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STRATEGIC PLANNING

SISTER - System of Information on Strategies, Tasks and the Evaluation of Results

SISTER - System of Information on Strategies, Tasks and the Evaluation of Results
  • © UNESCO

SISTER is one of the Organization’s IT-based management tools which follows and supports the Results-Based Management (RBM) approach as applied in UNESCO. RBM is a cornerstone of UNESCO and UN reform. It constitutes a central pillar of the Organization’s programming, operations and monitoring and is critical for the accountability, effectiveness and efficiency of programme and management as requested by UNESCO’s governing bodies.

SISTER was designed in 1998 to support the transition to the Results-Based Management approach and now accompanies its implementation by being continuously adapted to reflect emerging and evolving needs, such as the principles of authority and accountability, those flowing from the decentralization policy and exigencies of UN reform. It also seeks to integrate RBM good practices.

Built on the principles of transparency, accountability and knowledge-sharing, SISTER encompasses the programming, management, monitoring and reporting of the biennial Programme and Budget (C/5) and associated operational work plans for Regular Programme and extrabudgetary projects alike. SISTER ensures the alignment and harmonisation of regular programme activities and extrabudgetary projects, and that the latter reinforce the Regular Programme of UNESCO and thus contribute to its results attainment.

The core of the system lies in the definition of expected results - and the strategy to attain them - by the person responsible for each element at the various programming levels. Each level of the hierarchy is given the means to fully exercise its responsibilities and is fully accountable for the programming and implementation of the interventions undertaken. This process is meant to be interactive, in the sense that the proposals from each level answer to the direction of the higher level and provide for a process of a programming and budgetary negotiation. These agreements are the essence of a co-operative strategy, as they determine how and under which conditions the respective results will be reached and combined in achieving the higher-level results. This Results chain allows a seamless linkage from the C/4 to the C/5 to the work plans as well as from UNESCO’s results to the UN (via among others the UNDAF or One UN Programme Results Matrix).

In brief, SISTER has been developed to adapt to the reforms of the UN and of the Organization, such as through decentralization and delegation of authority. It provides the basis for informed decision-making at UNESCO by presenting a comprehensive view of UNESCO’s programmatic and financial information and work plans, up-dated on an ongoing basis with relevant substantive, budgetary and financial information. SISTER is the Organization’s unique entry point for sharing progress attained against the expected results defined in the relevant C/5 document and work plans, and contributes to making UNESCO a more interactive, transparent, integrated working environment.

Guidelines for the formulation of 35 C/5 (2010-2011 biennium) levels (Major Programme to Main Line of Actions)
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Blue Notes and Memos
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General Conference documents referring to SISTER
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Executive Board documents referring to SISTER
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SISTER PowerPoint presentation 2001
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Objectives and vision
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Europe and North America Latin America and the Caribbean Africa Arab States Asia Pacific