The embassies’ reporting of results

108 Document 3:12 2013–2014 Report The embassies’ strategic plans and activity plans for 2000–2013 provide information about ongoing Norwegian-supported aid measures, implementation risk and future priorities. The audit shows that the plans specify what is decided, but they include little information about the background for the embassies’ decisions and priorities. The Ministry of Foreign Afairs’ 2009 action plan contains no clearly deined goals or a clear timeframe for the initiative. The plan states that the Ministry, in consultation with the embassies, shall specify the recommended guidelines in detailed activity plans that outline goals, projects and expected results, and determine responsibilities and deadlines. The audit shows that embassies do not prepare activity plans for aid. The audit also shows that embassies do not carry out analyses of the energy sector in the core countries as a basis for priorities and decisions concerning development assistance to clean energy. There are thus clear weaknesses in the Ministry’s planning and knowledge basis for priorities and decisions. The consequence is that the aid is not very targeted and strategic, and is little adapted to local conditions in the partner country. The audit also shows that the Ministry of Foreign Afairs has not updated key plans and documents for development assistance to clean energy. The Ministry was to con- sider the sustainability of the Clean Energy for Development Initiative after two years, update the 2009 action plan annually and conduct a mid-term review of the Action Plan for Environment in Development Cooperation. None of these measures have been implemented to date, giving rise to the risk that the Ministry has a lawed decision-making basis. Development assistance to clean energy is divided into several channels and among a wide range of recipients. Bilateral aid is distributed among 37 partner countries and multilateral aid is distributed among several organisations, funds and initiatives. The development of clean energy requires high investments to achieve results. Having many diferent recipients increases the need for monitoring and controls by the Ministry of Foreign Afairs and embassies. The broad distribution of aid and Ministry’s inadequate planning weaken the Ministry’s ability to manage aid efectively and to choose the means that lead to the achievement of the goals. Overall, this supports a need to concentrate aid on fewer recipients.