feedback on the issues paper and/or draft programme strategy. The decision on whether or not this is considered to be necessary is made by the Programme Group. This could be either an internal reference group (e.g. NZAID staff with relevant technical or country experience) or an external group. The membership of the group will be determined by what knowledge and experience the members can bring to the strategy process. External members may include MFAT staff, NZ NGOs, academics with specialist knowledge, members of relevant migrant communities living in New Zealand, representatives of other donor agencies, and in-country counterparts with relevant knowledge and experience.
Meetings of the reference group will normally be held at key points during the process to provide structured feedback on thinking emerging around the draft strategy and on the draft itself. Meetings may be in person or by electronic means, or a mixture of both.
Who should be targeted in the external consultation process?
- Partner country civil society and private sector groups
- International development agencies working in similar areas
- New Zealand Government agencies (including MFAT) which have activities or policy interests with the same partners or in the same sectors
- New Zealand based nationals of the partner country
- Other development agencies working with the same partners
- New Zealand development NGOs and relevant civil society groups
- Maori (consult with the MFAT Maori Policy Division re appropriateness and approaches)
- Other individuals as appropriate (identified for their knowledge and experience)
Thought needs to be given to the best approach for each stakeholder group. This might include setting-up workshops, focus groups and/or online response arrangements. The strategy team then redrafts the strategy document based on feedback from the consultation process and guidance from the steering group.
Peer review
The redrafted strategy document is then submitted for peer review by 2-3 independent peer reviewers. Peer reviewers can be internal (e.g. SAEG Adviser) or external (e.g. Contractor Scheme">ACS, partner country reps) to NZAID and are chosen for their objectivity, strategic capability, country, sectoral or thematic knowledge or knowledge of international development and aid effectiveness. In some cases members of the steering group or reference group could be peer reviewers.
Peer review comments are fed directly back to the strategy team who then produce a final draft for submission to the steering group and partner government. It may at this stage be appropriate to hold further consultation in-country.