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AFRICAN ASPIRATIONS FOR 2063

Africans of diverse social formations and in the Diaspora affirmed the AU Vision of “an
integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a
dynamic force in the international arena” as the overarching guide for the future of the African
continent. Further, they reaffirmed the relevance and validity of the OAU/AU 50th Anniversary
Solemn Declaration. The converging voices of Africans of different backgrounds, including those
in the Diaspora have painted a clear picture of what they desire for themselves and the
continent in the future. From these converging voices, a common and a shared set of
aspirations have emerged:

1. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development;

2. An integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the
vision of Africa’s Renaissance;
3. An Africa of good governance, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law;
4. A peaceful and secure Africa;
5. An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics;
6. An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African
people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children; and
7. Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner.

These seven aspirations show strong convergence with the AU Vision, and are in line with the
eight priorities of the OAU/AU 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration. Collectively these shared
aspirations demonstrate strong continuity of thinking between the OAU founders and the
present generation of Africans, albeit in a new dynamic context. The aspirations reflect the
desire of Africans for prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration, for a continent of free
citizens and expanded horizons, with freedom from conflict and improved human security. They
also project an Africa of strong identity, culture and values, as well as a strong and influential
partner on the global stage making equal, respected contribution to human progress and
welfare – in short a different, better and dynamic Africa than in 2013.

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NORCAP (Norwegian capacity to international operations)

What is NORCAP?
NORCAP is a global provider of expertise that contributes to solving challenges in the
humanitarian, development and peace building sectors. Our ultimate aim is to strengthen the
resilience and protect the lives, livelihoods and rights of vulnerable people and communities.
NORCAP is part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

For nearly 30 years, we have worked to provide experts at short notice to the humanitarian,
development and peace building sectors.

Over this period, crises have become increasingly complex. Giving food and shelter is not
enough. Those hardest hit by displacement, conflict and disasters want to be involved in the
response and in decision-making. Recognizing the complexity, we realised we could do more
than just providing additional personnel.

Our independence and flexibility enable us to bring together key stakeholders across sectors
and mandates, always with the goal of protecting lives, rights and livelihoods.

We partner with the UN, national, regional and global partners to find joint solutions to
challenges affecting vulnerable people and communities. We promote more effective ways of
working at the global level and in the field, to enable affected people and communities to make
choices based on their needs and aspirations.

In the beginning, we were a standby partner – responding to the needs of our partners. Today
our approach is proactive and much more strategic. We develop projects with better
understanding of needs on the ground, and with a focus on capacity building and sustainability.

We develop partnerships with international organizations and national actors to reach common
goals; we use our leverage to promote more effective ways of working; and, as always, we
deploy experts to strengthen and develop partner capacity. We deploy more than 600 experts
annually to strengthen and develop our partners’ capacity. We believe that working together in
a coordinated and sustainable manner is the best way to reduce needs, risks and vulnerability
over time and to make a change for people in need.

NORCAP is part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). NORCAP’s mission is to improve aid to
better protect and empower people affected by crises and climate change.
We do this by:
 Supporting humanitarian, development and peace building initiatives that protect and
empower people
 Improving impact at the global and local level through joint projects with partners and
stakeholders
 Providing expertise and developing capacity that enable partners to meet the needs of
people in fragile situations and crises

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  Strengthening the global system that we are part of through support for leadership,
coordination and policy development
 Building bridges between the humanitarian, development and peace building sectors

Protection: Putting protection at the center of humanitarian action

Building capacity: Strengthening local crisis responses
Climate action: Finding new ways to scale up climate action
Election observation

We receive funding from:

 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA)
 The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)
 Various UN agencies, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM),
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the
World Food Programme (WFP)
 The European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
 The EU’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships – (DG INTPA, formerly DG
DEVCO)
 The US Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance
(BHA)
 The US Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM)
 European Economic Area (EEA) Grants
 The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
 The German Federal Foreign Office (FFO)
 The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
 The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Creating a work plan involves outlining the steps necessary to achieve specific goals or complete a
project. Here’s a general framework to help you create an effective work plan:

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1. Define Objectives
 Clearly outline the overall goal of the project or task.
 Ensure objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

2. Identify Tasks and Activities

 Break down the project into smaller, manageable tasks.
 List all activities required to accomplish each task.

