Transparency, accountability, and impact.

Sustainable development happens when the common interest is placed at the center of decisions. Investing in stronger, more transparent, and more efficient systems does not only benefit a specific institution or group but creates opportunities for all.

On 25 August, UNICEF held a training on HACT and partnership implementation management.

Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) is a mechanism that helps ensure that resources for social, health, education, and child protection programs are managed transparently, efficiently, and accountably. By strengthening the capacity of institutions and promoting good management practices, HACT helps more people benefit from development investments. 

The training was attended by 38 participants, especially for UNICEF partners: members of civil society, pan-African, government and members of the United Nations. The training was intensive, starting at 9 am and ending at 5 pm.

The opening session was given by UNICEF representative Matthew Cummins, who introduced the objectives of the training. 

From 9 to 11 a.m., the training was given by Emanuel Matias, assistant for finance-transparency of funds, who introduced HACT, principles and components of HACT, importance for partnership management, and then Q&A moments.

"How does the refund process work?"

"What makes an institution eligible to receive funds?". These were one of the main questions.

Before transferring funds, UN organizations assess the financial and administrative capacity of the partner who will manage the resources. They then carry out monitoring and assurance activities. 

After the coffee breack. The second moment of the panel was given by Nindia Vontade, senior finance associate, who delved deeper into: 

•    Arrangements for transfers of funds
•    Assurance activities
•    Internal control
•    Accountability. And again, the moment for questions and answers, which was well used by the participants to explore the topic further. 

"Is there a standard invoice template to justify reimbursement of invoices?"
"What do you have to convey to us about corruption in institutions?"
"Who identifies and monitors the identified fragility? External or internal?"

Nindia Vontade, shares what she feels about the importance of her work and the impact it has on the lives of children, despite not working in direct contact with them, but as a table that has 4 legs, she is one of those legs that helps keep the table intact. 

"I feel that my support is invisible to a certain extent, but it is very necessary, because the moment we stop meeting the needs, the demand of these programs, nothing will happen, because the decorated table that is without a leg, everything goes to the floor. So, that is my contribution. The impact is indirect for the children, but very necessary"

The last moment of consolidation was made by Estêvão Mango, a planning specialist, who addressed monitoring for results, implementation of partnerships and partnership reporting.

When professionals from different institutions are trained in good governance and accountability mechanisms, the gains are not limited to their individual evolution. But in the way this knowledge is put at the service of society. The stronger the institutions and their professionals, the greater the opportunities for development for all.

In health, vaccination, nutrition, education, and social protection programs, HACT helps ensure that money from donors and international organizations reaches beneficiaries and produces the expected results.

Catarina Laurinda, national coordinator of institutional development for the Red Cross health programs, also commented on how she feels about the work she performs. "When we can help someone, when we can understand the needs of these people, and be able to mitigate any effect that has been left by a disaster, there is nothing better" 

Lemos Kanda, technician from the Ministry of Justice "I feel better trained now due to this technical support, and I think that I will be able to effectively better materialize the issues of my daily life, I will report to UNICEF and improve my performance for this purpose"

Training in HACT allows us to understand that responsible management of resources is not just an administrative requirement, but a commitment to the impact and well-being of beneficiary communities.