3. Assign Responsibilities
 Determine who will be responsible for each task.
 Consider team members’ skills and workloads.

4. Set Deadlines
 Establish a timeline for each task and activity.
 Include milestones to track progress.

5. Allocate Resources
 Identify what resources (people, materials, budget) are needed for each task.
 Ensure availability of resources before starting the project.

6. Develop a Monitoring Plan

 Outline how progress will be monitored and reported.
 Include regular check-ins and updates.

7. Risk Management
 Identify potential risks or obstacles that could impact the project.
 Develop mitigation strategies for each risk.

8. Communication Plan
 Determine how and when you will communicate with stakeholders.
 Outline the methods of communication (meetings, emails, reports).

9. Review and Adjust

 Regularly review progress against the work plan.
 Be flexible and make adjustments as needed to stay on track.

10. Finalize the Plan

 Document the entire work plan in a clear format.
 Share it with all stakeholders to ensure everyone is aligned.

Organizing meetings

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Organizing meetings efficiently involves several key steps to ensure that they are productive and well-
structured. Here are some best practices for organizing successful meetings:

1. Define the Purpose and Objective

 Clarify the meeting's purpose: Ensure that you have a clear reason for holding the meeting.
Avoid unnecessary meetings.
 Set specific objectives: Establish what you want to achieve by the end of the meeting.
2. Create an Agenda
 List topics: Include all the topics that need to be discussed.
 Prioritize items: Order agenda items by importance.
 Assign time for each item: This helps keep the meeting on track.
 Share in advance: Send the agenda to attendees ahead of time so they can prepare.
3. Invite the Right People
 Limit participants: Only include those whose presence is essential.
 Consider roles: Ensure you have the right decision-makers and subject matter experts.
4. Set a Suitable Time and Venue
 Consider time zones (for remote teams): Ensure it’s convenient for everyone.
 Book a meeting space (for in-person meetings): If required, ensure the venue has the necessary
resources.
 Choose a platform: If virtual, select a suitable platform (e.g., Zoom, Teams).
5. Prepare the Materials
 Pre-distribute documents: Share reports, presentations, or background materials in advance.
 Have necessary tools ready: Ensure technical tools (projectors, screens, etc.) are prepared if
needed.
6. Facilitate the Meeting
 Start on time: Respect everyone’s time by starting and ending promptly.
 Stick to the agenda: Keep discussions focused and limit tangents.
 Encourage participation: Ensure everyone has a chance to contribute, especially in
brainstorming sessions.
 Summarize key points: Regularly recap the discussion to ensure everyone is aligned.
7. Document Decisions and Actions
 Take notes: Document key decisions, assigned tasks, and deadlines.
 Assign action items: Ensure follow-up actions are clearly outlined with responsible parties
identified.
8. Follow Up
 Send meeting minutes: Distribute a summary of the meeting, highlighting decisions made and
next steps.
 Monitor progress: Follow up on action items in subsequent meetings or through regular check-
ins.

Additional Tips
 Use a facilitator: For large meetings, a facilitator can help keep discussions on track.
 Time management: Stick closely to the schedule to prevent meetings from running over.
 Keep it concise: Shorter, focused meetings tend to be more productive.

Conducting an income and expenditure analysis for a grant program involves several key steps to ensure
transparency, compliance, and effective financial management. Here’s a general outline of the process:

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1. Identify Income Sources
 Grant Funds: Document the total amount of grant funds received.
 Other Income: Include any additional income sources related to the program, such as donations
or matching funds.
2. Categorize Expenditures
 Direct Costs: Expenses directly tied to the program, such as salaries, materials, and equipment.
 Indirect Costs: Overhead costs like administrative support, utilities, and office space.
3. Track Financial Transactions
 Detailed Records: Maintain meticulous records of all financial transactions, ensuring they align
with the grant agreement.
 Budget vs. Actual: Regularly compare actual expenditures against the budget to identify
variances and adjust as needed.
4. Financial Reporting
 Compliance: Ensure all financial reporting adheres to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(GAAP) and any specific requirements from the grantor.
 Periodic Reports: Prepare and submit periodic financial reports to the grantor, detailing income
and expenditures.
5. Analyze Financial Data
 Variance Analysis: Identify and explain any significant variances between budgeted and actual
expenditures.
 Cost Allocation: Allocate costs accurately to different program activities to understand the true
cost of each component.
6. Review and Adjust
 Financial Health: Assess the financial health of the program and make necessary adjustments to
ensure sustainability.
 Future Planning: Use the analysis to inform future budgeting and financial planning efforts 2.
Tools and Resources
 Budget Templates: Utilize templates for program budgeting and financial reporting to
streamline the process.
 Financial Software: Consider using financial management software to track and report on grant
funds efficiently.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your grant program’s financial management is
both effective and compliant with all relevant guidelines.

Data Quality Attributes

 Accuracy: Data should correctly represent the real-world values or events it is intended to
model.
 Completeness: All necessary data should be present, with no missing values or gaps.
 Consistency: Data should be consistent across different datasets and systems.
 Timeliness: Data should be up-to-date and available when needed.
 Relevance: Data should be relevant to the context in which it is used.
 Uniqueness: Each data record should be unique, with no duplicates.
 Validity: Data should conform to the required formats and standards.

1. Describe a time when you had to develop a monitoring and

evaluation plan for a project.

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 o Answer: “In my previous role, I developed an M&E plan for a youth
development project. I identified key performance indicators, set up
data collection methods, and established a timeline for reporting.
This plan helped us track progress effectively and make data-driven
decisions.”
2. How do you ensure data quality in your reports?
o Answer: “I ensure data quality by implementing rigorous data
validation processes, conducting regular data audits, and training
staff on accurate data entry. Additionally, I use software tools to
check for inconsistencies and errors.”
3. Can you give an example of a time when you had to present
complex data to a non-technical audience?
o Answer: “I once presented the results of a health survey to
community leaders. I used simple charts and graphs, avoided
jargon, and focused on the key findings and their implications for
the community.”
4. Describe a situation where you had to handle a large dataset.
How did you manage it?
o Answer: “I managed a large dataset for a national education
survey. I used statistical software to clean and analyze the data,
ensuring accuracy and reliability. I also created a detailed codebook
to document the variables and their definitions.”
5. How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects?
o Answer: “I prioritize tasks based on deadlines, project impact, and
resource availability. I use project management tools to track
progress and ensure timely completion of all tasks.”
6. Tell me about a time when you identified a problem in a project
through monitoring. What did you do?
o Answer: “During a project, I noticed a decline in participant
engagement through our monitoring data. I conducted focus group
discussions to understand the reasons and implemented changes
based on the feedback, which improved engagement.”
7. How do you handle discrepancies in data reported by different
sources?
o Answer: “I cross-check data from multiple sources, investigate the
reasons for discrepancies, and consult with the data providers to
resolve any issues. I also document the process to ensure
transparency.”
8. Describe your experience with using data visualization tools.
o Answer: “I have extensive experience with tools like Tableau and
Power BI. I use them to create interactive dashboards and visual
reports that make data insights easily understandable for
stakeholders.”
9. How do you ensure that your reports are aligned with the
project’s goals and objectives?

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 o Answer: “I regularly review the project’s goals and objectives and
ensure that my reports focus on the relevant indicators. I also
engage with project managers to align our reporting with their
expectations.”
10. Can you provide an example of a successful report you
created?
o Answer: “I created a comprehensive report on a community health
initiative that highlighted key achievements and areas for
improvement. The report was well-received by stakeholders and
used as a model for future projects.”
11. How do you stay updated with the latest trends and best
practices in monitoring and evaluation?
o Answer: “I attend workshops, webinars, and conferences, and I am
a member of professional networks. I also regularly read industry
publications and research papers.”
12. Describe a time when you had to train others on monitoring
and reporting processes.
o Answer: “I conducted training sessions for field staff on data
collection methods and reporting protocols. I used practical
examples and hands-on exercises to ensure they understood the
processes.”
13. How do you handle tight deadlines and pressure in your work?
o Answer: “I stay organized by breaking down tasks into
manageable steps and setting realistic timelines. I also
communicate effectively with my team to ensure we stay on track
and support each other.”
14. What methods do you use to collect data for your reports?
o Answer: “I use a combination of surveys, interviews, focus groups,
and administrative data. I choose the method based on the type of
data needed and the context of the project.”
15. How do you ensure the confidentiality and security of the data
you handle?
o Answer: “I follow strict data protection protocols, including
encryption, secure storage, and access controls. I also train staff on
data confidentiality and ensure compliance with relevant
regulations.”